Joanne Dzierza released her second book on Oct. 1, a collection of poems telling personal stories on hard-hitting themes. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

TRUE STORIES

‘You can let go of the trauma:’ intensely personal experiences drive new book

Oct 9, 2021 | 6:58 AM

NANAIMO — The process of writing a new book was a cathartic one for a local author.

Local poet, musician and radio host Joanne Dzierza released “The Mountains Mock Our Egos” on Friday, Oct. 1, her second book and comprised of a collection of poems.

Dzierza said the subject matter is very heavy and hits close to home by dealing with topics like heartbreak, jealousy, self-worth and sexual abuse.

“The poetry helps to cushion you in a way where once you’ve written it all down, created a bit of an external experience in writing or reading it, you can let go of the trauma. You can then also take control of the narrative.”

The final product is the result of two years of work spent writing at Nanaimo breweries and coffee shops.

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It wasn’t until about half way through when Dzierza decided to format the collection into a story with common themes throughout.

“It would feel incomplete if there wasn’t a story behind it, a beginning, middle and end. It felt like there needed to be a big sigh of relief at the end so putting it in the form I did made that experience for the reader a possibility.”

The book tells her story, through poetry, over the last ten years of Dzierza’s life.

Her title stemmed from a road trip Tofino where she found the mountains represented the ups and downs, positives and negatives of her lived life experiences.

Messaging contained in the book, combined with the actual process of creating it was a form of therapy and reassurance.

“So many other people are experiencing the same things they are because that’s what has helped me get through tough times and in a way, it’s made the work more meaningful if somebody else can experience it.”

More on the book or Dzierza is available on her social media.

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