My Beginnings as a Writer
How it all began
My journey as a writer began from a deeply personal need to share the challenges and experiences of raising an autistic daughter. All my professional life I cared for individuals with severe disabilities. So, I decided that it would be a book for the families and caretakers of individuals with severe disabilities and autism. I called it “In Ana’s Light – a Journey Through the Rich Tapestry of Autism”.
I felt this strong appeal for writing early in my life as a mother of a special child. However, the demands of my medical career and family life delayed my literary objectives for many years.
As I approached retirement, the desire to document our mutual story resurfaced with renewed intensity. But I knew inside me that the conventional methods of writing were insufficient for conveying the depth and nuances of our experiences. Therefore,I found in myself the answer for that question.
My writing process became an extraordinary journey guided by what I call “connection to Spirit”.
When writing, I always felt “in the flow”, a state that involves heightened awareness and creativity. When in this state, the writer feels led by an inner voice or sense of direction.
For me, this meant setting aside structured plans and allowing my thoughts and emotions to guide my narrative. Also, I often felt a sense of being “guided” during my writing sessions, where the words seemed to flow effortlessly from my mind onto the page.
This intuitive approach not only facilitated the writing process but also infused my work with authenticity and emotional depth.
My Deep Goals for “In Ana’s Light”
My objective for this book “In Ana’s Light – A Journey Through the Rich Tapestry of Autism” is to help readers see beyond the physical limitations of individuals with severe disabilities.
It is mainly a book for the families and caretakers of individuals with severe disabilities and autism. It also adresses those compassionate beings whose soul suffers at the sight of these incredible individuals.
This book will facilitate the recognition of the light they bring to this world and the profound beauty of their souls.
It will also help change mentalities so that these individuals may be listened to in their hopes and dreams.
In this journey, I also hope that readers may find their true selves and embark on their own journey of self-discovery, connecting with their true potential.
I encourage them to recognise and celebrate their inner greatness.
By trusting my intuition, I was able to craft a narrative that hopefully resonates deeply with readers and offers a transformative perspective on disability and human potential.
If you want to know more about me, please read my bio here.
Manuela Rainha Ferreira
Manuela Rainha Ferreira is a Portuguese doctor who, with a specialty in Rehabilitation Medicine, has dedicated her professional life to helping deeply disabled people with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders. She has diplomas in reflexology, clinical hypnosis, level 2 reiki and she is a certified trainer for Happy for no Reason. She is also an author and her first book "In Ana's Light" is based on her daughter's challenges, and, in order to write it, she used texts written by her daughter and herself using intuitive communication techniques. Her second book, "Ana Isn't Here Yet" is a pungent story about a mother's life with her young autistic daughter and the change of her look about her following an unexpected event. She has been living in France for the last 13 years with her husband and her daughter, who has ASD trouble. She loves writing, cooking, dancing, and doing all kinds of manual work, especially ceramics. If you want to read her complete bio, please go here.
