Susan Vaught Interview
Check out the awesome questions Mrs. Ada’s students at Indian River High School in Philadelphia, NY, asked me about Freaks Like Us!
Originally posted on The New York State Reading Association Youth Book Blog:
Mrs. Ada’s students at Indian River High School in Philadelphia, NY read Freaks Like Us and sent Ms. Susan Vaught these questions. Thank you to Ms. Vaught for answering and to the students for the thoughtful questions!
Were there real people you based your characters on?
Across my years of practice as a psychologist, I worked with teens and adults with Schizophrenia. Their experiences informed me, inspired me, and humbled me, but I didn’t base my characters on any real people. The characters in Freaks Like Us are from my mind and heart, and that storehouse of experiences so many brave people shared with me.
How did you research what it’s really like to have schizophrenia?
Since around 1990, I have been working with people who struggle with this disorder. That was my primary source of information. I have a doctorate in clinical psychology, and I’ve always preferred helping people…
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