We were lucky to catch up with Nina Norstrom recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nina, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My life was given back to me. Now, I’m on a mission to help others through my messages and workshops I conduct. It can be said that I’ve been reborn!
Nina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
You’ve asked that I share a bit about myself and how I’d gotten into the industry of what I do. Well, I won’t take readers all the way back to where it began. However, I will share a bit about my brokenness, and the new space I’m in.
Who am I? I’m proud to say that I’m an Award-winning Author/Speaker/Wellness Coach. Truly, writing is hard work, and becoming a known author has been difficult. Yet, it’s the profession, I’ve chosen, and a job where one stays focused and dedicated to the task at hand. With this career, there’s a lot of marketing and promoting that goes with the job. Like any profession, it has its ups and downs. I find the hardest task is building my fan base. Not to mention the sweat and tears poured into selling books ─ and hoping readers go online to provide their reviews.
Allow me to give clarity: Obtaining reviews are a challenge (for me). I’m confident many have read my books. Seemingly, I don’t have the volume reviews to offset the purchases. When it comes to book reviews, authors give attention and place importance on the reader’s feedback. I consider a book review our report card. These reviews offer value of being noteworthy or not. Thereby, it’s a reflection of how readers embraced our work. In reality, it’s a way to express their take away ─ and announce what they expected from us (as an author). So, I’d like readers to understand when it comes to a book review, we’re not asking for a book report or long details. Short and simple is always good. Feeding others what the reviewer thought about the book; and if he/she liked or disliked it will sum it up.
Initially, I didn’t carry those mentionable titles. I was draped in labels that set my world on fire. Not to sound brutal about life, I left behind many broken fragments. The 70’s was a year to remember. I won’t walk the trail completely down memory lane. It would be like rewriting my memoir over again. Still, it’s not easy to forget the decades of therapy work, battling demons, and overcoming crippling obstacles. Yes, you read it correctly. I used the word demons. When it boils down to it, we all have our inner demons waiting to escape – to make our lives a living hell. I can’t begin to reveal every uncleaned mess that has happened. Surely, it wasn’t a bed of roses. I’ve seen the darkest of the night. Life has taught me beautiful lessons along the way, and those fractured parts I stumbled over were broken pieces of who I was. Besides suffering from trauma, the impact left me believing brokenness was my norm. There I was a victim of my own shadow ─ running to escape from the pain of feeling abused, abandoned, betrayed, brokenhearted, crazed out, guilt, damaged, depressed, suicidal, shamed, shattered, and split into both literally and figuratively. Just to make it clear, I’m not talking about an ordinary chain of brokenness; it’s the kind mentally broken, emotionally broken, and spiritually broken. That deep down inside you; you can’t fix kinda brokenness. Believing nothing will ever change ─ as if SIN had you by the throat and choking the life out of you. With all the drama and trauma, it was easy to hide behind a mask ─ after the recovery.
Moving forward, journaling and I became best friends. In amazement, the day arrived when I discovered I was my own best friend; and a person I could confide in (irregardless of therapy and meds). Picking up the journal helped me realize time to start protecting that little girl inside. Writing unleashed our pain, our hurt, our ugly stuff, and painful memories. Although I struggled with each episode, venting and breaking through the pain was an outlet for self-expression and self-discovery ─ detailing the stages of a child, the teen, and the adult. Not a Blueprint It’s the Shoe Prints that Matter / A Journey Through Toxic Relationships, the book speaks to our struggles. And classified as a must-read which is evidence of the many book awards. It doesn’t stop there; it gave merit to who I was, the life I’ve led, and the person I’ve become. No doubt, I’ve been through a lot, and there are times those memories still surfaces ─ unexpectedly. Although I’m broken and beautiful, I don’t proclaim to be put together perfectly. Covering up the scars, the cracks and those triggers, I am not by any means perfect. Yes, I’ve grown, learned to feel good about myself, and embraced my brokenness ─ I’ve become more beautiful for having been broken.
Toxicity once controlled me. Now, I’m the Controller of toxicity. I’m a survivor and a wounded warrior. The war-zone I went through reminds me the battle with brokenness is not staying down; it’s getting back up. I won’t forget there was something more rewarding than writing about life experiences. It was the moment I let go of those past events. That was something I didn’t understand until experienced (i.e., holding onto the past keep one in a hurt space). During the cycle, I jeopardized my integrity for a man. I urge everyone, “Don’t ever do that!” Integrity keeps one’s character intact. My journey of dealing with unhealthy relationships has been an overwhelming experience.
