Marcela Del Sol is an Australian writer born in Chile who is about to launch her first book, after writing for others. Kaleidoscope will be available around March 2016 and it is a powerful and engaging fictional story written with honesty, rawness, pain and passion about the struggle that a beautiful woman living with DID experiences, much like the author’s experience. Marcela is also a social activist and a philanthropist.
Writing has been a passion for you for a long time. How did it all start?
More than a passion, it has been a passionate way to exorcise my demons; to free my soul. I started writing when I was just a child, often winning literature competitions, mostly poetry, at a very early age.
You mostly used to ghost-write for other people. What kind of genres did you approach?
The first time it wasn’t intended; someone stumbled upon my work when I was in a very critical situation; I had no money, no hope, etc. I sold a book I was already writing so I was very lucky in that sense. I have also helped people tell their life stories. I have loved it but it is time to go and do it for me. I would like to brag about it but I am bound by universal and perpetual confidentiality agreements.
What made you decide to write your own book?
I live with a very complex disorder and it is hard to explain to people who have no understanding or education on the matter. This disorder has also helped me survive, literally, and as much as it has removed me from the outside world to an extent, it fascinates me too so I decided to share it with the world, mostly as a way to help eradicate stigma and maybe speak for others who cannot or are ashamed to do it. I want society to understand that mental illness or disorders do not signify deficiency; people like me are highly capable, loving and are craving acceptance.
The stories and adventures in the book are fictional but the processes of dissociating happen like in the book: Without any notice and very quickly.
Kaleidoscope is a work of passion, truth, hope and insomnia.
What is DID and how does a person cope with this?
I will tell you what DID is to me as it is different for everyone who co-exists with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
For me, it has been my mind’s defence mechanism to cope with trauma once I, as me, could not do it on my own. It used to be called “Multiple Personality Disorder”, it means I have a team of people working with me all the time, they arise where needed; have their own interests and functions and, in a way, have allowed me to do things I never dared to before.
There is no guarantee this disorder can be reversed but it can definitely be treated via cognitive therapy, or at least this has been my experience. Coping mechanisms are different for everyone. I remove myself from stressful and aggressive people and situations as my “defenders” might feel the need to “wake up” and come to my rescue. I also experience amnesic fugues, which is one of the most unpleasant sides of my condition.
How is this reflected in your future novel, Kaleidoscope?
Kaleidoscope’s main character experiences DID and goes through life enduring the difficulties that this brings to her life; Kaleidoscope depicts how alters are completely removed, in their personalities and actions, from the “host.” I tried to make it clear how drastic and hard to live like me it is and this is reflected in the story.
What is your writing routine and how far are you with the book?
I don’t have a set routine as my life is far from predictable and continuity escapes me but I attend to my writing urges as soon as they kick in, which is quite often.
Kaleidoscope has been finished and we expect it to be published and available in March 2016 for everyone to enjoy. I will certainly let you and your readers know when it is out!
Will you look for an agent and publishing house or will you self-publish?
I decided to go the Indie way. I am big believer in supporting the indie arts and decided to realise this dream as soon as possible, which is what self-publishing allowed me. Of course I would be interested in talking to a publishing house if they invite me over for a coffee!
Thank you for your time and interest!
Follow Marcela on Facebook and Twitter.
