Nina Norstrom
Interesting facts...
Nina Norstorm grew up as a daddy’s girl and embracing family went a long way. Early-on in her adulthood, she became incarcerated in the world of toxicity. She started therapy journaling as a means of solace. Her writing was an art for healing and a medium to escape unhealthy relationships. She reaches out to others who may experience toxic relationships and those who are unfamiliar with its destruction. Norstrom has explored and unmasked the many faces of relationships: birth; grief; pain; emotions; life and death situations; diseases; work environments; trauma; and the means of forgiveness. Her literary creations, Not a Blueprint: It’s the Shoe Prints that matter, A Journey Through Toxic Relationships, and Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall . . . Where Does My Self-Love Fall? A Success Guide to Replace Toxicity with Love, are representations of her growth and signifies a milestone . . . from toxic relationships to the transition of non-toxicity. She says, “During my deep dark journey, the whole program of writing therapy was a healing process (medically). It helped shape and transform a toxic journey into a prescription for emotional wellness. Although I’m continuously working on “self,” I’ve been blessed to have seen light at the end of a tunnel ─ reaching a level of personal growth from its processing periods to living a lifestyle of wellness. Through that dark journey, I’ve learned powerful lessons. One importantly, that we tend to give up on ourselves although the Maker never gives up on us.”
Tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up as a daddy’s girl and embracing family went a long way. Early-on in my adulthood, I became incarcerated in the world of toxicity. I started therapy journaling as a means of solace. My writing was an art for healing and a medium to escape unhealthy relationships. This has helped me to reach out to others who may experience toxic relationships and those who are unfamiliar with its destruction.
When and why did you begin writing?
Over a decade ago, I began journaling for therapeutic reasons. I was going through so much stuff in life (emotionally, mentally, and spiritually). Through it all, I've learned that life is full of stuff . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a result, this writing became the inside pages of my dairy.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Initially, I had no desire of becoming a writer or to write a book. My profession was Customer Service guru. For me the writing was a result of life-changing events. It was the factuality of it all that made my storylines embraceable and relatable. Through it all, I've learned many life-lessons.
What inspired you to write your first book?
When I started writing, it wasn’t my intentions to become either a writer or author. For me, it was all about journaling. I was trying to figure out those dysfunctional relationships and to define where I was in life.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes, I like to write as if I’m speaking directly to the reader. As the reader take the journey, it will appear we are sharing the same space while having a one-on-one conversation.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
“Not a Blueprint . . .” is a power and important messages about discovering the beauty in relationships, and how unhealthy relationships can destroy and cripple our lives. At best, it speaks to finding “self-love” and touches on deception at the deepest levels, while introducing the “Insights” learned through the journey called life.
How much of the book is realistic?
Since it is a non-fiction, I had to stay true to the events. On the copyright page, it does indicate the names have been altered to protect identities.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
They are based on actual life events and experiences.
What book are you reading now? Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Prisons without Bars; Lakota Moon Rising; Soulstroller (experiering the weight, whispers, & wings of the world); All the Above (My son’s battle with brain cancer); Letting Go into the Perfect Love; Outshine (An Ovarian Cancer Memoir); Living Aware & Inspired (Intuition, The Bioenergy Field, Mind, and Emotions); HillBilly Drug Baby (the story); Becoming, and etc.
I can’t say there is any particular author that grasped my interest. There are many great books and authors in the circle. One can’t help but like them all. As my bio reveals, “When not reading or writing, you’ll find me supporting an artist at their event.
What are your current projects?
Working on having the release of a VDO trailer. It’s an upcoming platform that showcases talents, using scenes from novels, short stories, screenplays, and/or stage plays performed by live actors. This unique concept allows viewers to see the words come to life and gives an audience a more vivid impression of its (artist’s) storybook and its characters. Something great, new, and exciting that brings flair to the artist’s creation!
Note: I’ve attached flyer that represents snippet of the upcoming VDO trailer.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
For me the toxicity of those unhealthy relationships crippled my ability to function. But it was the writing that became a physical wound healing process . . . one that eased my emotional pain and a shelter for that dark space I was in.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Through those varied life-experiences and my writing, this has afforded me opportunities to do a workshop (titled “Managing Toxicity) inside the prisons (for transitional inmates); and at various libraries. This too has awarded me opportunities to participate in particular wellness programs.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Don’t feel I have a favorite author. But I do embrace and enjoy reading books that are true to life. Those are books that speak to one’s personal journey. And journeys can be very interesting in its discovery, as well as educational.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
1) Be true to self; 2) be willing to pump out lots of writing energy; 3) keep your paper or journal full of thoughts and ideas; 4) be a reader yourself, and write, write, write, and read, read, read.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
When you think there’s no way out of a journey, don’t give up. There’s always a light that awaits you. You don’t have to find it . . . its illumination will guide you through.
One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it? Yes. It is www.ninanorstrom.com
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