We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Duran a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is my novel series about mental health. I am currently writing the second book in a seven book series. All throughout school, I’d always been mathematically inclined, but in October 2021, I discovered my calling. Let me backup and start from the beginning.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain.

I believe we all have a purpose for being born, a calling to make an impact. However small or large that impact is, doesn’t matter, just that we live up to it. My freshman year in high school I was hit with my purpose, to affect great change in the world. Sadly, I didn’t know how I was going to achieve that.

Life had been kicking me so hard around that time, to the point I wasn’t capable of being the man I am today. It prevented me from growing, and flourishing into a healthy person. For years, I wallowed in my own mental pain, until it came to a head when I contemplated suicide. Realizing these thoughts, I checked myself into a behavioral health facility and began the healing process. It was in that facility, in October 2021, I found my passion for writing a story. Not only writing it, but making it easy for the readers to identify with my main character’s struggles.

I poured my heart, soul, and trauma into this first book and will continue to do so for each of the following novels. I want people to read this and realize they’re not alone. That’s why it’s so meaningful to me. I felt alone, like no one understood, and I don’t want anyone else to feel the way I did. This is also a way for me to fight for the future I know I deserve.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name’s Taylor Duran, and I’m from San Antonio. I love playing pool, spending time with family, going for long walks, and writing unique stories that are relatable. I attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, on and off for five years, and have nothing to show for it. That’s okay, because college isn’t for everyone.

I fell into my book series without warning and without prior knowledge of my writing abilities. I am writing a fantasy book series about overcoming the effects of trauma in one’s mind in a realistic and honest way. As much as this series is about fantasy, it’s even more so about the mental health journey.

The common problem for those who are struggling with their own demons is feeling like they’re alone, and that no one understands what they’re going through. However, with my novels being written the way they are, those who read it will see they aren’t alone. Instead, they will see hope within the words and pages they read. Hope for a better future like I found. These novels will not only be a way for people to escape for a bit, but also provide healthy coping skills along the way.

Often, in our darkest places, a single ray of hope in the face of adversity shines its brightest. This line is the reason it’s being written, for hope, and to end the stigma.

I am most proud of the readers’ take-a-way of my novel. Those who’ve read it end up laughing, crying, and rooting for my main character. I am proud of what this is going to do for the world, and what it stands for. This journey from feeling broken, to becoming comfortable being uncomfortable, then to being okay with being vulnerable is difficult.

I was in so much pain for so long; I learned to love it. I yearned for it. When I started my journey, it was scary, and unbearable to me. The closer I came to being healthy and letting my pain go, the more my fears took control. The questions I had playing on a loop in my mind were.

What am I going to do without feeling the pain?

What takes the place of my pain?

Who am I without it?

So my novels are so important to me, and hopefully, the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Before I was in high school, I had always wanted to meet and work with Selena Gomez. I think she’s an inspiration to many people; myself included. When I found out, she had her own mental health journey with a lot of hurdles, as I have had. I knew she would be the perfect person to collaborate with on my series. Over the last eight years, I have been reaching out on social media, and everywhere else imaginable.

Now, she has many people trying to get her attention, but even though I am still very far from her radar, I will hopefully one day work with her. The point I am making is, if you want something bad enough, nothing will dissuade you.

Just because something is hard or very difficult, doesn’t mean it’s not worth going for it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, I want the world to know it’s okay to not be okay. To know and believe better things are to come. It takes a great deal of strength to wake up every day and face the day. I want everyone to know how proud I am of everyone for getting through each day. It may not be easy, and sometimes we want to quit, but it will be okay at the end of the road.

We arrive at many destinations throughout life. Each destination is only as beautiful, salubrious, and perfect, as the journey to get there was long, daunting, and treacherous. It’s easy to forget to enjoy the destinations of life, and it’s harder to dwell on the journey it took to get there. The juice is worth the squeeze.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.officialtaylorduran.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anenlightenmentseries/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlightenmentseries
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-duran-401845100/
• Other: https://www.writersrepublic.com/bookshop/kayla-find-me-enlightenment-series