Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charlotte Maya. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Charlotte, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

When I envisioned my writing life, I never imagined that the memoir I would write would be about my husband’s suicide at the age of 41. Sam was kind and funny and smart. He had a successful career, clients who trusted him, and family who loved him. He was the kind of father who coached his children’s t-ball teams and left work early to attend their parent-teacher conferences.

To say I was shocked when Sam took his own life would be an understatement. And yet, I felt like his suicide was a story demanding to be told. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in this country, across all kinds of demographics. We don’t like to talk about this, but talking about suicide is one of the things that helps most.

My memoir, Sushi Tuesdays, was published earlier this year, and the response to it has been incredibly gratifying. Every time I hear that my writing has made someone feel less alone in their grief reminds me why I felt compelled to share my story.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started writing on my blog, SushiTuesdays.com, with an eye toward completing a full-length memoir. After nearly a decade, Sushi Tuesdays: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Resilience was published in February, 2023. I have also published essays on grief, loss, suicide, and hope in the New York Times (Modern Love and Tiny Love Stories), Hippocampus Magazine, Brevity Blog, and Writers’ Digest. I also teach writing and enjoy helping other writers develop their personal essays into publishable pieces.

I think it’s important to model healing conversations about suicide and mental health. I have spoken on the topics of suicide awareness and prevention, as well as children’s grief and resilience, for groups such as USC/Keck Verdugo Hills Hospital, Ellevate and the National Alliance of Grieving Children. I was recently featured on CNN, as well as NPR’s Airtalk with Larry Mantle, The Satellite Sisters with Lian Dolan, Heart of the Story with Nadine Kenney Johnstone, Daring to Tell with Michelle Redo, and Zibby Owen’s podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. To address the epidemic of suicide, we all need to develop a fluency around suicide. We understand the basics of nutrition and other diseases, such as cancer, stroke, and diabetes; similarly, when we know the signs of mental health struggles, we will be able to address our loved ones’ needs in a more comprehensive way. With knowledge comes research dollars, increased awareness, and community. I welcome the opportunity to speak to groups and organizations.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started my career as a Trusts and Estates attorney, drafting wills and trusts, settling probates and estates. I liked the work and my clients, but it’s tough to balance the practice of law with raising a young family. When I was suddenly widowed myself at age 39, it made me clarify what I wanted to do with my life. I did not want to spend the rest of my career as an attorney. I wanted to write.

This shift happened gradually. I no longer practice law, and I now spend more time writing, teaching, and speaking.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s incredibly gratifying to know that readers are touched by my writing. One of my favorite things to hear is that a reader stayed up way past their normal bedtime because they couldn’t put my book down. As a writer, if I can keep someone turning the page, I’ve done my job. That, and when a reader tells me that, as they were reading, they found themselves laughing while tears were still wet on their cheeks. For me, writing taps into our essential human need for connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charlotte-maya.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottemayawriter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sushituesdays

Image Credits
Karen Ray Photography