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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, Clarissa Kristjansson shares what inspired her to write her new book, Beyond Hormones: 7 Holistic Ways To Thrive Through Menopause.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Clarissa Kristjansson about her life and career, what inspired her to write her new book, Beyond Hormones: 7 Holistic Ways To Thrive Through Menopause, and how she hopes to help her readers.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
Clarissa Kristjansson, former senior corporate leader and neuroscientist, turned menopause educator, mentor, holistic health practitioner and podcaster. Following a challenging decade-long perimenopause and feeling liberated postmenopause, she went on to quit her corporate career in dramatic style. She began focusing on holistic health support for midlife women. In 2019, she started the Thriving Thru Menopause podcast, a top-rated health and wellness podcast.
Clarissa is passionate about helping women to optimise their health, increase their vitality and view this life transition through a positive lens freed from hype and fearmongering.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
In 2018, I was inspired to write my first book, The Mindful Menopause: The Secret to Balance, Clarity and Vitality Through The Change.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I began blogging and contributing to press articles at home in Australia around 2013, writing about mindfulness and health.
How long did it take you to complete your first book, from the first idea to release?
My first book took 6 months to complete from the initial idea to release in November 2018
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
This book took under 3 months.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Beyond Hormones?
I had been building up a vast repository of knowledge from my work and over 200 podcast episodes with worldwide experts in various holistic health fields connected to menopause.
Women have written to me about the value the podcast brings to their lives, and I wanted to create a focal point with essential fact-based information that could support busy women. Presented in a way that feels like they are talking to a friend.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Beyond Hormones?
What to leave out and how to make a vast series of sub-topics manageable and written in a way that acknowledges the scientific depth yet is in real-person speak.
I wrestled with whether to address hormone therapy and decided to stay true to the podcast and within the boundaries of my expertise as a non-clinician.
What was your research process for Beyond Hormones?
I have drawn on close to a decade of speaking to women across the world about menopause, the information from all my podcast guests over 6 seasons of Thriving Thru Menopause and reviewing some of the excellent recent surveys on perimenopause and menopause concerning key issues in terms of frequency and impact on life quality.
Also, searching for common themes and patterns that speak to women’s issues and the areas where they seek more support. Often, where information is not consolidated, and women have to rely on Dr Google way more than they should.
How did you plan the structure of Beyond Hormones?
Based on the research and understanding of the common self-help books that do well, I settled on 7 key pillars/ways. I book-ended the book with mental health and well-being as this a topic that often gets lost in the discussion of physical symptoms.
The 5 other topics are fundamentals in holistic health – nutrition and gut health, sleep, exercise and movement, alongside sexual health and intimacy and weight gain, which are two significant areas of change and concern for menopausal women.
Also, finding a way to convey that each pillar is interwoven with another pillar – we are a whole person and whole being- is very difficult to compartmentalise without overwhelming and confusing the reader.
I also set out to end each chapter with simple suggestions to take the advice off the page and into real life. Very much following one of my key mantras that thriving at this time involves small steps to big change and that lifestyle habits need to be sustainable amid the messy midlife of our lives.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Beyond Hormones need?
My editing team assisted me in terms of helping to structure the book. It was relatively simple to edit and create a logical flow.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
Plan to do it. Then start.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I am revamping my first book, The Mindful Menopause, to make it more about menopause than mindfulness.
Then, there will be a third book based on the alternative medicine aspects and crone wisdom that have featured predominantly in the podcast but that didnt fit neatly into structure of Beyond Hormones.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment?
Was it worth the effort? Yes I feel proud of this book and from early feedback it is resonating with women and practitioners alike.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3TvQ0Rf
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3TuwQv5
https://clarissakristjansson.com/
https://www.thrivethrumenopause.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissa-kristjansson/
https://www.instagram.com/thrivingthrumenopause/
https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingthrumenopause
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