When I sat down to write Soul, I had no idea how much of my own life would weave its way into the pages. It’s often said that writers leave pieces of themselves in their stories, and for me, this book became a mirror of some of the most challenging moments of my life. From chronic pain to personal loss, Soul is more than just a fantasy story—it's a raw, honest reflection of my own experiences.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at a young age, and it turned my world upside down. The constant, unrelenting pain was one thing, but being placed on strong medications that dulled more than just the physical hurt was another battle entirely. It felt like a part of me was slipping away, buried beneath the weight of pills and pain. I struggled with what it meant to live with an invisible illness, to put on a brave face while my body ached in ways that words couldn’t always capture.
These feelings of isolation and resilience are at the heart of Soul. Dee, the protagonist, is trapped in a strange limbo after a car crash, and her journey to reunite with her soulmate, Luke, reflects that struggle to push through the pain, even when it feels like you're lost. Like Dee, I’ve had to learn how to navigate the fragments of myself—some broken, some strong—and find a way forward despite the weight of my condition.
But it wasn’t just chronic pain that shaped Soul. Losing my nan while I was in Spain was another life-altering moment. Watching her pass away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced—something no one should ever have to see. I felt helpless, far from home, witnessing someone I loved slipping away. It was a moment filled with raw emotion, and it's something I channeled into the book. Dee’s journey is one of love and loss, of confronting the deepest, most painful moments in life and finding a way through them, even when it seems impossible.
Every page of Soul mirrors a part of my life. I’ve poured my pain, my love, my grief, and my hope into this story, making it as raw and real as possible because I want you to feel those moments with me. I want you to understand that it’s okay to hurt, to feel lost, or to struggle with the weight of the world on your shoulders. These emotions are real, and they’re normal.
Writing Soul was a therapeutic process for me, but more than that, I hope it becomes a source of comfort and connection for those who read it. If you’ve ever experienced loss, if you’ve struggled with chronic pain, or if you’ve felt alone in your journey, I want you to know that you're not alone. Dee's story may be fiction, but the emotions behind it are very real.
Thank you for allowing me to share this piece of my life with you. I hope Soul speaks to you, just as it has been a part of my healing journey.
Author Georgia Spearing
Comments