Come Selahway With Me…

I’m pleased to be part of today’s cover reveal for a really intriguing new book! This is a different turn for me, but I think it’s important to feature all kinds of books, especially those with heavy and insightful topic matter like this.  It’s important to know that heroes aren’t just in fantasy or adventure stories – there are all sorts of heroes that inhabit the everyday, who conquer all sorts of challenges and demons, and it’s important for us to acknowledge their bravery and strength and learn from them, as well.

Under The Bed Across the World
by Rose Candis
Expected Pub: September 2013

Under the Bed Across the World, Rose’s poignant account of her journey
from incest and addiction into recovery, is both tragic and humorous. Her
account of how her sexually abusive Jewish father divided her loyalty
between him, her mother, and herself provides a microcosm for how sexual
abuse and addiction destroy the human family. By confronting her past,
Rose sheds her loyalty to her abusive relatives and creates her own unique
family unit through international adoption. The memoir raises the
question: Can contentment be found after departure from the quagmire of
toxicity?

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I also have an author interview to share with you today, so let’s see what Rose Candis has to say!

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*What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?*

For me, it has been critical to allow God to be in charge of the timing of
the book’s completion. With a private therapy practice, daughter involved
in activities, spouse, and exercise and self-care routine, I have needed to
be patient with my writing. I have also needed to allocate time for writing
sometimes during the wee hours of the night!

Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or movie?*

Of course I see actors or read about characters who different parts of me
connect with at different parts of my life. Redemption, a memoir about a
woman who was abused by her father and Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex in the
City who loves fashion and excitement rang a bell. Others too.

*What is the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing a *
*memoir?*

With the particular subject matter of my first book, not making it boring
or a sob story, but an interesting narrative that captures the reader.
With the sensitive nature of my subjects about which I write, keeping
anonymity has been challenging.
I don’t love having to have a pen name but in order to protect myself and
others, it has been necessary.

*What do you consider your biggest failure?*

I don’t like to consider myself as having failures, only opportunities for
growth. It has been challenging to work with not allowing my anger to take
over, and also to not get too busy.

*Your childhood obviously plays a huge part in writing a memoir. How *
*difficult did you find revisiting the painful periods of your life?*

One of my writing coaches told me that one must wait a period before
writing about painful events to have perspective. I had done years of
healing in therapy before I began writing Under the Bed Across the World.
Still, certain pieces brought up unresolved feelings which provided more
opportunities for healing.

Are you jealous of other writers?

Not really. I know I am a better therapist than writer and I am ok with
that.

*Are there any occupational hazards to writing a memoir?*

Of course, not using a pen name could open one up for lawsuits. That is
why I am using a pen name

*What do you want to be when you grow up?*

I feel like I am finally becoming who I have always wanted to be. I do
want to do some missions and continue doing the work I am currently
involved in.

***

Author Bio:
Rose Candis, born August 8, 1966, grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky. At
age twenty-three, she began her personal recovery from addiction and
childhood incest. Inspired by her own journey, she entered graduate school
to become a psychotherapist. Currently in private practice, Rose feels
honored to have been able to help individuals and families recover from
eating disorders and trauma since 2002.

Rose’s articles about healthy eating were published monthly in a local
woman’s magazine. She has appeared on several local radio shows as an
expert on eating disorders. Her first book *Under the Bed Across the
World,* a memoir, takes the reader on a journey from the author’s abuse,
into recovery, where she emerges as a adoptive mother of Erica, an orphan
from China. Her quest to help her daughter clear up unanswered questions
about her past leads her on a journey back to China, the focus of her
upcoming book *The Black Pearl. *

In a search for Erica’s birth parents, Rose’s research trip to China with
Lan Stuy, yields the discovery that her daughter had been bought and sold
as an infant, commonly known as trafficked, in the relinquishment process.
Rose’s shock that the information she had been given years ago about her
daughter’s history were fabricated led this mother to take on a role as
truth teller and advocate for transparent adoptions. Upon her return, July 2011, Rose was interviewed by NBC News.

Her story
about her trip and its aftermath was published in *The New York* *Times*,
September 2011*, The Atlantic* 2011, and *The Pulitzer Center for
Crisis Reporting*, October 2011. Rose met in Washington DC, May 2012,
with The Executive Congressional Commission on China to discuss her
findings of trafficking in the Chinese adoption process. Her effort to urge
the Commission to expose the information to help children who sought
credible information about their origin resulted in a second meeting with
the Commission, October 2012. Rose lobbied on Capitol Hill, May 2012
meeting with fifteen Congressional Offices in an attempt to amend the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act to include the buying and selling of
children for purposes of international Adoption in the definition of child
trafficking.

Rose enjoys every moment playing with her daughter and watching her do
gymnastics. She travels the path of intimacy and blending families with
Patrick, her partner of six years. Walking, yoga, church, travel, biking,
and meditation bring grounding to her full life. Rose’s love for her
daughter, personal healing journey, clinical experience and spiritual
guidance are the catalyst for her continued commitment to helping the universe heal one person at a time.