Skip to main content

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Michelle Petties, author of Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict

Author’s Bio: Michelle Petties is an author, speaker, Food Story Finder, experiential eating expert, and recovering food addict. Her debut book, Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict, features personal and powerful stories that chronicle a lifetime of eating for all the wrong reasons. After gaining and losing 700 plus pounds over four decades, Michelle finally discovered the “secret” to ending the battle between her mind, body, and hunger – her Food Stories. By unlocking her own unique Food Stories, Michelle debunked long held misconceptions and misconnections about the purpose of eating. Armed with these insights, she now teaches others how to find their own food truths.  

Michelle studied at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Marshall, she currently resides in Annapolis, Maryland.

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Michelle Petties: My doctor told me to write a cookbook that included my stories. What I wrote was a book of stories that does not include any recipes. 

DL: What were some of the challenges when writing this book?

MP: The biggest challenge was my trying to rush the process. I was hyper-focused on finishing the book by a self-imposed deadline. My editor forced me to slow down and allow my stories to grow and mature. He helped me work through my fear and worry that my book would become yet another incomplete “project” on an ever-growing to do list.  

DL: What was the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

MP: Marita Golden advised me to, “always tell YOUR story.” Whenever I am in doubt, her words show up in my heart. 

DL: If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why?

MP: It would be the superpower I already have, a wild, creative, active, and vivid imagination. Whatever we can imagine, we can create. I believe that with everything that’s in me. Imagination is how we change ourselves and the world. 

DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?

MP: Figuring out the doing-it balance. How much and what to do myself and what and how much others should do. 

DL: What are three things you can’t live without?

MP: A to-do list, a morning walk, and a good afro wig. 

DL: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

MP: Reborn. Brand New. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict?

MP:   Sure, here you go: 

From “Food Story #21 Rock Bottom” 

             A day that should have been joyful left me feeling empty, guilty, and ashamed—for way too many years. 

It took a long time to finally confess to my sister that I was the one who ate her fruitcake cookies, not my roommate Jim. I’m so glad that my sister forgave me. We had a big laugh, and she was finally able to release all the resentment she harbored towards Jim. 

As much as I wish the cookie episode was my only rock bottom moment, it was not. There were many others before it and after it. Like when the classical radio station I was working for hosted a costume ball and I was too big to wear any of the period ball gowns they supplied. I had to find fabric and make my own dress for the occasion. 

Or when a few years later I purchased some candy for a client as a gift and she discovered discarded wrappers I had inadvertently left in the bag—evidence that I had taken a few pieces for myself. 

Or the countless times when I looked in the mirror and saw that even with the weekly trips to the nail and hair salon, the jewelry, and whatever designer clothes I had on, I still felt defeated, powerless, and burdened by my body. None of the wrongness I felt inside was healed by my attention to the outward trappings of my appearance. 

Or when I caught a disturbing glimpse of the rolls of fat across my back in a department store dressing room mirror. I stood there feeling beaten down and discouraged by bunches of discarded, ill-fitting garments. 

Or the countless times I’d race to the grocery store to buy a four-pack of giant bran muffins. I’d rip through the plastic and devour all four muffins while still in the parking lot, stopping only when the container lay empty on the seat beside me.     

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

MP: I am developing a workshop series and program to teach and inspire others to end their food-body battles by uncovering and documenting their own Food Stories. 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book?

MP: Reader can get more information here:

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

MP: Thanks for having me! 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Debbie Stokes, author of The Stranger He Knew

Author’s Bio: Debbie Stokes was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has always had a desire to be a published author of a fiction novel, but fear stopped her. She often shares how her story ideas come to her in her dreams, and how she jumps up to write them down. Finally, one day, she pushed past her fear and allowed her vision to come to past. She is now a published author, and The Stranger He Knew is her first book.  Debbie is a former CEO, blogger, and interviewer for her previous women's empowerment blog called, 3 Women Voices, where she shared empowering stories of how people overcame odds to live their best lives. She is also a former contributing writer for FEMI Magazine, a cultural lifestyle magazine, where she interviewed and shared people’s stories.  When not writing, she enjoys singing, dancing, inspiring others, and spending time with family.  Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? Debbie Stokes: That is a funny story. One day, I went
10 comments
Read more

Interview with Jacqueline Seewald, Author of THE INHERITANCE

Author’s Bio: Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Sixteen of her books of fiction have previously been published to critical praise including books for adults, teens and children. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. What inspired you to write your book? I enjoy writing romantic mystery fiction. The idea for this particular novel just seemed to evolve organically from my imagination. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? I would have to say reading the Bible was influential. As far as regular books go, I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and
20 comments
Read more

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Erica Ginsberg, author of Creative Resilience

Author’s Bio: Erica Ginsberg has drawn on creativity in a variety of different roles: writer, documentary filmmaker, story consultant, project manager, and social entrepreneur. She co-founded the documentary film organization Docs In Progress and served as its founding executive director for more than a decade. She co-hosts The D-Word, a peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals.  In addition to working in the arts, Erica has organized professional development study tours to the United States for mid-career professionals from around the world. She has a BA in international affairs and an MA in film and video. She finds joy in travel, painting, collage, reading, nature hikes, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Lulu.  Note: The most valuable piece of writing advice she has ever given is m ake bad stuff so you can get to good stuff. Really great advice for those of us who lean towards perfectionism.   Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your b
Post a Comment
Read more