An Interview with Katonya Trent
Katonya is the author of 22 and 6 Born on 11/26, a memoir that chronicles her journey as a mother whose son was born at just twenty-two weeks and spent six months in the NICU. Through honest storytelling, Katonya shares the emotional realities of prematurity, faith, resilience, and life beyond the hospital walls. She is also the founder of Konnected Thru 22, an organization dedicated to supporting families impacted by premature birth through stories, resources, and community. Katonya uses her voice to raise awareness, encourage healing, and remind NICU families they are not alone.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
What inspired me to write my memoir is that I had never heard of a story like mine. I wanted to raise awareness of premature birth and also give others the freedom to be OK with sharing their story and experience of having a premature birth. Society tends to only display the beauty in childbirth and somehow leave out what could possibly go wrong.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The book title came easily. I knew I wanted the titles to be unique and significant to the story. I was twenty-two weeks and six days pregnant when I gave birth. My son was born on November 26.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
Count on Me.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write is on the beach.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
The advice I would give my past self at the start of my writing journey is to keep going. Don’t get discouraged and your story is worth telling.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
The one thing I hope sticks with the readers after they finish my book is that they truly understand what one could be going through physically, mentally, and emotionally when having a traumatic birth experience. I hope the readers are inspired and are able to see the hope and resilience in the story.
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