Goodreads asked Joseph Rauch:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Joseph Rauch The idea for my debut novel, "Teach Me How To Die," came to me during a series of nightmares I had when I was enduring the worst of my clinical depression. Most of the outline unfolded in one dream.

I had been depressed to the point of wanting to die, but not considering suicide. Many years of repressed emotions and frustrations will spilling out. Because of my intense psychosomatic symptoms, I physically felt like I was dying, like my body was shutting down.

If you read the book, you will see how my struggle inspired many aspects of the story and Walter's character. Obviously I hadn't thought about assaulting anyone, though. That's one of the big differences.

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