Mar 2
Emily McKaskle grew up in the 70’s during a time when girls “didn’t have ADHD,” so when she started struggling with reading in the 2nd grade her teacher dismissed her as just not being very bright and left it at that. It wasn’t until she discovered a Harlequin Romance novel at age 11 that her passion for reading, and therefore her reading ability, skyrocketed.
Now, Emily is now an award-winning author of nearly forty books and co-founder of her own company, Book+Love Ink. Her impressive leap from struggling reader to bestselling author definitely improved her confidence, but the imposter syndrome and rejection sensitive dysphoria never really went away.
Join our conversation as Emily shares how she quiets that negative voice by incorporating gratitude and positive emotion into her writing process, what’s changed since getting her ADHD diagnosis, how she survives the brutal book editing process, and much more. Emily’s journey just goes to show how crucial interest is for the ADHD brain and what we’re capable of when we follow it, and I’m so excited to share her story with you this episode.
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"I feel like finding your podcast was the beginning of my journey to loving all of the amazing gifts that ADHD has given me in my life."
- Emily McKaskle
"I think I decided about six months ago, I was like, you know what? I'm gonna start treating my office like Disney. I love Disney because it's all about story, it's all about positive emotion, it's so fun to be there. I'm like, that's how I'm going to treat my office, like I get to go up into a playground every day that I get to write, I get to go there and just enjoy that creative open space."
- Emily McKaskle
"I listen to your podcast and people talk about not knowing their direction in life. I know, I've known since I was eight that I wanted to be a storyteller, so it's an amazing gift that I know what I want to do, so I might as well enjoy it."
- Emily McKaskle
- Emily shares her experience living in the suburbs with her family, including her teenage children, and discusses the challenges of applying to colleges.
- Emily struggled in school due to undiagnosed ADHD, feeling like a "nerdy dork" and lacking confidence in social situations.
- Emily struggles with emotional dysregulation and poor decision making, including missing social cues and experiencing undiagnosed dyslexia.
[19:30 - 38:56] ADHD diagnosis, symptoms, and coping strategies
- Emily shares her experience with dyslexia and ADHD, noting that she was never formally diagnosed but recognizes similarities between herself and her daughter.
- Emily shares her personal journey with ADHD, including her son's diagnosis and her own subsequent self-diagnosis.
- Emily shares her struggles with RSD and ADHD, and how writing has been the most difficult experience for her despite her passion for it.
- Emily shares her struggles with ADHD and writer's block, and how she's learned to embrace the idea that her stories don't come from her, but rather from a place beyond herself.
- Emily struggles with both physical and emotional difficulties in writing, but finds joy in telling stories.
- Emily discusses her book "Heart Smart" and how it was her first book with characters who have neurodiversity, including a character on the autism spectrum disorder.
Website: emmaleejayne.com; emilymckay.com
Instagram: @emmaleejaynewrites
Romance Writers of America
