A Chat with Laurie Finkelstein, Author of Next Therapist Please
Next Therapist Please was inspired by author Laurie Finkelstein’s real-life events and struggles. Laurie weaves her personal experiences with mental illness into her hilarious, sidesplitting story. Grab a cocktail and enjoy this one-on-one chat with Laurie.
The novel tells the story of Janie, a free spirit and endearing main character who marches to the beat of her own drum. Janie has passed through so many therapist offices she cannot keep track, so she has started referring to each therapist by number. While some have helped Janie, others were duds. Janie recalls her experiences with a cocktail in one hand and a paint brush in the other.
Awesome fact about Laurie: She is so passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness, that she donates 10% of each book sale to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Q: If you could give your book to one celebrity, who would it be and why?
A: Ellen DeGeneres. She would love the book and want to bring me on as a guest to talk about breaking the stigma of mental health one laugh at a time. All audience members would receive the book, and Ellen would bring out a big check donation to NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness. I donate 10% of my sales of Next Therapist Please to NAMI. With the rash of celebrity suicides it is essential we reach as many people as possible to give a message of hope.
Q: What advice would you give to Janie in your book and why?
A: Embrace and love herself for who she is despite her challenges. To be gentle and kind with her when depression or anxiety intrudes her day. Janie needs to know her mental illness does not make her less of a person. Learn and practice mindfulness, which will help manage her illnesses more effectively. I need to take that advice LOL!
Q: If your book were turned into a film/TV show, whom would you tap to play Janie? Why?
A: Leslie Mann is my ideal Janie. She has great comedic timing and plays tragedy really well. Love her voice and look.
Q: What three books are on your To Be Read list this summer?
A: LOL – that’s like choosing your three favorite Jelly Belly combinations. Checked by Jennifer Jamelli, Hypnotic Seduction by L.L. Kellogg, and Baker’s Dozen by Autumn Doerr are three of many.
Q: What is the core message you want to deliver to the world through your writing/books/stories?
A: I want to champion the underdogs, the leftovers. I want to be an example of successful living with mental illness in all its messy roadblocks and detours. I want to help people talk about mental illness openly and freely. I want to raise awareness and money for research and treatment of the mentally ill.
Rapid Fire Questions and Answers
Q: Guardians of the Galaxy or XMen?
A: XMen
Q: Meat or Veggies?
A: Veggies
Q: The beach or the mountains?
A: Beach
Q: Kittens or puppies?
A: Kittens
Q: Ninja or pirates?
A: Pirates
Q: Selfie or group photo?
A: Group Photo
Q: E.L. James or J.K. Rowling?
A: J.K. Rowling
Q: London or Istanbul?
A: London
Q: Hippies or hipsters?
A: Hippies
Q: Miley or Selena?
A: Selena
Want more? Grab the novel on Amazon!