Throughout the phase, I made a grand discovery, I was my own abuser. Truly, we can be our worst enemy! Writing may not be for everyone. For me, it was a crutch to hold onto and a way back. Most importantly, it helped break free of an endless cycle. In this life, I can say, “I’ve made a transformation. Yes, I’m broken and it’s beautiful!” Once, I was that Humpty Dumpty broke in pieces. Picking up the shattered pieces and starting anew has been challenging. Being broken wasn’t an overnight fix. I’m still a work in progress, and have accepted that the cracks will always remain.
Decades later, I’ve earned a Bachelor’s Degree. I found myself on another side of the therapy spectrum while helping others through their struggles, challenges, and obstacles. My literary creations are evidence of someone making a wellness transformation. Nowadays, I’m doing workshops on wellness platforms; networking with private schools; libraries; teaching in prisons; speaking at conferences; and wherever else there’s a need. It brings a smile to my face thinking about my passion for volunteering. Recently I took a mentor’s role with the company Finally Set Free. This is an organization serving survivors of domestic violence.
In the meantime, I am working on another literary creation (now doing research), while simultaneously creating the startup for my non-profit organization. As for the writing project, I’m super excited since its topic will be relatable to a wider audience ─ attracting readers from teens to grandparents. This time around if I’m going to exert a lot of energy into writing, I wanted it to grab everyone’s attention. With the subject matter chosen, I’m confident it will.
As for the recovery stage, I probably won’t ever be whole, but I’m in a better space. Each moment, I’m fully alive and completely awaken consider me the fierce-one, determined, stronger, and ready to face obstacles along the path of wholeness. In this rebuilding space, I’m moving toward a new chapter in my life. Knowingly, writing will be dearest to the heart. It’s where I started an entrepreneurial role. There’s always something for me to work on. Now, when asked the question who I am? I can intermix many of those new phrases with the old . . .
Abuser / Award-winning Author / Broken / Brokenhearted / Caregiver / Damaged / Daughter / Depressed / Educator / Enraged / Guilt / Hater / Life-Lessons / Mentor / Mistress / Shame / Sister / Sucidal / Speaker/ Teacher / Toxic / Transformation / Traumatized / Volunteer / Warrior / Wellness Coach / Wife / Worker / Wounded / Writer
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Confession time: “I don’t have this huge reputation; although, I’m striving to achieve one.”
Yet, many know me regardless if they’ve seen my face or not. That’s because I tend to remain faceless behind the writing scene. I have a famous phrase I use, “Please, no photos!” This phrase is one that goes a long way with me and others. Whether you’re familiar with me or not, I’m one who doesn’t embrace a camera. It’s the reason you’ll rarely find my facial image positioned on social media. When connecting face-to-face, I’m easily identifiable among the crowd ─ wearing a hat, and seldom seen without it.
When interviewing, I love wearing my hat with its long, black veil. I hide behind a veil ‘cause it symbolizes a statement for thousands and millions of Americans ─ who remain in that dark place. A space where I once lived for decades. It represents the voiceless; those who are prisoners in toxic relationships and refuse to speak out. It represents relationships that need to be unmasked. Unknowingly, we won’t know who’s behind the mask until its unveiling.
For sure, I’m a huge supporter of other authors ─ even those wellness agents. I love to see what they’re working on. However, it can be difficult operating those types of small businesses. These days, everyone seems to be telling their story; showcasing their writing skills; or into the wellness lifestyle arena. When it comes to my social sites, I’ll repost or retweet their projects. I can’t afford to purchase every business product. Still, I do my fair share (for supporting).
My favorite reading genres are non-fiction and self-help books. Seemingly, reading about other people and their journeys can be insightful. The majority who follow me know I have a reputation for pushing them and their work on my social sites. Many have done the same for me. As I mentioned earlier, it’s been a challenge building and growing my fan base in the marketplace. Certainly, I would love to get more followers, more readers to purchase my work, and for them to provide their feedback.
In closing, Thank you (CanvasRebel) for offering this interview. I’ll leave everyone with this statement . . .
Living this transitional lifestyle, I’m that beautiful-blooming and rich-smelling flower waiting to attract those butterflies. It is there, I’ve come full circle!
Let’s stay connected! My creations are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other brick and mortar locations.
Literary Creations:
Not a Blueprint It’s the Shoe Prints that Matter / A Journey Through Toxic Relationships
Tagline: Every journey leaves an imprint, make yours count!
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall . . . Where Does My Self-Love Fall? A Success Guide To Replace Toxicity With Love
Activity Guide = https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Wall-Where-Does-Self-Love/dp/1608081958/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C177OKUH1XST&dchild=
Tagline: Looking at Me, What Do I Really See?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ninanorstrom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninorstrom55/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nina.norstrom.547/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-norstrom-author-29589b65/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NorstromNina
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ofNWVn0fY
- Other: TikTok = https://www.tiktok.com/@ninanorstrom1
https://youtu.be/1Aw-ank7408
Image Credits
Nina Norstrom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aw-ank7408