I recently came across an excellent book: “Finding The Rainbow” by Rachel McGrath. I was hugely impressed with this true tale of a hope and endurance. Here is a snippet from one of many 5* Amazon reviews:
The book takes us through the author’s failed pregnancies and her attempts to get pregnant in minute detail, taking us onto the emotional and physical rollercoaster ride that her life has been.
This is a very impressive book. The author must have found it quite difficult to open up so much about her personal experience of trying to get pregnant and I applaud her for her courage.
I imagine this to be very useful to people who are in the same situation. I know a few couples in my circle of friends who are challenged in the reproductive area and so I thought that I knew a fair bit about the problems that can occur. Far from it. As the author states: every experience is different and every couple is different. This book tells only her story but it surely opened my eyes and made me see how much more complictated it gets, and how much lies in the details.
Written in accessible and simple prose this has no pretence. McGrath tells it all, brave and hopeful, informative and encouraging. Highly recommended.
Newsflash: Her children’s book “Mud on Your Face” has just been released yesterday. More about this at the end of the interview.
Here is my interview with Rachel.
Please, tell us a little about yourself as writer and as person.
I’m an Australian who came over to the United Kingdom in my early thirties for my professional business career. I still hold down a busy job, but writing has always been my passion. I guess I enjoy having lots on my plate, and I like to challenge myself, which is why I am now delving deeper into my writing as something I can hopefully pursue as more than a hobby in the future.
Tell us about your writing history. When was the first time you decided to write and when was the first time you did?
I had always aspired to be a writer and published author, but life and time had always pushed that aside (or excuses!). I would write in my late teens, entering short story competitions and poetry submissions. The passion has always been there, but now I feel much more confident about my style and my ideas, and I obviously have a little more life experience to include into my work!
Did anyone influence you / encourage you to become a writer?
My mother was an English Teacher, so she always encouraged me to write. As a girl I loved classics like Little Women and the character of Jo (as a writer) was one of my favourites.
When did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s)?
That one came a little by accident. I had no ambition to ever write such a personal memoir, but going through my experiences with infertility and miscarriage became quite a lonely space, and so I did what felt natural to me, I wrote about it. In a way it was therapeutic. When I realised how much I had written, I felt strongly about sharing that story with other women, hopefully to help them through an incredibly tough time, with some hope and foresight.
Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?
Well, at the moment I am writing a fiction project, and my prior book was non-fiction. Sometimes it feels like I have a myriad of different ideas, I try to capture them and work on one project at a time. I am conscious of spanning into different genres, but also as a new author, I’m trying to find my space in this vast world of writing.
What is your life like outside of writing?
Busy! I love to travel, and I travel a lot with friends, family and also work. I also keep up a busy social agenda and when I’m not working or playing, I’m writing. I barely sleep at times! I find it hard to sit still, which is why writing works for me, as in a way it relaxes my mind into a different world altogether.
What makes you laugh?
Mainly really stupid jokes! Otherwise my husband always makes me laugh, even when I’m cranky at him.
Who would you like to invite for dinner?
Wow, I have so many on my list. I would love to invite Anne Boleyn. I am tragically addicted to royal history and she is the most intriguing of them all for me. Otherwise, I would say the Queen – I would love to see what she really thinks with her guard down and perhaps a few G&Ts through the night!
What song would you pick to go with your book?
A bit cliché but probably Somewhere over the Rainbow by Judy Garland…. I truly believe that rainbows come in different shapes and sizes.
What are you working on now?
I am finishing – as we speak – a children’s fiction novel. I have just had the illustrations finished, and so I’m in the final stages before it will be ready to produce. Very exciting, as this will be my second published work, and a completely different genre. 
Is there anything you would like us to know about yourself and your books?
I have to say the world of writing and authors has surprised me immensely. One year ago I had no idea what this world was like. What has been amazing, is the ongoing support, friendship and guidance from fellow authors, particularly through the world of social media. I cannot help but be grateful for those I have met on this journey. I would like to hopefully return those favours one day, and I would be glad to help anyone on their first steps into this world, as I have truly learned so much in a short time, and I am still learning!
Her blog on Finding the Rainbow – www.findingtherainbow.net
Gus is a seven-year-old boy who comes from a very large family with eight brothers and sisters.
Sometimes Gus feels left out, picked on, or even forgotten by his family. He wonders what life might be like if he had no brothers or sisters, and if he was an only child.
On a family camping trip Gus finds himself lost in the woods, left behind by his family.
A different adventure takes place for Gus with a strange new friend.
Be careful what you wish for….
This is a fun adventure book filled with illustrations, aimed towards seven to ten year old children.
Author Bio
Rachel McGrath grew up by the seaside in Queensland, Australia, where she studied before moving to the United Kingdom in her early thirties. She currently lives near London in the United Kingdom. Rachel has always had a passion for writing both fiction and non-fiction and she has only recently published her first novel. Finding the Rainbow is an intimate memoir through her challenges with trying to conceive and recurrent miscarriage. Rachel has also started blogging, specifically on her own fertility journey, a subject she feels is not openly talked about and she is passionate to share with a wider audience. www.rachelmcgrath.net
writerchristophfischer 
Reblogged this on nativemericangirl's Blog.
Thank you for the re-blog 🙂
Thanks for the introduction, Christoph. Little Women and Jo were also (are) one of my favourites. Good luck with both books!
My pleasure Olga. I’m so glad to have Rachel and her books on my blog 🙂
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: .
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Best wishes for great reads!