45. Normalizing mental health issues in romantic historical fiction w/ Ginny Moore

How often do you read romance novels in which mental health issues are a normal part of the main characters?

Joining today’s conversation is Ginny Moore, a romantic historical fiction author, middle school assistant principal, and mother to three kids.

In this episode, you’ll hear Ginny share not only why her postpartum anxiety and depression went undiagnosed for far too long but also how subconsciously funneling her mental health issues into her main characters has helped her to know herself better, heal, and save her marriage.

So tune in to hear more about how Ginny uses romantic historical fiction to push boundaries—both externally among a more formal, ridged society and internally as characters wrestle with their worst sides.

Topics discussed in this episode
  • Struggling with depression, anxiety, and ADHD
  • Using writing to cope with mental health struggles
  • Using two lead characters to reconcile different sides of yourself
  • Forcing characters to reckon with their worst sides amid history
  • Oxford University’s unwanted, first female students
  • How car notes evolved into a full novel
  • The non-career goal of one writer
  • Finding a great writing buddy
  • Sharing your other hobbies with your audience
  • Reaching burn out, again
  • Favorite books
About Ginny

Ginny was the kid who loved kissing scenes in movies and always rooted for Mulder and Scully to hook up. Her first piece of writing was a horrendous fanfic romance based on The Three Musketeers when she was thirteen years old.

Ginny started reading romance during the pandemic. In an effort to avoid doom-scrolling social media, she decided to put her own stories to paper. She is a middle school assistant principal and has been in education for eighteen years. Most of her writing is done on her phone or in the parking lot of her kids' extracurricular activities.

When she is not writing, Ginny is a slow long-distance runner. She is the mother of three kids, two exceptionally stupid dogs, two codependent cats, and the grandmother to a hermit crab.

Get her books
Connect w/ Ginny
Books discussed during the show
  • Author Sarah MacLean
  • Author Tessa Dare
  • Thornchapel series by Sierra Simone
  • Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
  • Matilda by Roald Dahl
Join our online community

Looking for a community of passionate writers who understand your goals and struggles? Join my exclusive Facebook group, Parents Who Write, where you can attend weekly group writing sessions and find writing prompts, writing resources, and free weekly tutorials.


Watch or listen

Connect with Erin

(my author-specific accounts)

Looking for an editor or book coach?

Book a FREE 30-min call

Not sure you need a developmental or line editor?

Want to know how I help you at every step, from development through publication, so you don't have to DIY everything?

Book a call with me so we can discuss your story, clarify what you're looking for, and get you on track to finish your book.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Do you have an idea for a book—but worry it's not good enough?

Get this free guide and learn how to silence that inner judge. Make writing stress-free and fun again, so you can keeping going and finish that first draft with confidence.

ABOUT ME

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for 20 years as an editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book, but life had a tendency to distract her. After dedicating six years of her life to motherhood and discovering her ADHD, she started writing again, even though she feared her writing skills had atrophied.

After letting go of her perfectionism, Erin finally finished her own shitty first draft and released her fantasy romance novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. Her current role as a podcaster and book coach enables her to help writers pursue their author dreams.