Welcome, friend! Today I bring you a collaborative post with Cassandra Cordini, author of Happiest in Denial. Let’s welcome her and read an excerpt from the book.
Get to know the author: Cassandra Cordini
Welcome, Cassandra! Tell my readers and me a bit about yourself!
I was born in Romans-sur-Isère, France, and am the oldest of three children and emigrated to Australia with my parents when I was three. My earliest memory is looking out of the plane window while flying high over the clouds that looked like a wad of white cotton with fluffy edges. I am a creative person with an active imagination, and I started writing children’s stories in primary school, with my teacher, Miss Louisa, encouraging me to keep going, which I did. I currently reside in Sydney and graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney and have worked in the corporate world. My motto is work hard, play harder.
My interests are many and include reading and writing, dancing, hiking, knitting, going to the beach, and keeping fit. I have raised two sons and a daughter and whenever I am not pleading with them for help with technology or spending time with my friends and family, I am enjoying a cup of coffee or two, bending a girlfriend’s ear over the telephone, sharing a glass of red over dinner with my man, or having downtime with our gorgeous golden Groodle, Samson.
What inspired you to write this book?
Having recently met many women who have been married to the same type of toxic individual. I decided to write my fiction, inspired by these true-life events as a cautionary tale for women of what can go wrong in a “loving” relationship.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
Five years
What makes your story unique?
It is inspired by true life events and shows the insidious nature of domestic abuse. It is raw, gritty and honest, and I have never come across another book that tackles this topic in this manner.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
All women in a relationship or about to enter one, as well as men to see how not to behave in a relationship.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
I hope none of my readers find themselves in this type of relationship but if they do, I hope it opens their eyes as often I believe you don’t know you’re in a toxic relationship until you take a step back, or sometimes when it’s too late.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
The title of the book, “Happiest in Denial”, also appears in the book, and it is a reference to what many do when in a relationship, in that they turn the other cheek, not wanting to rock the boat or continually argue with their partner.
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
It’s funny how I will describe or paint a scene and nine out of ten people will get what I am illustrating but there will be this one person who interprets the scene completely differently.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Show don’t tell. It took me a little while to grasp because first I was telling, then I was showing too much with not enough telling. Finally, I think I have a nice balancer between both.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
Thanks to my publisher!
Happiest in Denial
Genre: Women’s contemporary fiction
Publication Year: 2022
Who doesn’t dream of true love? When Mia meets Wolfgang, she thinks all her dreams have come true. Blinded by her passions, she plunges into marriage, even though dark shadows seem to hover around him. Wolfgang can’t hide his true nature and in time even Mia is finally forced to confront the truth about her husband. Dignity and self-respect come at a terrible price – will Mia pay it or will she be forever Wolfgang’s plaything?
Content notes from the author:
This story, and all the names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this book are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings and products is intended or should be inferred.
This story contains strong adult themes, violence, graphic language, some graphic sex scenes and may trigger stressful episodes, if the reader has experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse. If this story triggers anything for you, please ring Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Book Excerpt from
Happiest in Denial
Two days later, they were at the airport on their way back to Sydney. They were standing in a long, slow moving queue with their passports at the ready. Wolfie was leading them, Mia stood behind him with Alex on her left and Chloe to her right.
Wolfie turned to look at Mia. She smiled lovingly at him.
Oh shit! What’s with that face?
He looked like a coiled snake, and she knew she was about to feel the sting from his fangs.
‘You’re a fucking bitch!’ he hissed, ‘I’m sick of you! I’ve had enough! When we get back to Sydney, I want a divorce.’
Mia flummoxed, ‘What …? What are you talking about? What’s happened? I don’t understand.’
‘Shut your mouth! I don’t want to hear it! I’m telling you, we’re through! When we are back in Sydney, I want a divorce!’
Staring into his eyes, the venom was there for all to see. She could feel the menace and swallowed down the retort she was longing to give. He continued hurling insults at her. The children were scared and uncomfortable, nervously looking at their parents and each other. Mia was completely taken aback, where had this come from? She began crying. He was having another one of his manic moments, and all she could do was comfort the children and get them safely on the plane and back home. Though they both felt insecure in that moment, they knew that their mother would always protect and be there for them. They always sought her out, when they needed support or guidance. Once again, Mia did not understand what was happening
Is this one of your manic moments again? I can’t keep dealing with your shit! Enough is enough. If you want a divorce so badly you can have it!
Back in Sydney, she agreed. She could no longer be married to this crazy man! He had once again drawn up an Excel spreadsheet, with a suggested division of their net assets. He had also started throwing things away, including gifts she had given him. Amongst the items, she found an album full of explicit photos that he had compiled of her. In some, she wore garters and stockings, in others she was completely naked, legs spread. There were close ups of her touching herself and one with a vibrator inserted inside her. He had posed her in all of these. In some, she had semen on her stomach, her breasts, or around her neck. He had called this a pearl necklace. He had made her take the film to the local discount store to be developed. When she had collected these photos, the girl behind the counter had given her a knowing look and had a smirk on her face that read, ‘I know what you get up to, slut!’ Mia had felt self-conscious and cheapened, and told Wolfie, but he ignored her feelings. ‘Don’t worry about it. Everyone does it.’
I don’t believe you. What about using a Polaroid camera like I suggested, so I don’t have to feel publicly embarrassed and humiliated? Who knows if these people haven’t made copies and now show them to friends and family for a laugh? You’re not being protective of me!.
She destroyed the album and the negatives and any photos she found loose or on his computer. She decided then and there that she would never let anyone photograph her like that again. As Wolfie continued on the path of divorce, Mia could see that he would have moments of what she would call lucidness. During one of these, she said, ‘Wolfie, go to the doctor, please! You tell me on our 19th wedding anniversary that you love me, and you want to spend the next 19 years with me. Then two days later, out of the blue, you hurl insults at me and want a divorce. Something is very wrong. You told me that your doctor, had changed your anti-depression medication before we left. Has he been monitoring you?’
‘No. He told me to come back if I needed to.’
‘That’s ridiculous! Please go back and see him, you need to! The dose or the medication is wrong for you. Something’s not right.’
In the end, Wolfie did visit his doctor, he altered his medication, and he returned to a semblance of his old self. He calmed down and no longer wanted a divorce. Things went back to ‘normal’ and Mia was left to handle this peculiar upheaval on her own, as usual. She knew he had a mental illness. The years of highs and lows were proof enough, along with the anti-depressants he required, and the manic mood swings that led to personality changes every several years. She still believed they were all better off together, stronger in their family unit. Her vows had also been, ‘in sickness and in health, for better and better’, she had made a promise. When he chose to have his illness managed, things were stable, and he would be reasonable.
There had been no ‘better and better’ from him, she had experienced so much worse and worse. Every five to six years he seemed to lose his grip on reality. There would again be major bedlam before things would once again settle down.
Interested?
Find Happiest in Denial on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Cassandra on her website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
Cover image: Photo on Unsplash
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