INTERVIEWWITH CATRIONADEJEAN SPECIAL
Whenlifetakesanunexpectedturn,itʼseasytoresist.Butwithineverychallengelies transformation.Joyandnewpossibilitiesoftenemergewhereweleastexpectthem.
W e l c o m e t o
U
P u b l i s h
Welcome to this edition of the PublishU Magazine, where we celebrate authors who transform lifeʼs experiences into words that resonatedeeplywithothers.
In this issue, we are delighted to feature Catriona Dejean and her beautiful collection of poetry, Unfolding. Written through a season of profound change, challenge and reflection, her poems capture both the fragility and strength of the human experience.
Unfoldingisapowerfulreminderthatevenin lifeʼs most uncertain moments, there is spaceforhope,healingandquietjoy.
This is more than a book of poetry. It is an invitation to pause, reflect and find meaning intheunfoldingoflife.
Weareproudtosharehervoicewithyou.
MattBird FounderofPublishU
FINDINGJOY INTHESTORM
Interview with Catriona Dejean, authorofUnfolding.
Catriona, congratulations. This isyoursecondbook.
Yeah,thatʼsright.Ineverthought I would even write one book. So to have written a second one is quite amazing. Itʼs a slightly unusual story and chapter in my life. I was encouraged to write it down. And I think it's been really helpful for processing what's happenedoverthispastyear.
What happened in your life has inspiredyoutoexpressyourself throughpoetry?
This past year presented lots of interesting challenges for myself and my family from various bereavements,griefandchanges in our lives. Also I had a difficult health diagnosis and that was a real shock for me. So last year was very much about navigating a lot of that and walking a very uncertainpath.Thepoetrywasa result of the expression of what ha
What new emotions did you learnthroughyourjourney?
hadhappened.SoIwantedtobe abletowritesomethingthateven in the difficult times in the storm andtheuncertainty,thereishope and there is joy. And it's really important to embrace the situation,evenifit'sverydifficult. That'sagreatone.Soatthevery start of this chapter of my life, I sat down with a friend and shared what was going on. She said to me, “This will be a period of unfolding.ˮ And I was like, “What does that really mean?ˮ Andshesaid,“Embraceit,kindof things will unfold in different ways.ˮ And at that point, I was like, okay, I'm going to have to learntositwithgrief,withthejoy, with being patient and work out howI'mgoingtolivemylifenow. So there are still new emotions thatI'mexploringeveryday.
Did the poetry you've written, helpyoulearnthoseemotions?
Yeah, what the poem has really helped me to do was also trying to flip it into what is the hopeful thing that has come out of this. There's one poem called My Name is Joy and it's all around find joy in the everyday. You know,don'twaitforChristmasor the great big holiday, but there's jo
joyeveryday.
Did you hesitate about wanting topublishthem?
Thatʼs interesting. I shared them with a few friends just to see if they resonated and they seemed to resonate. I get some good encouragementandIthinkthisis abitscary.ButbecausethewayI want to write them isthat there's some wisdom in there for others as well. I wanted to be able to share some of this, even though itfeelsquitevulnerableinaway.
This book is now published globally. Do you expect lots of peoplearehelped?
Yeah, I hope it helps people in different places and that people can draw from it what they need todrawfromit.
It'sreallyimportant toembracethe situation,evenifit's verydifficult.
CatrionaDejean AuthorofUnfolding
YOUHAVEA BOOKINYOUTOO
There comes a moment for many people, sometimes quietly and sometimes persistently, when a thought begins to surface…Ihaveabookinme.
It may be a story you have lived, a lesson you have learned or a message you feel called to share, something that could encourage, guide or change the life of someoneelse.Andyet,formany,itremains unwritten, held back by doubt, uncertainty ornotknowingwheretobegin.
Thetruthisthis.Youdohaveabookinyou andyouaremorecapableofwritingitthan yourealise.
Writingabookiseasierthanyouthink,but onlywhenyouknowhow.
With the right structure, support and encouragement, what once felt overwhelming becomes achievable, even enjoyable.
That is why PublishU exists, to walk with you from idea to manuscript, from manuscript to book, and from book to opportunities.
“Writeabookin100days? Yes, it can be done with thisprogramandMattBird holding your hand and drivingyouontothefinish line. Thanks Matt you createdanauthor!ˮ
JojoBateman
“I have been told everybody has a book inside them to write. For 40+ years, I wondered if that was the case. However, Matt has managed to help me find that book inside me and guide me through the processuntilIcanseethe publishing date in the future.Atopcourse!ˮ
Phil
Williams
“Ihadabookidea,butno idea where to start and was actually thinking of working with a ghost writer. Iʼm so glad Matt encouragedmetofindmy own voice and guided me through this process. Beingpartofacommunity helped to make the experience even more enjoyable.ˮ
MeganBingham-Walker
