Bullying is an issue that is deeply personal to me. Why? My children were targeted by bullies during their school years. The effect it had on their self-esteem has been long-term. The experience also damaged our family dynamics, leading to deep feelings of failure for us as parents. We were supposed to be able to protect our kids.
While the school did make an effort to deal with the problem, there were no easy answers to be found. One side effect most don’t realize is isolation. Other students are frightened they will also become targets, so keep their distance. When I was introduced to author Katie Kuperman and invited to read her book, I quickly said yes. After I finished The Only Way Out, I spent some time talking with her – sharing my impressions; and asking lots of hard questions. Her responses were thoughtful and honest.
This is a book written for Young Adults, especially those who know someone whose student was being bullied. It’s not meant to offer the ultimate answer. What The Only Way Out offers is hope, and a push to get everyone – especially young people – actively talking about ways to create change. It will soon be supplemented by an educational workbook for teachers and educators, a companion support book to be used in conjunction with this young adult novel.
Kudos to the author for bringing more awareness to the complexity and tragic results that come from bullying. I am hopeful her efforts to ensure the school is a safe and supportive environment for all students will lead to positive change within the education system. You can reach out to the author through her website at www.theonlywayoutnovel.com.
Can you share a little bit about the journey that led you to become who you are today – author, copywriter, and entrepreneur? How did life lead you?
“Writer” was never on my radar when I was planning my career. As a kid, I used to write my own stories all the time, but I think the rigidity of high school and university essays put me completely off the craft for a while. It wasn’t until I found myself in a business development role that I began writing marketing materials and enjoyed it. Quite coincidentally, from there I landed a position as the principal copywriter for a large telecommunications company. Boom! I had found what I was meant to do. There has been just one problem: I wasn’t meant to do it under a corporate umbrella. At this point, I realized I wanted to be a business owner and entrepreneur. I ventured out on my own, and my copywriting and marketing business Striking Content was born. It is through this company and my work over the last 14 years that I have come to discover my true passions, talents, and dreams. After helping hundreds of clients bring their stories to life in a myriad of ways, several years ago I found myself with a burning desire to write my own.
In 2021 you released a young adult fiction book – The Only Way Out. Can you share a little bit about what inspired this story? The characters that we read about?
After fully accepting my aspiration to write a book (believe me, this took some time), I came face to face with my next challenge. What do I write about?! One day I was working out at the gym and catching up on some news on my phone when I came across Amanda Todd’s gut-wrenching story. Her flashcard YouTube video brought me to tears right there on the elliptical. At that moment, I knew I was going to write a story about bullying and mental health. I’m both humbled and honored to say that, after connecting with her mother who is doing incredible things in the anti-bullying space, my book is dedicated to the late Amanda Todd and a portion of all proceeds is donated to the Amanda Todd Legacy Society.
Throughout the writing process, I imagined myself as the main character and narrator all the way through. This enabled me to write compelling and insightful inner monologues; to pull a few details of my own life to enhance the believability of certain elements. For example, everything about the description of the high school setting comes from my own secondary institution experience. And while the novel is fictional in every way, I borrowed from the relationship I had with my best friend next door to accurately depict the close friendship between the two main characters.
You have kids of your own. How did being a mother influence both your writing; and your decision to make a stand on bullying?
The majority of my book was written with my son inside my belly! That was several years ago now. I set my manuscript aside for a considerable chunk of time. If I’m going, to be honest here, it was out of fear. Imposter syndrome set in. I prioritized my copywriting business and motherhood (no regrets!). It wasn’t until I had two young children that I went back to my book and decided to bring it to life. Now that I am a mother and a more avid anti-bullying advocate than ever before, my message is clear and my purpose is set. I want to increase awareness and make a positive impact on the lives of youth and young adults.
What do you most hope young adult readers will take away from reading this story that is both worst-case scenarios and yet offers hope for change?
