by Angela Clark & photo by Caroline Finn
A local writer has channelled the pain of a difficult childhood into her work and published eight books in just four years.
Lisa Murray from Bonhill published her first book in 2019.
Most of her writings are in poetry and detail personal experiences she faced throughout her childhood, school, and college years.
Reliving these memories through her writing and therapy, she began to understand why she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how it impacted her mental health.
Lisa said: “If someone in school would have told me you are going to publish books I would have said, no that will never happen.
“I hated English, and my teacher told me not to come back to the classes after fifth year.
“I had no interest in anything and never wanted to learn due to what I was going through.”
Feedback and Encouragement
Lisa didn’t realise how good her work was until she joined a local writer’s group.
She had never shown it to anyone so she was a little apprehensive when she read a poem to them.
Lisa said: “I joined the Phoenix Writers group in Renton and read a poem I had written and I got really good feedback and encouragement from the group.
“So I just kept writing and began to enjoy doing it more and more and realised I was pretty good at it.”
Unfortunately, the writer’s group disbanded due to Covid and Lisa moved to London.
However when she returned to Scotland she discovered the Leven Litts writing group in Alexandria and is currently still a member.
She added: “Most of my writings are about my personal experiences living in London and my mental health.
“My latest book called ‘Fallen Angel’ is an anthology.
“I also did a two-part novella called ‘The Bucket List.’
“It’s stories about what I had been through in life and I just put that into fiction.
“It’s me writing in the third person as I find it easier to write in character.”
Character Strength
Lisa was a victim of taunting for years yet holds no grudges or bad feelings toward those who made her life difficult.
Instead believing she is successful because of them.
“It’s a strange thing to say but these stories have made me stronger and who I am.
“On reflection, I can only thank those people who bullied me and made my life hell and nearly broke me, they have instead made me a stronger person.”
Pegasus Publishing has recently approved the publication of Lisa’s work; her previous publications are available on Amazon.