Dyslexia: Escaping the Forest
by Rhona MacDonald
About the Book
Rhona grows up with her collected labels of being lazy and immature. She spends her unhappy days, re-doing work, dreading reading sessions, dreaming of escaping it all. She is lost, she does not understand why her efforts results in poor marks, cementing her place in the retard class. She falls further behind in Primary School with a bully of a teacher and her self-esteem is rock bottom. Rhona skilfully develops ingenious strategies and is forever adapting to accommodate the latest challenge. Survival is a daily task. A broken limb and a change of school provides relief. Rhona’s Secondary School English teacher looks beyond the trees of the pre-existing labels and sees the complete view. She sees a bright child with dyslexia and gently shows Rhona a way out of the forest. Rhona still battles with trust and luck and needs all her resourcefulness and determination, but the path looks like it could lead out and so Rhona’s life begins to have hope and a possible future.
“Rhona’s book is a heartbreaking story of a child struggling with dyslexia in the ‘80s. But more than that, it’s the story of a child, like most children in the ‘80s, who was almost never listened to or treated with respect by the adults in her life. This book will show you what it feels like to have dyslexia, and it will also show you what it feels like to have the help in exams which are now routinely given (reader, writer and extra time). Rhona’s compelling story absorbed me from start to finish, and really showed me what Dyslexia was, and is, like for her.”
—Liz Sedley, Creator of Dyslexia Gold
About the Author
Rhona Macdonald was born and raised in the remote Highlands of Scotland. She was 12 years old when she was tested and confirmed as being dyslexic, she has spent her life struggling, developing coping strategies and ultimately thriving due to her dyslexia. This is Rhona’s first novel putting to use her exceptional memory as she recounts the years before and after her diagnosis. She is proud to prove to the teacher who bullied her that she is now a published author, despite her dyslexia. Rhona now lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband and their collection of rescued animals.
audio book: https://audiobooksnz.co.nz/book/detail/270166/dyslexia-escaping-the-forest
Invterview with Rhona MacDonald
Please share a bit about your journey to become a published author?
This has been a very long time in progress. I started writing in 2005. Originally it was meant to be a cathartic project. At the start of the book I have stated that I wrote for myself – to separate, acknowledge and accept my childhood years, the ones that I was told time and time again were “the best years of my life.” I wrote in an attempt to cleanse the soul, to rid myself of the demons, to finally and definitively put to rest these painful and upsetting memories in a bid to be able to look forward with some confidence and a little self-pride. Essentially, I wanted to switch off the lights, turn down the music, and be comfortable with what remains true of my childhood. It was pretty much finished when I came across Julie on a TedTalk. After watching her talk, I emailed Influence Publishing and within a few weeks the manuscript was with the editor.
Show More
How does the writing process work for you? Do you schedule a time every day, work madly when inspiration hits or?
I had a pretty unusual process. Writing or not writing quickly became an inescapable task. I had imagined I would do some work on it and then close the file and get on with life, but it ran uncontrolled in my subconscious mind and consumed many other activities. Oftentimes I wavered and stalled. Rationally, it seemed pointless to dredge up the memories that were smouldering just beneath my consciousness, but something kept me moving forwards. I was supported and encouraged to continue to write by dear friends. I got most of the typing done on weekends, but was thinking about it and composing it throughout the week. I did try and take complete breaks from it, but it oozed back into my subconscious
What did you find most difficult about the writing and publishing process? What was the easiest?
There’s some very dark bits in the book, especially around my primary school years. I found it really hard to write about life then and keep positive about life now. I ended up on anti-depressants and in counselling, which really helped. The easiest part was working with my editor. Her suggestions really helped the flow of the book, as I do jump around in the timeline. Also enjoyed hearing the feedback from the first readers. Their feedback was really validating.
What title (or titles) have you released?
My first book is called Dyslexia, Escaping the Forest: A Child’s View Lost in the Trees. It is a story told by a child, of the child trying to work out her world, and finding out where she fits into that world. In sorts, it is a tale of two teachers, one good, one bad. It is very honest, but frighteningly sad.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Through the long journey of writing and publishing this book – I have lost my shame of being dyslexic. I don’t have to hide it or cover it up – It is what it is. I’m the Clinical Operations Manager at a pharmaceutical company, I do the job whether my boss knows I’m dyslexic or not.
What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
I hope readers gain a little understanding for what its like to be dyslexic. I hope teachers read this book and understand that a dyslexic child does not mean the child is stupid, lazy or immature. It means they have to adapt their teaching so that the dyslexic child is given the opportunity to thrive. I hope no one ever shames a dyslexic person by saying ‘Oh, it’s easy.’ Things are not easy, but most things are possible.