In my author bio, I state that I write to make my readers “feel, learn and do.” I believe that one of the best ways to teach and to have an impact is to make people feel something. Once they have those strong feelings inside, there is an opportunity to learn. With increased awareness and fresh knowledge, driven by profound emotions, we are ready to act and do in the face of an opportunity to create change.
In The Only Way Out I wove a story that seeks not only to raise the issues of bullying and mental health; but also to do so in a manner that neither the heart nor the brain can ignore. It is heart-wrenching and nerve-wracking, but also inspiring and motivational. I hope to open the eyes of our youth today, not only to see what bullying and mental health struggles can amount to, but also what each of us is capable of when presented with an opportunity to talk. I dream that this book may have a positive effect on the perceptions, understandings, and actions of those who read it.
I understand you are in the process of developing a companion workbook. Who is this for and how do you hope it will be used?
After promoting my novel and gaining significant media exposure in 2022, it was fascinating to learn how many teachers and educators thought that the novel could be a useful teaching aid in their classrooms. It was this academic interest that led me to write what I believe was the missing piece in my endeavor: a non-fiction, educational companion.
I am now in the process of publishing Many Ways Up, which is a non-fiction narrative and educational workbook to accompany my novel, The Only Way Out. It focuses on anti-bullying and mental health, rooted in the important message to talk openly and speak up. The workbook has excerpts from the novel, educational components, thought-provoking discussion questions, visual exercises, and actionable tasks for readers to easily start implementing in their lives. Just like my novel, my core target audience for the workbook is youth and young adults aged 11 to 18+. It is my goal to present the two books as a package or mini-unit that parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and educators can use. I’ve created the content with these intentions: be accessible; raise awareness and educate; open doors to fresh perspectives, new ideas, and the different possible solutions or steps forward; enable readers to gain insight into themselves and their lives; and create an open dialogue discussion.
In our conversation, a feeling arose that this is all a part of what you hope will create a wave of change. Can you share more about your vision for the future as you continue?
I’ve always been a dreamer. Positivity first. After all, why not, right? I prefer to live and work in an optimistic state of mind because it’s a more productive and happier place.
While my novel attempts to somewhat simplify very complex issues, it is a means through which I am hoping to help young people see the dangers of bullying and mental health when they go unaddressed, and the powerful possibilities when they find their voices and talk.
My workbook does not try to simplify the complex, but rather highlights the fact that these issues are indeed complicated, and provides a clear approach to topics that have so many people feeling lost and confused. There are strong suggestions and approaches, but it’s not a prescription – instead, I acknowledge that every situation is different, and ask people to set their priorities and look inside themselves.
In the months and years ahead, I hope to make waves in this space. By continuing to perform in-school presentations, talks and workshops, I dream of further connecting with youth and young adults and making an impact that sticks (for longer than two minutes!). By writing more books centered on talking openly, speaking up, the power of our words, understanding ourselves, and living in positivity with purpose, I dream of my work moving people to take meaningful action in their lives.
I would love to close with a favorite quote or thought on the value and right of treating everyone with love, dignity, and inclusion.
We are all nothing more than mere blocks on this together, trying to build our towers of strength, success, happiness, and fulfillment. What we can’t always see right away is that the biggest tower of all can only be built if we put our blocks together.
A big part of connecting with others is talking openly and communicating. Talking is an integral part of our happiness and is associated with higher levels of well-being. We talk show people who we are, build trust, foster good relationships, make connections, and solve problems. There’s no “if,” but rather “when”.
“Speak your mind even if your voice shakes.” – Maggie Kuhn
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Marilyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer, published author, speaker, a budding poet, and book reviewer whose career began unusually – by answering a Craigslist ad for which she had no experience. What followed was a crazy life and career-changing journey. She is also one of the inspiring women to be found in the Pursuit 365 2021 and 2022 editions, as well as the upcoming 2023 edition. Website~ IG ~ Facebook
by Marilyn R. Wilson
