Ask the Author: Leslie Johansen Nack

“Ask me a question.” Leslie Johansen Nack

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Leslie Johansen Nack Hi Marit, Thanks for reading Fourteen. Yes, I have been to Norway and researched where my father lived, but he passed away in 1980 so I only had Swedish cousins to help me figure out his life in Oslo. My father's childhood was difficult as they did not have very much money. He went to school, graduated, and then became a deep sea diver before he immigrated to Canada. I hope these answer your questions. Thanks again. I'm working on the sequel to Fourteen now. Leslie
Leslie Johansen Nack Hi Helen, Sorry for the delay in responding, I'm changing emails and this notification got buried. To answer your question, I was in survival mode and didn't ever consider telling anybody. My sisters didn't even know! All I cared about was being away from him. Plus, it was the 1970s and children didn't have any rights and nobody talked about abuse and so as a child I think I just buried it, avoided it, and tried to be with my friends. I hope that's a satisfactory answer.
Leslie Johansen Nack Between audiobooks, kindle books and paper books, this is what I'm considering for the summer: Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, How to Murder your Life by Cat Marnell, The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir, by Ariel Levy, The Handmaiden's Tale via Audiobooks, The Dining Car by Eric Peterson, North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person, Shave my Spider by Tony James Slater, One Summer in France by Bev Spicer, The House on Sunset by Lindsay Fischer. I hope I haven't been too ambitious.
Leslie Johansen Nack The true story depicted in my first memoir, Fourteen A Daughter's Memoir of Adventure, Sailing and Survival, is being continued in a second memoir as I reveal many mysteries including the mystery of how our sailboat Aegir sank in French Polynesia, and how my father died in the Mexican jungle.
Leslie Johansen Nack Thank you Teresa for such a compelling and intriguing question. My parents tried to make their marriage work all throughout my childhood. My mother inherited the disease of alcoholism in addition to inheriting manic depression (which wasn't diagnosed until the 1980s) so her behavior was erratic and unpredictable at best. I believe my parents loved each other when they were first married but having children often puts a strain on even the best marriages, and my parent's marriage crumbled under the strain. My mother was in and out of mental hospitals every two years when I was growing up. It wasn't her fault, but I believe she was a victim of the times and the lack of medical diagnoses and treatments at the time (1960s and 1970s). I don't really get into this in Fourteen because it only covers 3 years of my life: from 12-14, with one flashback (chapter 3) as some background. My next book will cover this subject in much more depth.

My father would never have admitted he was not perfect. Isn't that the way it goes with gregarious, outgoing, outspoken, abusive bullies? He blamed everything on our mother. As a child it was hard to decipher what was going on, especially while living an extravagant and unusual life with my father.

I hope that answers your questions. I feel you are sympathetic towards my mother and I appreciate that. I am sympathetic towards her too at times. She lived in a time when the medical community didn't really have positive and sustaining treatments for somebody with a chemical imbalance. The treatments were often barbaric (shock treatments, heavy medications, restraints and sometimes abuse in the facilities charged with taking care of her).

Leslie
Leslie Johansen Nack My first book is a memoir. It wasn't my idea, it was my life. I wrote it mostly for myself and never really believed it would published. It's very personal and intimate and there are many lessons for me still today.
Leslie Johansen Nack I feel inspired when I'm writing. I don't wait for inspiration, although it does come some times unexpectedly. The most important thing for a writer to do is write. Sit down and write.
Leslie Johansen Nack I have just finished my first novel. It's historical fiction based on the life of Marion Davies. I needed a break from writing my second memoir when a family tragedy happened and my older sister, Monica, passed away unexpectedly. I am excited that my novel will be published by She Writes Press May 2022.
Leslie Johansen Nack Write. Write all the time. Read inspiring books and write.
Leslie Johansen Nack Being a writer is what I've always wanted to do. The best thing about being a writer is just that - being one.
Leslie Johansen Nack I am a new author and so far I haven't had writer's block. My first book is a memoir so the story is already set.

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