BOOK RELEASE
I’m so excited to share that my first book, Temporary Beauty: A Memoir about Panic Disorder and Finding Purpose Through Art and Meditation, is officially available on Amazon.
I honestly can’t believe I got up to the courage to actually share this book. It’s essentially all of my deepest, darkest secrets tied up in a nice little bow. There have been moments where my stomach has dropped, knowing that people might read these stories. But I keep reminding myself that if I’m nervous, then I’m doing something right. I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone and testing my limits. I’m living my life to the fullest. When I was growing up and going through the dark moments of my mental health journey, I was constantly searching for books that would validate my thoughts and feelings so I could feel less alone. I loved angsty coming-of age novels and books like It’s Kind of a Funny Story and The Bell Jar. I like to think that I would have loved stumbling across Temporary Beauty during that time. In my more adult years, I fell in love with books like The Collected Schizophrenias, Educated and World of Wonders - creative memoirs and honest accounts of personal struggle. While I’ve never really been the kind of artist to be majorly creatively influenced by the work of others, I do think Temporary Beauty falls somewhere in the vein of these books. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum, which lends to a lot of loneliness and insecurity, but I think has also allowed me a lot of room to grow as an artist. Ultimately though, if I’m able to help even just one person to feel some camaraderie with this book, then it was all worth it. We’re all just searching for community and understanding, especially as we’re navigating difficult times.
Temporary Beauty is a collection of memories, poetic ponderings, travel adventures, journal entries, nightmares, and love stories, following Myles through her picturesque childhood in the Blue Ridge Mountains and on to her adventure-filled twenties as a photographer in the Pacific Northwest, discovering herself as an artist. After her diagnosis of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and OCD in high school, she spent her college years struggling to find her footing, finding solace in art, meditation, and travel. Temporary Beauty is a reflection of what it means to be a career-driven woman in modern society, an honest and unapologetic account of the darkness that mental illness can bring, and a conscious reminder of the fragility and beauty of human existence.
"And regardless of my mental illness, deep down I do believe that the day will come where I can walk through the woods, alone, and feel not an ounce of sadness or crippling fear. The grass will be filled with neon-green four-leaf clovers, and delicate pink blossoms will hang silently from the perfectly silhouetted fog-lined trees. I will smile to myself about all that I’ve accomplished. I’ll be proud of myself for defeating my unhinged mind. But that would mean that I’d have to have won the ultimate battle. The one between me and my anxiety. The one battle that never seems to end." — From Temporary Beauty
If this book sounds like something you could relate to, I’d love for you to read it.
And if you feel inclined, please leave a review on my Amazon page when you finish reading it! It will help others to be able to find my book too! And make sure to follow my author page on Amazon for future releases.
Thank you all for your support as I’ve been navigating this journey of becoming an author!
<3 Myles Katherine
WHERE TO BUY
REVIEWS
“This might be the best memoir I've ever read. Vulnerable, raw and honest, it was an inspiring read that made me feel connected to the world around me. I recommend it 100%, especially to those who struggle with mental illness.” -Evita D.
“Temporary Beauty by Myles is a journey through the heart and mind of a young woman navigating life’s ups and downs with grace & resilience. The book is like a scrapbook of her life, filled with beautiful memories, poetic reflections, and honest glimpses into her struggles with mental health. Her journey is inspiring, especially as she learns to find peace in art, meditation, and travel. "Temporary Beauty" is more than just a memoir; it's a celebration of strength, creativity, and the delicate dance of life. If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling inspired and connected to the fragility and empowerment of the human spirit, this one is for you! 💕” - Novels with Katie
““I think the fact that I have anxiety leads to a fear of my anxiety taking over my life, which leads to a constant battle with myself to prove that I am not just anxiety. I do believe that I was meant for something much greater than that, which is why I continue to fight it every day.”
A scrapbook of Myles’s existence as she treads the fierce waters of living as a woman with an anxiety disorder. It includes her first hand accounts, photographs, journal entries, beautiful prose, triumphs and tribulations.
I immediately connected with Myles due to my own diagnosis of “panic disorder/generalized anxiety disorder.” The aloneness one can feel while having severe panic attacks daily and with constant triggers is absolutely crippling, and reading Myles’s story was like a mirror at times. But, she found herself within the chaos and as a reader and fellow worrier, it was lovely to see. She defied all odds and wrote a book, became an accomplished photographer, has a partner who accepts her completely. A worthwhile memoir, and I’m very happy to have read this.” -Venus