1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I am 38 years old and have been an athlete my whole life who played volleyball, basketball, and softball growing up. I am currently very into Peloton’s cycling, yoga, and strength classes. I am married to my amazing husband, Brendan, and we have one daughter together. I got into writing in high school, as my AP English teacher stressed the importance of being able to write clearly and in a manner that is interesting for others to read. One of our assignments each quarter was to keep a journal of our daily activities. At first, I found the task to be a nuisance, but over time realized how fun and therapeutic writing can be. He is also the reason why I decided to become a high school history teacher, which I have been for the last 17 years. I decided to tell my story of having difficulty conceiving a child in The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis, as a way to heal myself from the trauma it caused and to hopefully help other women and couples who are experiencing the same nightmare.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
The inspiration behind my book is the unbelievable lengths I was forced to go to in order to receive proper medical care for our infertility case and the hijinx that occurred along the way. I never thought I would write a book, but I saw sharing my story with others as a win/win. This was the only way I was going to be able to move on from the trauma I endured as a result of the constant uncertainty and stress that undergoing infertility treatment causes and was sure I could potentially help others in the process.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
The biggest takeaway from The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis is that you need to take control of your own body and your own medical treatment. Clinics have hundreds of patients and they cannot and do not keep tabs on everyone. Just because a doctor wears a white coat and has a medical degree does not mean that he or she is always right. Don’t be afraid to question a doctor because if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Multiple doctors told me that I did not have a fertility issue, but in the end, I was the reason we were unable to get pregnant naturally. If I did not insist on being tested for endometriosis, we would have continued to endure the pain and grief of failed embryo transfers and who knows how many more IVF treatments.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I wasn’t drawn to the genre, it came to me! Obviously, no one wants to be diagnosed with infertility and have to undergo treatments in order to become pregnant. I believed that because my husband and I are healthy that it would not happen to us, but there we were doing round after round of tests and treatments. Clearly, we were very wrong as this issue impacts people of all walks of life.
5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Instagram has been the most helpful, as it has a large following and can reach many audiences. I have written for the site, Pregnantish, and have also been interviewed on several podcasts that have aired on the platform.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Write about something you are passionate about and don’t hold anything back.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
As for the future, I hope that my book continues to help women and couples experiencing infertility and that my story becomes part of infertility folklore. I do not plan to write any other books!
About the Author
Jade Barrett is an American high school teacher who experienced infertility from 2017-2021.
She hopes to help other women and couples who are struggling with infertility through her story, The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis: How I Survived IVF with My Sanity (Mostly) Intact.
It is the story of triumph over adversity and how you can advocate from the best possible care from your fertility clinic.
https://www.instagram.com/jadebarrettauthor/
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