Choosing to Die: Writing the Story No One Wants to Talk About | Theresa Evans

What happens when the story you feel called to write is also one of the hardest subjects for people to talk about?Theresa Evans spent 15 years as a nurse, much of it in critical cardiac care. Years later, she found herself beside her own mother as her family navigated an intensely personal decision about end-of-life care.That experience became Theresa’s first book, Choosing to Die: A Daughter’s Story of Supporting Her Mother’s End of Life Through Assisted Death. In this conversation with Susie Schaefer, Theresa shares what it was like to write about her mother’s death while honoring the experiences of her sisters, why she believes we need more honest conversations about how we want the end of our lives to look, and what writing the book taught her about herself.They also talk about the realities authors rarely discuss openly: investing in a book you believe in, asking others for financial support, sitting at an author fair and selling one copy, letting go of ego, and continuing to show up because the book still matters. Theresa shares how asking her community for help ultimately brought in approximately $8,000 toward the cost of publishing her book.  You’ll hear about: Writing a deeply personal story without claiming someone else’s experience  Theresa’s experience supporting her mother through assisted death  Grief, presence, family relationships, and end-of-life conversations  What happened when Theresa stopped tying her book’s worth to sales  Investing in professional publishing and asking for help  Raising approximately $8,000 from her community to support the book  Trusting that a book will reach the people who are ready for it  Why authors of difficult or controversial stories still need to keep showing up  Theresa’s advice for doing more than you think you’re capable of doing Toward the end of the conversation, Theresa leaves writers with a beautiful reminder: keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep breathing, and trust that the steps you’ve already taken can support what life is asking of you now. Connect with Theresa Evans: Website: https://theresaeevans.com/ Substack: Choosing Death Publisher: Stone Path PressThis episode includes discussion of death, grief, medical aid in dying/assisted death, and end-of-life decision-making.Finish the Damn Book Podcast helps aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and writers finally complete the book they know they’re meant to write.Hosted by Susie Schaefer, the podcast cuts through perfectionism, writer’s block, overwhelm, and publishing confusion with honest conversations about writing, publishing, book marketing, creativity, and the author journey.Featuring authors, editors, ghostwriters, publishers, writing coaches, and industry professionals, each episode offers practical strategies to help writers finish, publish, and share meaningful books.Topics include: • Writing and revision tips • Publishing and self-publishing guidance • Book marketing and platform-building • Creativity, confidence, and procrastination • Encouragement for writers stuck in the messy middleMany episodes close with Susie’s signature “Reflection Moment”, an intuitive conversation exploring creativity, identity, purpose, and the emotional side of becoming an author.Whether you’re writing memoir, nonfiction, business, or personal development, Finish the Damn Book is here to help you trust your voice and finally bring your story to life.Ready to move your book forward? https://www.finishthebookpublishing.com/