One of the most powerful things about the gift of literacy is the ability to be transported by words.
There’s something magical about reading or listening to a story and building the images in your own mind. That process makes me feel ten times more connected to characters, and it builds a deep empathy that stays with me long after the last page.
Through books, I’ve learned so much about mental health representation, about experiences far from my own, but also ones that echo my reality.
As someone who lives with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), I’ve found solace in creating a character whose struggles mirror mine in some ways, yet differ in others.
That difference matters.
Because mental health diagnoses do not look the same for everyone. Two people can have OCD and experience it in completely different ways. I wanted my character to reflect that reality, to show both the shared and the unique aspects of living with this condition.
If you aren’t already doing so, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone when choosing books. Pick up a story with mental health representation. Learn what others experience. See their humanity for what it is.
When we read these stories, we don’t just expand our understanding. We expand our compassion.
My new book, Room 214, San Juan, releasing 9/19, centers a main character, Sanaa Jordan, living with OCD. It’s a story about love, connection, and finding joy while navigating mental health challenges and falling victim to the pressure to overachieve.
Stay tuned for ARC announcements, and if you’re interested in becoming a repeating ARC/Street Team member, email me at lovelettercollectorpress@gmail.com.
📱 Let’s Stay Connected:
Instagram: @lbgainestheauthor
TikTok: @lbgainestheauthor
Facebook Group: The Love Letters Lounge
🛍️ Buy Three Months in Accra directly from me bgainestheauthor.com and use code BASHFUL for 30% off the paperback and paperback bundle until 11:59 PM 8/9: (Also available on KU) Preorder Room 214, San Juan lbgainestheauthor.com.
With love & so much light,
L.B. Gaines