Today, we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Gonzalez.
Hi Hillary, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had a passion for writing and storytelling. I grew up on my grandparents’ farm in Southern VA. My grandmother was a tremendous influence on my literary career. She introduced me to classic literature and poetry, and while living on the farm, I developed my love of nature, which plays a large role in my writing. While my childhood may have seemed magical, growing up on a farm, my home life was not. My parents divorced when I was two, which was the reason my siblings, my mother, and I came to live on my grandparents’ farm. My mom escaped a toxic and abusive marriage. I grew up very poor.
My siblings and I dealt with my mother’s unhealed trauma for many years until we all got out. When I was nineteen, I was subjected to an abusive partner. I am finally in a place where I feel safe to talk about my childhood, the experiences I had in early adulthood, and my journey toward healing and finding healthy love at last. “Seasons” is my journey from childhood to adulthood, the relationships I’ve experienced, my love of nature, and the places I’ve lived. It’s my hope that through sharing this story now, I can help others who have shared similar life experiences.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
My journey has not been a smooth road. It has taken me years to unpack everything that happened to me as a child and while in abusive relationships later in life. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in Elementary school, which comes with difficulty completing tasks and inattentiveness.
When I was in my early thirties, I also discovered I was autistic. It’s hard for me to finish creative projects, but this was a story I felt I had to share. I wrote “Seasons” between August and December of 2023. “Seasons” is about my struggles in life, but it’s also a message of hope and overcoming trauma.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
While “Seasons” is my debut poetry book, I have been writing since I was a teenager. I was blessed with amazing English teachers who encouraged me to submit my poems to contests while I was in high school.
In the early 2000s, two of my poems were in the top of winning poems for the Poetry Foundation. There is also a poetry anthology floating around in the world somewhere containing my early work.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
If anyone is interested in purchasing my book, it’s available online wherever they buy books, and I am also shopping it to local bookstores through IngramSpark. I have confirmation that it will be carried at local bookstores here in Baltimore once the book launches in April.
I would love to have author events, signings, and do poetry readings. Readers can purchase my book through my website, which has links to all avenues where the book is sold, and I also have a newsletter sign-up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hillarygonzalezpoetry.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/hillarygonzalezpoetry
- Facebook: facebook.com/hillarygonzalezpoetry
Image Credits
Marco Gonzalez
