Laurie James is the author of Sandwiched A Memoir of Holding on and Letting Go where she shares her path to self-discovery and freedom after she unexpectedly took on the role to care for elderly parents while raising four daughters during a time when her marriage was falling apart. Now as a coach, she helps women search for happiness and who aren’t afraid to dream big.
Welcome Author Laurie James
Everyone I know has their fair share of life challenges of raising children and caring for their aged parents. It is what I do myself and in some ways the struggle and or reflection show us that the strength we seek lies within us.
Could you share as to when you chose to start writing your story?
I first put pen to paper on a yoga retreat. I was talking to a fellow yogi and writer who encouraged me to start writing, but that’s not where it all began. It all started three years earlier when my mother suddenly fell ill. The tables quickly turned from her helping me with my teen and pre-teen daughters to my needing to oversee her care, the care of my dad, and hiring caregivers for both of them.
Over the next seven years, I caught caregivers drinking on the job and stealing from us. One person emotionally seduced my dad, and another stopped giving my mom her medicine and told me she thought my mother was ready to die. Each time, I replaced the caregiver, but it was difficult to find trustworthy help. I’d cry and laugh with my friends and then husband because I couldn’t have made the stories up if I’d tried. I’d joke and call those stories The Caregiver Chronicles. I cringed at the idea of writing—I didn’t see myself as a writer. I was a mother, wife, and caregiver. I hadn’t written anything except for emails. But the thought of writing about these mis-adventures returned every time another caregiver story surfaced. Six-months after I wrote my first scene, I signed up for my first memoir-writing course.
They say our childhood imaginations and dreams show proof of our passions. As a child, what childhood memories brought you joy?
I had two older brothers and wanted to be like them, so I was a tomboy growing up. My parents were fairly adventurous. They raised us sailing, skiing, camping and going on motorhome trips. I developed a love for these activities and these are the activities that I found myself drawn to while raising my own kids. Today I’d call myself an outdoorsy gal. That’s where I recharge, refuel, and reset.
Inspiration for writing Sandwiched
What inspired you to write Sandwiched and how long did it take you to complete writing your book?
My inspiration came from my friends and husband who encouraged me to write about The Caregiver Chronicles. A couple years into writing, I realized my story wasn’t just about overseeing my parent’s care and managing caregivers. During that time, I was also raising four daughters and my marriage was beginning to fall apart. That’s when I realized my story was broader and encompassed my life journey.
A year after I took my first writing course, I found a wonderful writing coach who worked with me to craft my jumbled thoughts into a story. I wrote, wrote, and rewrote my story for several more years, and the process became a much-needed creative outlet. Five years later I finished my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding on and Letting Go.
What is the message (theme or takeaway) can readers embrace in your story?
I’d say there were two themes. The first was I felt very lonely most of my life and these mis-adventures allowed me to look inward. It was a slow burn, but over time I realized how my childhood experiences led to some of the choices I made that contributed to what was happening.
The second is, sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to have the life that you belong to. That wasn’t easy for me to accept and it took many years to get there. We are creatures of habit and change is hard, but sometimes we have to do hard things to find our happiness.
Which actress would you cast to play your role as Laurie?
I would love to have Leslie Mann play my role. I love the characters she’s played and find her hilarious. Even though my book isn’t a comedy, there are comedic things that happened and I’d love to see her bring comedy to my life experiences. That would be a dream come true!
What amazing experience did you learn while writing Sandwiched?
I learned that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. Writing this book has given me so much more confidence. It’s been an empowering experience and it’s truly been transforming.
What’s Next for Laurie James
Is there an idea for a new story in your next book? Could you share a little hint on the story or theme etc.
I’m not currently working on a next book. Right now, I’m enrolled in the life coach training class with Martha Beck. Martha is a PhD, a Harvard-trained sociologist, a world-renowned coach, and a New York Times bestselling author.
Martha started coaching over twenty years ago and now she offers a certified eight-month program. Her coach training is a mind-body centered approach that’s science and research based. I’ve always enjoyed helping others and after years of my own self-discovery that I have written about, it seemed like a natural next step. Now, I help women who are searching for happiness and guide them as they discover what that means to them.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a writer?
Practice makes better, not perfect. When I look back at my first drafts, I want to cringe. Find a writing routine that works for you and stick to it. I found that writing in the morning worked best for me. My house was quiet and I didn’t have people texting, calling or emailing me yet. Find a supportive writing group where you can give and get feedback safely. Lastly, find a writing coach and editor that fits with your style of writing. I feel like I owe much of my success to my writing coach.
Connect with Laurie James
Readers, Laurie would love to hear from you. You can connect with her here.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram
