There are some author journeys that remind you why writing matters — not because it’s trendy, not because it’s fast, but because it’s real.

In this episode of The Author’s Mic™, I sat down with author Cathelina Duvert, and I’m telling you now: if you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, overwhelmed, or like your book will never see the light of day, this conversation is going to land.

Cathelina wrote her novel The Box over the course of 25 years.

And I want you to sit with that for a second — because the internet makes it seem like if you don’t write it in 30 days, publish it in 60, and start “scaling” in 90, you’re doing something wrong. But real life doesn’t work like that.

Cathelina’s story is the reminder that the timeline isn’t the point. Finishing is the point. And sometimes finishing takes time — not because you’re lazy, not because you’re not talented, but because you’re living. You’re working. You’re carrying responsibilities. You’re dealing with things that don’t show up on social media.

What The Box Is About (and Why It Hits Different)

Cathelina shared that The Box is rooted in her lived experience with depression — and what stood out to me is how honest she was about how long she lived with it before she even had the language for it.

Depression doesn’t always show up as “I’m sad.” Sometimes it shows up as anger. Irritability. Feeling misunderstood. Feeling out of place. Feeling like something is wrong with you but you can’t name it.

That honesty shaped her main character, Mia Hill, and it shaped the emotional center of the book — the part that many of us relate to, even if our stories look different.

And what I really loved is that Cathelina didn’t make this a surface-level story. She talked about how the heart of the book became a deep look at family trauma, especially the mother-daughter relationship, and how what happens inside our families can shape our identity, our confidence, and our sense of belonging. Because let’s be real — family is where most of us learn who we are. And when that foundation is shaky, it echoes.

The Publishing Lesson Indie Authors Need to Hear

As you know, I always ask guests about their publishing path because the “how” matters just as much as the story.

Cathelina shared that she originally wanted to go traditional — find an agent, take the longer route, let publishing do what publishing does. But after 25 years with the manuscript, she made a decision a lot of authors eventually make:

“I don’t want to wait anymore.”

So she chose to self-publish, and what made the difference was this: she didn’t try to figure it out completely al

one.

She found support. She joined a writing community, connected with a mentor, and got guidance through the parts that overwhelm most first-time authors: formatting, launching, navigating platforms, finding reviewers, and staying on track.

And that right there is the message I want every indie author to hear: You don’t need to know everything.
You just need to know your next step — and be willing to get support where you’re stuck.

If You’re Stuck Right Now, Here’s What This Episode Gives You

This isn’t just a feel-good interview. It’s practical, too.

• If you’re a writer who’s been sitting on a manuscript…
• If your life has interrupted your writing…
• If you’ve started and stopped a book more times than you want to admit…
• If publishing feels overwhelming and confusing…

This episode gives you permission to keep going — and it gives you a real example of what “keep going” can look like.

Cathelina didn’t rush. She didn’t quit. She kept writing, kept building, kept learning, and eventually she put her book into the world.

That matters.

Watch the Episode

Episode link:
https://youtu.be/QlZAxmFuLDo 

Connect with Cathelina Duvert + Find The Box

• Website: https://cathelinaduvert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathelinaduvert/
• Blog (Cathy’s Cross): https://cathyscross.wordpress.com/
• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-box-cathelina-duvert/1145704258
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Box-novel-Cathelina-Duvert/dp/B0D6LLSKW7
• Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Box-A-Novel/dp/B0FG96DJXZ

Want to be a guest on The Author’s Mic™?

Go to: https://brightheadedpublishing.com

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