A warm welcome to author Kit Brisby joining us today to talk about new release “Roque Magic”.
Here’s Why I Wrote a Character With Anxiety
I’ve had anxiety since I was a child. I didn’t seek treatment for it until I was in my mid-20s, about a decade ago. That first step was terrifying. I sobbed when my doctor told me it was brave to ask for help. I’ve been in treatment for nearly ten years since. I can’t say that I always love being in treatment, but I know it saved my life. I take occasional medication for my anxiety that has given me the freedom to travel and engage in activities I hadn’t been able to do for years.
What does that have to do with ROGUE MAGIC? While Levi isn’t someone in treatment for anxiety, he’s someone who recognizes he has it, occasionally has anxiety attacks, and has developed some coping strategies.
As someone living with anxiety, it was important for me to represent this on the page in a character who isn’t defined by anxiety and goes through some serious shit. I recently saw someone (let’s be honest, a troll) insisting that fantasy and sci-fi shouldn’t have mental health rep because people with mental health issues could never survive quests or adventures. It fired me up to know that in ROGUE MAGIC, I’d created a character who coped with anxiety while fighting a helpless, horrific situation. I want to read about people with mental health issues doing amazing things and facing tremendous challenges! And I want to read about them struggling with the challenge of everyday things that others might not be challenged by.
Representation matters.
While Levi’s experiences don’t speak for everyone with anxiety, I hope that those with their own stable of coping mechanisms can recognize and appreciate the yoga routines he turns to. For me personally, yoga is a huge help, but not enough. So I also hope that my readers feel my radar love beams for anyone who benefits from medication. There’s room for so many strategies when it comes to anxiety management.
If you’re feeling alone or helpless, please reach out. Call a help line. Call your doctor. Talk to a friend. Drop a line in someone’s ask box on Tumblr if they’re a safe person to reach out to. Don’t be alone with the negative self talk that may threaten to drown out the truths of your potential and your right to well-being. You have all of my love and respect and admiration. Anxiety lies, and you’re stronger than you know.
If you love someone with anxiety, please don’t minimize their feelings. Anxiety is real. It can be debilitating. Trust someone when they tell you what they need, whether that’s a night alone or a phone call in the middle of the night. Don’t push someone with anxiety. Don’t ask them “what are you afraid of.” Listen with an open, non-judgmental heart. It can make a world of difference.
About Rogue Magic
While trapped in a stalled subway train on his morning commute, PR rep Byron Cole flirts with Levi, a young waiter with adorable curls. But Byron’s hopes for romance crash and burn when Levi saves him from a brutal explosion—with outlawed magic.
When Levi is imprisoned, Byron begins to question everything he’s ever believed. How can magic be evil when Levi used it to save dozens of lives? So Byron hatches a plan to save Levi that will cost him his job and probably his life. If he doesn’t pull it off, Levi will be put to death.
Byron discovers that he isn’t the only one questioning America’s stance on magic. And he learns that Levi is stubborn, angry, and utterly enchanting. Time is running out, though. Byron must convince Levi to trust him, to trust his own magic, and to fight against the hatred that’s forced him to hide his true nature his entire life. The more Levi opens up, the harder Byron falls. And the more they have to lose.
Now available from:
About Kit Brisby
Kit Brisby lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, with her two young sons and two rescue dogs. A graduate of the University of Florida, she’s been writing professionally since 2002. Her career has taken her from writing think pieces on breastfeeding to writing erotica for the adult industry—and nearly everything in between. She works in digital marketing and helps businesses find and tell their stories.
Kit is always trying to find balance between working full-time, revisiting or writing books every night, and modeling badass behavior to her two boys. Sometimes the lure of Tumblr interferes with all of that balancing. She’s just old enough to still be utterly enchanted by animated gifs.
A single mom and aspiring yogi, Kit is open about her struggles with anxiety and the importance of self-care. She also advocates for neurodiversity and acceptance of those on the autism spectrum. Few things get her as riled up as bisexual erasure.
Though she lives in the South, Kit is a NYC girl at heart, and makes a point of traveling to the city as often as she can to catch a few shows and eat as much ramen as humanly possible.
She reads avidly, and gravitates toward historical queer romance and young adult fantasy, especially when the stakes are high. She’s a fan of awkward first dates unless she’s participating in them, and is outspoken about embracing kink and sex positivity.
Connect with Kit:
- Website: www.kitbrisby.com/
- Twitter: @kitbrisby
To celebrate the release of Rogue Magic, one lucky winner will receive a yoga mat from Kit and a $15 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on February 4, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!
Thanks for the post. I’m sorry you went through that but I’m glad you’re better. I do have my anxious moments but they are not that bad.
serena91291@gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the post Kit. It is so important to write about people with mental issues. They are so easily misunderstand. For the most part it is because you don’t see it. Awareness is everything. For the persons involved, but also for the world around them.
This will help a lot of people!
vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com
What a great post! Thanks! We need all kinds of characters who deal with all kinds of challenges, issues etc shown in all kinds of stories. It’s wonderful that you took that trolling comment and turned it on its head to create an inclusive story.
jen(dot)f(at)mac(dot)com
It makes me mad whenever stupidity gets the best of people. Who said that there should be a line drawn between characters playing for fantasy roles & mentally challenged people?! That’s just a very IDIOTIC thing to say!
Anyway, thank you for sharing this yet another encouraging post. There are a lot of people around the world who suffer from anxiety & just like you said, they need our utmost non-judgment & understanding.
Thanks for coming by to Love Bytes, Miss Brisby!
mushyvince(at)gmail(dot)com
P.S. I hope that you’re doing well & I wish you all the good luck on your career.
congrats on the new release
leetee2007(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you for the post! It great that you decided to tackle this subject and bring awareness to such issues.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
From someone dealing with anxiety too, thanks for this post. And thanks for writing this character. Representation really is so important. violet817(at)aol(dot)com
Yes! Great post! I agree. Representation is the most important thing. Because then other people get to see that, YES! They are normal too! There is no abnormal and they too can go on an adventure of their own.
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the interesting post, and congratulations on the release, Kit. It sounds really good.
susanaperez7140(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the wonderful post. It really pisses me off when I see people dismissing mental illness like it’s not a valid health concern. It should be treated no differently than any other sickness. Stories like these will hopefully help remove the stigmas associated.
legacylandlisa(at)gmail(dot)com
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