Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Shannon Rowell and I am a Mental Health Counselor in Orlando, Florida. I specialize in working with teenagers and sexual abuse victims. I am a new mom to a one year old little boy and enjoy spending my free time with him at play groups. I love to write/journal and hope to write a second book one day.

Describe your book ‘Chains Be Broken: Finding Freedom from Cutting, Anxiety, Depression, Anorexia, and Suicide’ in 30 words or less.

Chains Be Broken is a book about my personal journey as a teenager and the struggles I dealt with such as, depression, anxiety, eat disorder, self-harm, sexual abuse and much more. The book is designed to help teenagers dealing with mental health issues and/or parents or loved one's of young adults struggling with mental health concerns. Too often, mental health issues come with a stigma and results in those suffering staying silent and not receiving the help they need for fear of what others might think about them. Hopefully, my story can offer some hope and encourge other's to seek the help they deserve. It also has a list of resources that is helpful.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

  I would have to say the hardest part of writing my book was "reliving" some of the experiences. Having said that, I also beleive it was very therapeutic as well. 

What books have had the greatest influence on you?

 Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person (Hugh Prather), Every Woman's Marriage (Shannon and Greg Ethridge), The Shack (William P. Young), and Acutally It Is Your Parent's Fault (Philip Van Munching)

Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?

 I haven't had much time to market my book... BookBuzzr and my website www.chainsbebroken.com are the main sources. I also have a facebook page.  

How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

 Enjoying my husband and our one year old baby boy. .

What are you working on next?

  I have really been focusing on my career as a Mental Health Counselor to help other struggling with mental health issues.