Character Interview with Amanda from Whether I'll Live or Die by Stacy Eaton

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with Stacy Eaton

Guest Hostess today is Amy Manemann!!!

Today we have Amanda with us from Whether I'll Live or Die written by Stacy Eaton

Amanda, thank you for stopping by to visit Stacy's Character Interview Blog, it’s a pleasure having you!

Hi Amy – Thanks for letting me come visit with the WLC today. I know that normally Stacy does these interviews, but with her being my creator and all, I’m glad she got you to fill in.

What can I say; I’m a fill in kind of gal. I’m just glad Stacy was willing to lend you out for the interview. Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, let’s start with your story.

So… Whether I’ll Live or Die starts off when I am 19. I’m young, naïve and just want to be loved. I know that what Steve does to me is wrong and I try to get away. Little did I know that going to Mark for help wasn’t going to make things better. Between the two of them they rocked my world, and not in a good way.

Having never been in a situation like that, I can’t even begin to imagine the conflict you went through.

When I finally got up the courage to change my life, I moved away and focused on my job and schooling. I was so lucky to have an aunt who would let me come stay with her while I did these things and got back on my feet.

You’re so lucky to have an Aunt who could help you like that. No matter where you’re at in life, having the support of family can make a world of difference. It sounds like you’re life was beginning to turn around, what came next?

About a year after my ordeal with Steve and Mark, I met Josh. I wasn’t looking for love, but I found it. He made me feel good. Made me feel loved until we were married, then things started to turn the tide and once again I found myself stuck in the middle of an abusive relationship. I knew that most of it was my fault. I knew that I was the reason that Josh got angry all the time. I just couldn’t understand how I could make it better, how I could make him love me.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be loved, Amanda.

I know, but I was blind to the abuse in some ways. Personally I knew that what was happening was wrong, but it is hard to stop when all you want is to be loved and love the one you are with. My life with Josh is rough and there are many ups and downs that we go through. My life will stand on the line more than once… but it is at the end that I will really wonder, If I will Live or Die.

Sounds like a tough spot to be in, let me ask you this – If your creator could have done something differently to you what would you have wanted done?

I don’t know that there is anything I would want my creator to have done differently for me. She tells a story that is very intense and emotional. Maybe my story will help others out there that are in abusive relationship to understand that they need to get out before it is too late.

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

Stacy did a great job of adding all the important parts of my life. She goes through several years of my life, focusing on the ones where the abuse is the worst. I think that she did a good job and I can’t think of anything I would have liked to have added that she didn’t.

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

I’ll start with what I like least about myself… my weakness. For several years I just wanted to be loved, cared for and I found myself in the arms of the wrong men. I wish when I was younger that I could have been strong enough to see what these men were really about and that I could have stopped the abuse from happening.

What is best… well, to be honest… I am the person I am because of what I went through. If I had

not had to deal with those things, then I wouldn’t be who I am today. I believe that there is a purpose for us all, and my purpose was to gain the strength to survive.

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

The hardest thing for Stacy to write was putting me into the abusive situations. Writing the fight scenes where I would get hurt and be scared were very hard for her sometimes. I know that sometimes she would write a few sentences and then walk away from her desk. She was very tense during these wanting to make sure that people could feel my pain and emotions. I think she did a great job – there were times when I knew she had tears in her eyes for the words she wrote for me, but she didn’t stop and worked hard to make it real.

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book. If not, do you wish you could continue your story?

There is no sequel. This story brings my life through a full circle. I have been asked if there is a sequel, but Stacy wanted to readers to decide for themselves where my life went.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I do hope that when people are reading this book that they will be able to understand what I went through. That they will recognize the signs of abuse that might be happening in their lives or a friend’s life. If they do, I hope they look for help! There are so many resources out there to help people – so make sure you take that step!!! I know it’s hard – I really do… just take that first step.

Amanda I am truly touched by your emotional journey. I hope, just as you do, that this book would be a beacon of light to someone else in a similar situation. Living with abuse is a terrible thing, no matter what form it comes in. Being able to find the strength and courage to get out of that situation is no easy feat, but I truly hope that by reading Whether I’ll Live or Die a person in an abusive relationship would be able to see that it is something that can be accomplished. Thank You for sharing your inspiring story.

Thank you Amy for having me here.

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