Interview with Cathelina Duvert, Author of The Box

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Box?

The Box, started out as me trying to understand the depression that I was going through. I didn’t know at the time I was suffering with depression so I used my story as a way to explore my feelings and circumstances. I gave all of my depressive feelings to my main character Mia Hill to see what she would do. As I learned more about my depression, I found more ways to challenge her. I feel like one of the things that has helped me deal with depression through the years was writing about it through Mia.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Box, what would they be?

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. Despite all the heartache and emotional turmoil my main character goes through in the book, she finds the fight inside of herself in order to get through them and survive the best way she can.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite genre to read is literary fiction and it happens to be the genre I like to write as well.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

‘The Niger Wife’ by Vanessa Walters, ‘Open Water’ by Caleb Azumah Nelson, ‘The House of Broken Bricks’ by Fiona Williams, and ‘What Eyes Can’t See’ by Paulette Stout.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There are so many! But without giving anything away, I loved writing the scene when Mia stood up to her boss at work, demanding a position she knew she deserved. She demonstrated strength, confidence and an audacity that I wish came naturally to me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I like to wake up at 4:45 every morning to write because I feel like that is the time I am at my most creative and there is so much less distraction!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I believe that one of the things that can help us overcome depression and trauma is if we use our creativity (drawing, painting, writing, gardening, dancing, etc.) to expel the emotional pain we are suffering with.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I want readers to remember that we are all going through our own traumas that shape us into the people we are today. It’s important that we learn to communicate with each other to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary emotional pain.

Cathelina Duvert is the author of the new book The Box

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