The book Dreams of a broken life is inspired by the life of its author, Sirka Elizabeth López. Believing that literature has a component of catharsis and that imagination was what kept it alive in the midst of difficult times, the book reflects part of its history.
The life of Sirka Elizabeth López Abadía reflects the systematic violence exercised against women. His childhood was marked by abandonment, abuse, physical and psychological abuse. Dreams of a broken life , his first book, gives an account of this with a prose that does not distill grandiloquent or adjectival phrases. Instead we find ourselves with a sour story, a wasteland, where the author nonetheless flourished, taking an interesting turn of events. His book managed to position itself in the first places of sale on Amazon. I talked to her about her life, writing, and the violence suffered by women.
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How did you decide to tell this story? What was the writing process?
I always had the idea that I should share my experiences. I never dreamed of success, I tried to work walking from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm. I had many experiences that made me a strong and determined woman, so I thought I should convey the way in which someone with so many difficulties, with such a difficult life story, without support, could get ahead. My book is a desperate cry. I want society to open its eyes to the abuse experienced by women and children.
Do you see in writing a way to do catharsis? Does writing serve to free us from what torments us?
Yes, in my experience it has been somewhat liberating.
One of the most interesting elements of the book is the use of imagination to withdraw from reality and be able to continue advancing, achieving achievements, despite adversity. Can you tell us a little more about this process?
A friend asked me how I managed to overcome so many things. After thinking about it for a long time, I came to the conclusion that it was thanks to my imagination. In difficult moments, she visualized a world where she was totally protected, it was like another dimension: there she had a family, the life she dreamed of having. After many years, all these things materialized. I have always thought that when we think bad things, those things come into our lives. In the book I synthesize how dreams give us the parameters to start everything in our life.
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What counts in the book is the reflection of a violent, brutal world. How do you survive that? How do you feel now and how do you see what happened to you from where you are?
At this moment in my life I would not change anything, because I had very enriching experiences, I feel strong and happy; I know that I faced many obstacles and I will continue to face others, but with a lot of motivation. I am proud of the woman that I managed to be.
What would you say to women who are experiencing a similar situation right now?
I would tell them not to shut up, that they are going to face difficult situations, but that they are going to get ahead, that they are going to find themselves again, they are going to have a thousand opportunities, that it is all about developing a systematic life plan, with short steps but forceful. I would tell them that good things come, they just must not abandon their dreams.
Finally, do you have plans to continue writing?
Yes, I have several projects in mind. The closest is a collection of stories of men and women who are victims of psychotic relationships. In addition, many things were left untold in Dreams of a broken life . The book was very well received. It became an Amazon bestseller. I have received many messages, even people who have cried reading it. It has been a very moving experience.
