Write Like Life Depends on It

Family Secrets, Second Chances & Finding Your Voice

This week on Writes4Women, Pamela sits down with the wonderful Chrissie Bellbrae—author of The Florentine Quilt—to talk about the power of weaving personal history, mythology, and resilience into fiction.

Chrissie shares how a deep dive into her family’s past sparked the idea for her novel, why she took control of her publishing journey, and how surviving breast cancer reshaped her approach to writing. If you’ve ever felt the pull of an untold story—or wondered whether it’s too late to chase your writing dreams—this episode is for you!

🍿 For paid subscribers: Chrissie shares the toughest moments of her publishing journey—the close calls, the long silences, and the rejection that nearly made her give up. She reveals why she chose self-publishing, the creative freedom it gave her, and the emotional moment of finally holding The Florentine Quilt in her hands—and giving a copy to her mum.

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Here are the top three takeaways from Pam’s conversation with Chrissie:

1. Turning Family History into Fiction 🏡

Chrissie’s love of genealogy led her to uncover gaps in her family’s history—mysteries that sparked her imagination. Instead of leaving them as unanswered questions, she wove them into The Florentine Quilt, blending real historical threads with fictional storytelling.

💡 Takeaway for Writers: Your own family stories could be the foundation of your next book. Dig into your ancestry, ask older relatives about the past, or explore historical records—then use what you discover as inspiration for your fiction.

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2. When Traditional Publishing Doesn’t Work, Bet on Yourself 📖

After years of waiting for a small publisher to release The Florentine Quilt, Chrissie decided to take control and self-publish. While traditional publishing had once felt like the only path, she realised that creative freedom and getting her book into readers’ hands mattered more than waiting for industry approval.

💡 Takeaway for Writers: If you’re stuck in publishing limbo, remember that self-publishing is a powerful option. It allows you to bring your book to life on your own terms, with full control over the process—from editing to cover design to marketing.

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3. Writing Through Life’s Challenges & Finding Perspective ✨

A breast cancer diagnosis forced Chrissie to step away from writing, shifting her focus entirely to recovery. But once she emerged on the other side, she returned with a new outlook: writing was no longer about chasing external validation—it was about telling the stories that mattered to her.

💡 Takeaway for Writers: Life will throw obstacles your way, but your writing will always be there when you’re ready. Instead of pressuring yourself to produce, allow writing to be something that brings you joy, healing, or clarity—especially during difficult times.

Connect with Chrissie

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Website

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✨ Subscriber Bonus: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Publishing & Pushing Through Rejection 🚀

Paid subscribers get an unfiltered look at Chrissie Bellbrae’s publishing journey, including:

✨ The heartbreak of “close calls” with publishers—and the months of silence that followed
✨ Why she believes rejection isn’t personal (but waiting in limbo is the hardest part)
✨ How the slow pace of traditional publishing made her rethink everything
✨ The reality of self-publishing: from creative freedom to the unexpected challenges

Chrissie opens up about the emotional resilience needed to stay in the game, how she learned to separate herself from rejection, and why finding the right writing community made all the difference.

Want to hear the full conversation? Subscribe as a paid member to unlock this behind-the-scenes chat and get all the insider insights! ✨

🎧 Get Inspired. Get Encouraged. Get Writing.

Happy writing! 🎉