There’s a quote that’s been attributed to many different people, but it goes: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” I don’t believe you need to be a suffering artist to create art, but it’s difficult to sort through a past as traumatic as mine to piece together something beautiful.
Ginelle Testa – 22 September 2024
The Back Flap
For readers of Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp comes an unflinching coming-of-age addiction memoir about one woman’s journey to overcome her destructive roots to discover her road to recovery.
Born to an abusive mother and a drug-dealer father, Ginelle Testa is not exactly set up for success—and her early years are just as troubled as one might expect. By the end of her thirteenth year, she’s started experimenting with alcohol and drugs, has fallen prey to anorexia, and has been sexually assaulted. And that’s only the beginning of her spiral down into addiction and disordered eating.
As Ginelle progresses into young adulthood, she hits several substance-related bottoms. In her senior year of college, after blacking out and ending up naked in her dorm’s community shower, she goes to Alcoholics Anonymous and gets sober. But steering clear of drugs and alcohol, she discovers, is not a cure-all—she still has a long way to go before she can truly heal.
Raw, relatable, and powerful, Testa’s is a riveting tale of climbing up from rock bottom—and learning to make a home in oneself instead of in substances and other people.
About the book
What is the book about?
My book is about me making homes in substances, behaviors, and people instead of in myself. I looked to these things to make me feel whole and worthwhile, but by the end of the book, I learned to make a home in myself, which means I found self-esteem and enoughness in my own heart and being.
When did you start writing the book?
I started during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2016. I was a “rebel” writer because I was writing nonfiction. I just started to get my stories out of my head and onto paper.
How long did it take you to write it?
I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2016, 2018, and 2019. After that, I got serious about writing the book and worked on it until I submitted it to She Writes Press in May 2022. Then, there was more editing.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea of writing a book was inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Her 12-week process made me feel like I had a story to tell. In terms of the title and general theme of the book, I had tried to sit down and force the title out for a long time, but it wasn’t until I gave it space to breathe and come to me that it did one day. Once I figured out the title, the story I was building had a thread that made sense.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Absolutely. I write about trauma in detail, so putting myself back into that memory to materialize the sights, smells, sounds, etc., was stressful. It still is when I reread the book!
What came easily?
If I’m being honest, very little came “easily.” There’s a quote that’s been attributed to many different people, but it goes: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” I don’t believe you need to be a suffering artist to create art, but it’s difficult to sort through a past as traumatic as mine to piece together something beautiful.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Yes, three authors in particular: Elizabeth Gilbert, Julia Cameron, and Anne Lamott.
Elizabeth Gilbert wrote my favorite book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. The title says a lot, and there are so many facets of the book that inspire me, but I love most that fear can be along for the ride, sitting in the passenger seat. But it ain’t allowed to touch the radio and certainly is not welcome to drive. Fear and imposter syndrome are natural parts of the writing process, so she recommends letting them be but not letting them control you.
Julia Cameron wrote The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. It’s a 12-week program that takes the reader through a journey of learning to lean into their creativity and take risks that awaken one’s inner artist. It was through this process of going through the book, particularly in week seven, “Recovering a Sense of Connection,” that I began to realize through connecting with myself that I had a story to tell in the form of a book.
Anne Lamott inspired me with her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. One aspect in particular is the Shitty First Draft (SFD). She encourages writers to suspend fear and judgment and just write. Let the first draft be utter garbage—similar to how bakers just start with a bunch of raw ingredients in a bowl; you’ve got to start with the junk to get to the cookies.
Do you have a target reader?
I hope to reach young womxn who’ve struggled to feel like they’re enough.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My biggest writing hack is to join writing communities. I attend at least one writing group a week, often more, where I’m free to create, share, and build community. These groups keep me accountable for my practice. I try to write in between, especially when I’m actively working on something, but worst-case scenario, I get time to write when I’m in my groups.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I have also written fiction (I’m working on a book), so I outline that, but for my memoir, I just wrote stories and patched them together. I was more of a Panster for the memoir.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I do a little bit of both. I do reread what I’ve written and make tweaks, but I also try to wait until I’ve gotten a substantial amount of writing down to do any big edits.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes! I hired an early developmental editor, then when I began working with She Writes Press, I worked with an editor to polish my work.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I can’t! Music distracts me wildly. I prefer total silence to write.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did, I submitted to about eight agents before I submitted to She Writes Press. I didn’t realize my book wasn’t quite in publishing shape yet. SWP accepted me where I was at and helped me get it there.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I had read a book called Insatiable: A Memoir of Love Addiction by Sherry Hauer, which was similar to the one I was writing. I noticed she was published by She Writes Press, and I decided that since I wasn’t gaining any traction with agents, I’d try hybrid publishing.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My publisher did it for me, but I had five choices to choose from.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I am working with a publicist with an extensive marketing plan for my book! Some aspects include pitching me to be on podcasts, interviews, book reviews, awards, guest articles, listicles, etc. As I have a following of 33k between TikTok and Instagram, we’re also utilizing that to market.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If you can afford it, as it is a privilege to be able to do so, hybrid publishing has been really freaking cool, and I’d recommend it, especially for those who have struggled to get the attention of agents.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Where do you live now?
I live in Boston, Massachusetts.
What would you like readers to know about you?
The three things about myself that I love to share are that I’m queer, sober, and body positive. These aspects of me inform all of my writing.
What are you working on now?
Although I do have a queer romance fiction book in progress, I’m more actively working on personal essays to get my name out there while I am awaiting my pub date!
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Make a Home Out of You from Amazon US.