M. Shannon Hernandez's Blog, page 14

What is the backstory behind the title “Breaking the Silence”?

As a teacher, it was very difficult, and almost impossible, to talk about doing what was right in the world of public education, without fear of retaliation from those in the system who didn’t want to “rock the boat.” So, the title fit well, in this instance, because I am now able to speak freely about what is going on behind closed school doors.

On another level though, the title represents a tiny piece from my past–a failed marriage and huge amounts of debt to go along with it. During this time, I was filled with anger, shame, and pain–and so, I stayed silent, trying to work it all out by myself, and never reaching out for help. When I finally broke the silence and told my family I was leaving that marriage, and that I was going to reinvent myself and my life, something amazing shifted within me. And…I vowed never to be silent when I was in so much pain again.

How long did it take you to write your memoir?

The writing of the memoir, at least the first draft, went pretty fast. After leaving the classroom, I took the month of July (2013) to bounce back from a terrible event that happened within the final 40 days (You will have to read the book to find out!), and then in August, I started writing. I would get up at 4AM and write until 7AM, every single day.

When I got to the parts that were really hard, I decided to pack myself up and go visit my parents so I could find the peace and solitude necessary to write through the tough topics. I spent 10 days with them, in a little cabin in the woods, and finished the first draft. That was in September.

In November, my manuscript was sent off to my editor, and then…the process of several rounds of rewriting began. I signed my publishing contract in April…and here we are!