New Biography Challenges he Stigma of Mental Illness

With us today is Stella Mazzucchelli. Her first book, Silk Flowers Never Die, was recently released by Dynasty Press. Welcome Stella. Itīs a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Thank you for inviting me. I was born in Athens. My father was Greek and my mother South African. I fell in love with Riccardo Mazzucchelli when I was sixteen. At eighteen, being too young for my parents consent, I eloped to Zambia to marry him. I gave birth to my son Fedele the same year. After twenty-two years, as most teenage romances, we grew apart and I made the decision to abandon the marriage. The bond between us has remained strong. Unfortunately, to see me through those roller-coaster years of extreme love and turmoil I began to rely heavily on alcohol so much so, it became an issue that affected my everyday living. Riccardo went on to marry Ivana Trump which unfortunately coincided with my son's onset of schizophrenia. Living through the initial stages of his illness was the most traumatic experience of my life, especially as I was still in the process of combating my own demons. After my son got married and his wife gave birth to his daughter, his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. During that period there was an abundance of clashing emotions: Love for my newborn granddaughter Katerina, witnessing Naomi wither away from cancer and not only fearing for my son's health, but the incapability to ease his pain as his family was slowly disintegrating. Needless to say, when my daughter-in-law died I stepped into her shoes to raise Katerina. My love for her was incentive for me to stop drinking. Today, she is a feisty, beautiful, intelligent thirteen-year-old who lives with me in Athens. She is the bonus God gave me to counteract the sadness.

What is Silk Flowers Never Die all about?

I take my reader through my son's illness and how I confronted and learned to live with schizophrenia. I describe the courage, love and care my son showed his wife as she battled cancer. I open my heart without shame admitting my alcohol dependency and the effect it had on my life and my family. Last and not least, the beauty of having a newly born handed to us in the midst of such misery.

Was it difficult to write so candidly about your life and dealing with your sonīs mental illness?

It was indeed difficult as I had to live through all those tragic moments once again, but my need to share my experience was such, I persevered without hesitation.

What do you hope readers will learn after reading your book?

I sincerely hope that they will look upon mental illness in a more humane and caring manner. I hope that I have given courage to people who are battling with alcohol related issues to give up the habit. They might not think that they have the strength to confront life minus tinted glasses, but through my own experience I hope I have proved that there is a lot of undiscovered will beneath our layers of self doubt and insecurity, it is just a matter of making the decision to reach within and find it. Last but not least: Never give up. Life is like a book, days are like pages, some are good, some are bad, if we don't turn the pages we will never know.

Where can readers purchase a copy of Silk Flowers Never Die?

For sure through Amazon. I am not sure concerning book stores as my book will be released in the U.S. on October 20th.

Where can readers find you online?

Twitter, Facebook, my e-mail stellamazzucchelli@live.com and the publisher's website: http://www.dynastypress.co.uk/. I am working on getting my own website set up soon.

Should we expect to see more books from you in the future?

Feeling too drained to write another heart wrenching story just yet, I shall enjoy writing a humorous fluffy account of my dog's life. His name is Ceasar and is a Doberman camouflaged as a Poodle.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I recommend that when happy moments pass our way, grasp them, be thankful and wait for them to come again.

Thanks for joining us today. We wish you great success.