Aerial “A.J.” Liese is a UNM alum who recently published a powerful memoir, “Three Promises for Jane: A True Story of Madness and Redemption.” Liese returned to UNM Wednesday morning to sign copies of her book and discuss the elements of the novel and her experience writing it.
Q: What was it like sitting down and writing “Three Promises for Jane?”
A: “It was cathartic. It was very intense at times, but it was freeing. It really helped me to understand myself better. I highly recommend people do something creative about (themselves).”
Q: When did you decide to turn your journal entries into a novel to share with the world?
A: “About three years ago, I decided I wanted to write the book and that I needed to write the book. I realized that I told my sister I would do this and that I needed to keep that promise. And I had just come to a point in my life where it was time to do it.”
Q: What led Jane to let you out of your promise to never talk about what happened?
A: “In the end, it was ok. She wanted me to use it for good. And this is a form of using it for good. And that’s another thing I want readers to know: it’s about pouring themselves into other people instead of just amassing a bunch of stuff. That’s not what life is about. It’s about relationships and leaving a little of yourself behind.”
Q: What made you decide this was a story people needed to read?
A: “Well when you write a book, of course you want people to read it and benefit from it... When I was done, after some people finished reading the first draft of the manuscript they were like, ‘This is really good. You need to share it. It could help some people.’”
Q: What were you hoping to accomplish by sharing your story? How did you want readers to benefit?
A: “Well first, some of the proceeds go into a scholars fund in San Juan College for single mothers. Some have already been helped, and the book was only published at the end of last year. For readers, a theme throughout the book is forgiveness, and that if you don’t forgive and you hold in the bitterness and anger from the past, then you’re the one who’s really kept in chains. When you forgive, it’s freeing, and it really renews your life.”
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Q: At the end of the book, you wrote that you hoped its release would help put you back in touch with your family. Has anyone reached out since the book came out?
A: “No. I think because there’s some intense themes in it, and some of them aren’t at the same place that I’m at. They’re still in denial, they’re still in dysfunction, and they’re just not ready.”
Q: Do you still hold on to the hope they will reach out someday?
A: “I do.”
Q: What is your advice to those struggling with mental illness like you were?
A: “Definitely seek community support, or any type of support you may even have here (at UNM). You may have counseling agencies here... One major resource for me was just picking up the Bible and reading it. Also, asking God to reveal Himself to me. That’s what I did. I was like, ‘Are You there? If You are, show me. Talk to me.’ And He will. He won’t let you down.”
Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: “I think many people want to turn to medication for mental illnesses, and I’m not advocating against it, but unless you get to the core issue, nothing is really going to be remedied. You’re just going to keep amassing (things). On one point, I was on medication for depression, and then (because of) a side effect of that, I had to take something else, and then there was the side effect of that. So I was on like five different things. And what I really needed to get to the bottom of was my anger. I was angry. And I had to learn to deal with that and just let it go. I guess what I’m saying is to look for other healthy avenues. Prayer, exercise, good nutrition, a creative outlet in writing, painting, pouring yourself into others, volunteering. There are so many other ways to deal with internal turmoil.”
Skylar Griego is a culture reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @TDLBooks.
