While looking into her past lives, Dominique shockingly discovered that she was Catherine de Medici. During the process of recovering Catherine’s memories, Dominique realized that Catherine had a secret life she kept from everyone at court.
I'm pleased to welcome author Dominique Wright to The Writing Desk:
Tell us about your book.
Her Side of the Story is about the life of Catherine de Medici, written from her point of view. It starts from her childhood in Italy, just as she is about to begin her life in France, and goes throughout her entire lifetime. I wrote the book as if Catherine was narrating her life story to the readers, and she shares an intimate view of what transpired while she lived in the castle. I hope readers can connect with Catherine more personally with her life as a Queen, mother, wife, and friend like I have come to know her.
What is your preferred writing routine?
Most of my writing was done in my kitchen, actually. I have four children, and the youngest two are still toddlers, so they played in the living room, where I could see them while I wrote my book standing up in the kitchen. I liked writing at my desk in my meditation room and tried to sit there as much as possible when the little ones were napping.
I have a lava stone on which I rest my feet to stay grounded. It lets my mind stay present and clear, which helps my writing flow. I devoted about 2-4 hours per day to writing. It is usually midday after my morning routine or whenever I can squeeze in the time during my day. With the children's schedule, it took work to make time, but I always made an effort consistently. Where there is a will, there is always a way. But I had to figure out what worked for me, and I would advise others to do the same.
What advice do you have for new writers?
I am a new writer, so from one new writer to another. If you feel like you would write a book, then do it!
Trust yourself, embrace your deep desire to compose your book, and go for it! Accept that it is a process that may take some time, and it is something you have never experienced before. Be open to loving the journey of the unknown as you become a writer. There may be good days and bad days, but take it one day at a time and be patient and understanding with yourself. We all have a story inside of us that we need to share.
Refrain from overthinking about the opinions of others during your writing process because that can tend to block your personalized creativity that will make your book unique.
Take it one step at a time when writing and stay in the present moment. Authoring a book is a beautiful experience; you should be open to the process, especially on the bad days. But there will be such a sense of pride within yourself when you hold your book in your hands for the first time!
What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your book?
I am incredibly grateful to have been welcomed into the beautiful world of supporting authors who have helped guide me throughout this process. I have discovered that you must share about my book any way you can; otherwise, no one will know about it. There are so many methods, and it can all be overwhelming.
But the most important thing is to continue sharing my book. Tell anyone and everyone. I post on social media daily. Having such a wonderful, supportive author community has helped as well. There is such beauty that fills the world when people support each other rise. Everyone benefits from such positivity.
Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research.
There was a lot actually that was very unexpected. But the one that stands out most is that I did not realize how much I would enjoy learning about Catherine and her life. There are many stories of her life from the point of view of other people who probably did not like her, and so, of course, she would have a negative reputation.
What was the hardest scene you remember writing?
Oh goodness, the entire book was challenging for me to write. It was like an emotional rollercoaster. I am sure I cried writing every chapter, some harder than others, and I don't cry often. Not that the book is entirely sad, but there was a lot of emotional intensity in the experiences she shared, and I felt that emotion while writing the book.
What are you planning on writing next?
I would love to travel to France and spend a few months to be closer to where Catherine had lived to strengthen my connection with her so that I can write more in-depth books. Maybe a series about her life and the relationships she had with the ones she was closest to during her life. A series of the Life of Catherine de Medici may be coming soon. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book and would love to compose more.
Dominique Wright
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About the Author
Dominique Wright is an author, professionally trained energy healer, psychic and spiritual channel. At seventeen, she moved to Italy, where she lived for a year, then moved to Spain for another two. After transferring back to the United States, she became a stay-at-home mother and, after ten years, realized that there must be more to life than where she was. So, she began a spiritual journey that she has embarked on over the past thirteen years. During this time, she has grown to change many lifestyle habits for the better. She earned one marathon medal and three half-marathon medals, published a book, and became a professional energy healer and psychic. In her professional life, she enjoys helping others find their soul purpose, and in her personal life, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, eating, and being in nature. You can find Dominique on Twitter
@WrightDomi1018
