An Interview with Michael Reed
On November 28, 2016, I lost my wife and both of my daughters in the wildfire that consumed Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As I have stumbled and crawled down this unstable, broken road of grief, I have learned many lessons along the way. I have learned that trauma, pain, loss, and grief are universal, almost like a mutually understood, unspoken language. Regardless of who you lost, whether it be a parent, friend, spouse, child, grandparent, mentor, or even a beloved pet, the feelings associated with losing someone you love can change your life forever. Whether you lost someone 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago, these shared feelings of hurt, sorrow, and emptiness can ultimately have the ability to help us heal. There is a purpose for our pain, and I believe my purpose is to share my story and my experiences to help other people going through similar loss, trauma, or grief. No matter where you are on your journey, I promise you are never alone.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I wrote this book in memory and in honor of my wife and two daughters, whom I lost in the 2016 Tennessee wildfires.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
For generations, we have been told there are five stages of grief. But grief isn’t a linear process. Instead of five stages, it feels more like a million stages that can consume someone’s life. I’ve learned that we are all connected. Everyone experiences loss, grief, or trauma in their lives. Grief doesn’t necessarily mean death. Grief can come as a divorce or a job loss, and the emotions associated with those hurts are all the same. This book teaches people how to harness their pain and use it to help other people with their pain.
Describe your dream book cover.
I created my book cover symbolically for me. To this day, I still struggle with crippling PTSD. My two biggest triggers are fog and trees swaying in the wind. So, I intentionally designed the cover to reflect my biggest fears because even though those fears are right in front of me, all I have to do is open the book to find healing.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
“In Loving Memory” – Alter Bridge
“Why God” – Austin French
“The Story of my Life” – One Direction
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I am halfway through my degree in behavioral health science, and will be graduating in 2027. I have turned college into a form of therapy for me. I went back to college for two reasons: first, I wanted to acquire the skills to be able to professionally help other people with their pain. Secondly, I am obtaining it so I can finally begin to understand why I am still so broken.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Aside from college and being an author, I also work as a zipline guide. I never had the chance to zipline with my girls before they passed. Now, they fly with me every single day.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I was in the national news when the fires ravaged our town, and I became the face of the fires in the eyes of the media. Several years ago, I started a blog where I poured out my heart and tried to gain an understanding of the magnitude of the loss. The blog became very popular, and for years people have asked me to write a book. Publishing the book was me finally taking the first step out of the darkness that consumed me for so long.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I like to write in the dark while listening to songs my girls and I used to listen to together.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
There is a purpose for the pain. My purpose is to now help others with their pain. I can do it. I am strong enough. I am brave enough. It is time to walk into the light again.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope readers see one line in the book and say to themselves, “Oh my gosh, that’s EXACTLY how I felt. Now it makes sense!”
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