Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anna spent her time advocating for health care on a local and national level. She received multiple awards and recognitions as a result of her efforts. Taking an indefinite break from the rigors of activism, Anna now spends her time pursuing her goal of becoming a published author. She is an avid reader and aspiring writer with multiple projects in various stages of development.
Anna lives in south central Pennsylvania with her husband, their two teen sons, a dog named Eloise, and an axolotl named Alfie. Check her out on Facebook.
You can read her essay "Dirty Laundry" HERE.
WOW: Congratulations on being a runner up in the WOW Q4 2024 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest which also happens to be the first writing contest you ever entered! What made you decide that "Dirty Laundry" was the piece to enter?
Anna: Thank you so much! Winning runner-up in the WOW Q4 2024 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest came as such a shock to me. I have written many pieces over the years as a hobby, but only recently decided to actually devote the time to becoming a professional writer. I woke up one morning to an email from Poets & Writers advertising the WOW contest and decided that morning that I would enter. It was only a few weeks before the deadline, so I chose “Dirty Laundry” simply because it was the most recent essay I had written. I was already proud of it on a personal level. It is difficult for me to talk about some parts of my past publicly, and I had written “Dirty Laundry” to help me cope with the feelings I was having over parting with the basket.
I know that if I am going to make it as a writer, I cannot not be afraid of sharing my truth. I ultimately want to write relatable content that might help others heal from their own trauma, but my desire to maintain my privacy has always held me back. Entering this contest was about more than just being judged by strangers for the first time or seeing if I have what it takes to win writing contests. It was about having the strength to share something deeply personal with the general public. It was about exposing my vulnerability. As far I was concerned, the true contest was whether or not I was brave enough to go public, so my goal was met the moment I hit, “Send.” Making it into the top ten after having no expectations at all was an incredible feeling. I am honestly still processing it!
WOW: You are relatively new to the life of a working writer. Can you share what made you pivot from health activist to writer?
Anna: For the past twenty years, I have gone where I am needed. I am a cosmetologist by trade, but when I gave birth to my oldest son, I was needed at home, so I became a stay-at-home mom. Shortly after giving birth to my second son, the three of us were diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects various systems of the body. I immediately became an advocate for my boys, for the whirlwind of doctors’ visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries that followed. When they began to miss too much school from all of their illnesses, I became a homeschool teacher. Seven years ago, when there was a chance that they may lose their health care due to bills that were floating through Congress, I became a health care activist. I was in DC every week, walking the halls of the House and Senate buildings, meeting with political leaders, and fighting for the rights of not only my sons, but for myself and millions of others with chronic illnesses and disabilities. We ultimately won that battle, and it was such a relief. Now that my sons are older, they are thriving in terms of their health, and as teens, they do not need me as much.
The writer in me has always been waiting for her turn. There has not been much room for her in the very busy life I have led over the last few decades, and she has been relegated to late nights or early mornings and any spare moments I could muster. There are so many formidable health care activists who are willing to pick up the baton, so I feel comfortable putting that part of my life aside. It is my time. I am ready to make the commitment to become a published author.
WOW: An amazing story and you must have so much to say. What is one of the most surprising things you've learned about the writing world?
Anna: I am still very much a newbie, so I have not had much experience yet, but one thing that I have found to be refreshing is how supportive the writing community is. Whenever I feel stuck or like I might want to give up, I reach out to my writer friends or visit a social media page for writers. I have found that writers are an amazing group of people who are ready and willing to lift each other up and give encouragement. It is a beautiful thing, and I feel honored to be a part of such a remarkable vocation.
WOW: Yes, I appreciate that feeling of having so many people rooting for me too. Can you share a little more about the type of writing you're pursuing?
Anna: I have always been an essayist. It is my favorite form of writing. I love telling personal stories in unconventional ways, and taking the simplest detail (like, say, a laundry basket) and building a message around it. With my many lived experiences, my memoir is my constant work in progress.
I am also trying my hand at fiction. I have never written fiction before, but a few years ago, I had an idea and decided to run with it. I did not to expect to have this much fun writing fiction, and it has been so enjoyable that I am now simultaneously writing two very different novels.
WOW: You are a very busy writer! This may have nothing to do with your
Anna: An axolotl is a type of salamander that is native to Mexico. A friend of mine is a biology teacher who had acquired three of them to observe for his Masters’ thesis. He posted about them on Facebook when they were just babies. My oldest son loves exotic animals, so we asked if we could come see them in person. My friend countered by asking us if we would rather have one to keep. My son jumped at the chance. Alfie was a little over a year old when he came to live with us, and he just turned five. He has such a big personality, and we all love him so much. I never thought I would ever have a footlong salamander living in an aquarium in my basement, but now I cannot imagine life without him!
WOW: I would love to see Alfie make a cameo appearance in one of your novels! Thanks for sharing and we all look forward to your future achievements.
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