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It’s time to meet another debut author - and learn some
important information about Allergies, and her successful writing and
publishing journey.
Author Kathryn Treat, wrote a book called Allergic to
Life: It is all about her Battle for Survival, Courage,
and Hope, and is available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook.
Her website, kathryntreat.com,
provides links to purchase books in all formats as well as a link to purchase
signed copies.
Kathryn is involved in many book clubs not only promoting
her book and e-books, but helping others to learn about Allergies and their
affects as well as how it changed her life. But let’s allow Kathryn to tell us.
Kathryn’s website provides links to Amazon, Barnes and
Noble, as well as a PayPal button to purchase signed copies.
1. Kathryn, what brought you to write Allergic
to Life?
I decided to write Allergic to Life for
many reasons. I wanted others who were
suffering like I was to know they were not alone. I wanted those with family members suffering
to know what it is like and that it is a true and “real” illness. I wanted to share my story so that others
would be more aware of what they are exposing themselves to daily (homes
infested with mold, pesticides and chemicals on their lawns and foods, and
chemicals in their everyday personal products and cleaners.
2. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself
and your allergies?
I was born in Missouri and am the first of
two daughters but spent most of my life in the Central Valley of
California. I chose to become a
stay-at-home mother when my second daughter was born. When my girls were finishing high school, I
began looking for a job. I had spent
years donating my time and volunteering for many organizations including two
terms as a school board member and was ready to return to the work force. Returning to work started a downward spiral
in my health. I began to suffer sinus
infection after sinus infection. My
handwriting became harder and harder to read.
After a year it was discovered that not only did I have mold in my sinuses
but that there was mold in my workplace.
Not long after that I began experiencing acute allergic symptoms to
medications, to my contacts and their solution, to my laundry soaps and my
personal products. The smell of perfumes
and chemicals in the stores would start horrific coughing spells and I would
get confused and not remember why I was there.
Getting near anyone with mold on their clothes would send me into
tremors and anaphylactic reactions. My
list of safe non-reactive foods went down to 9.
3. What was the most difficult part of writing
your book?
The most difficult part of writing Allergic to Life was the daily
reliving of my journey. At times I would
have to just put it away and wait for a few weeks or months before I could
emotionally work on it again. Once the
framework was done, I began going through my journals which proved to be the
most painful part of the writing process.
I also believe that writing my story and reading my journals for the
first time after writing them aided in my healing and helped me go from victim
to survivor.
4. What are you working on now?
I am taking a break from the emotional journey of writing my story. I
have begun, in conjunction with a friend, working on a children’s story about
environmental illness.
5. What blogs do you belong to and are they
blogs that help others with this same problem with allergies?
I belong to several blogs. Some of them are about allergies and MCS
(multiple chemical sensitivity) like me, some are about food allergies and
gluten intolerance, and some of them deal with chronic and other invisible
illnesses. As I became closer to
finishing my book I also began following blogs of other writers as well.
6. When did you join PnPAuthor? (Tell us a
little bit about them)
I joined PnPAuthor in early 2013. I found amazing support from the other
members early on as well as the opportunity to participate in writing
activities. Participating in group writings help develop and hone our writing
skills. The founders of PnPAuthor (Peter and Pattimari Cacciolfi) readily
assist all members with questions and help.
I enjoy reading short stories and poems posted by the other members as
well as the opportunity to learn more about them.
7. When did you join Rave Reviews Book Club?
(Tell us a little bit about them.)
I joined Rave Reviews Book Club on
Christmas Eve 2013. I was invited by
author Nonnie Jules to join and become a board member. I am Membership Director. Rave Reviews Book Club was founded for
readers and authors alike. It is their
policy to profile, promote, and propel their members through support.
8. Do you belong to any support groups that
deal with environmental illness or other chronic illnesses that you experience?
I belong to the Aspergillus Support Group in the UK for those suffering
from aspergillus infections.
I
belong to Planet Thrive – a support group for those suffering from
environmental illness.
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Imagine that the very food you eat and the beautiful carpet on
your floors start to make you feel violently ill. Your contact lenses cause
your eyes to burn and water uncontrollably. Trace amounts of mold on other
people's clothing cause you to become unable to hold a thought or get it from
your brain to your mouth during an everyday conversation.
The life you once knew is gone and you have become a prisoner of
unexplainable and severe allergies and sensitivities. In this new life you can
no longer shop or visit friends in their homes because there are too many
chemicals and fragrances there. You become plagued by one mystery infection
after another and no doctor or specialist seems to be able to give you any
explanation of what's causing your terrifying symptoms. Depression sets in and
becomes your constant companion as you try to cope with the stress of being
sick and of struggling to live within your newfound limitations.
"Allergic to Life:
My Battle for Survival, Courage and Hope" is the story of one woman's
journey through a battle to reclaim her life and overcome depression caused by
an exposure to toxic mold in her workplace.
l. Tell us a little bit about yourself Kathryn
and what brought you to write your first book, Allergic to Life: My Battle for Survival, Courage, and Hope?
I am learning to live with chemical sensitivities, severe
mold allergies, and food allergies after my life was turned upside down
following a mold exposure at my work place.
I dealt with the naysayers about my illness. A workers’ compensation doctor said I had a
somatoform disorder. My school district
didn’t want to accept that my illness could have made me sick. I saw other women whose families were not as
supportive as mine and didn’t believe them or their symptoms. I was a victim and stayed in the victim
role. One day I decided I was going to
be a survivor and not a victim. I would
use my voice to tell my story and help those that felt alone and misunderstood.
2. How long did it
take you to write the book?
It took me almost ten years to write my book. It took another year to get it edited, get a
cover designed and decide how I would go about getting it out in the world so
others could read my story.
Note to Reader: Please click on facebook twitter, and g+1, and blogger to send Kathryn's book all over the world. You might even please her and make her smile if you left her a comment. Her father recently passed away and I am sure she needs some uplifting things happening in her life right now.
