Ellen O’Connell Whittet releases new memoir fiction about obstetric violence
Author Ellen O'Connell Whittet discusses her new book Book of Hours which was released today from Dzanc Books.
Original memoir led to fiction project
Whittet had planned to publish a memoir about her life and eating disorder before the pandemic began. She experienced obstetric violence during labor while preparing for the birth of her first child. The author decided that telling this specific story through fiction would provide a sense of justice.
New book blends real events with saints
The resulting work weaves together the violence she faced with visions of canonized saints in the narrative. Whittet states that she is not the person writing about in the book but aims to give voice to others. This approach allows her to explore Catholic upbringing influences on her pregnancy experiences without direct autobiography.
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