Writing While Healing - Indie Author Interview: Talle Fey

Welcome to the newest post in Writing While Healing, a series where I speak with indie authors who’ve found light through writing during their darkest times.

Today, I’m honored to feature  Talle Fey, an autistic author and a great part of the writing community on Threads. You can learn more about Talle here.

Please introduce yourself!

Hi. I’m Talle Fey, an autistic author from the Netherlands. I write stories to dissociate from my chronic illness and the world. My debut book came out on May 1st (2025), and I hope to publish more. If I’m not writing or reading, I’m probably hiking, making art, or playing a video game.

Please tell us a little about yourself and the kind of stories you write.

I write traumatised characters who find love. I like to sprinkle some fantasy into my romance stories to give the book a little extra.

Would you feel comfortable sharing a bit about your mental health journey?

When I was young, I struggled in school because of my dyslexia and undiagnosed autism. I knew I was different, which made me feel like an alien who needed to hide. On top of that, I became chronically ill when I was in high school. I was quite young when I had my first depression, and I’ve been struggling on and off with depression since then. My mom has always fought for my (mental) health. When she realised I wasn’t doing well, she got me into therapy.

How has your mental health influenced your writing process or creativity?

There have been days/weeks where I couldn’t write because of my mental health, or I would hyper-focus in a way that I would only write and neglect other things. It was hard to find a balance and not get frustrated when I got writer’s block due to my mental health, but I learned to be kinder to myself.

Do you find writing to be healing, challenging, or a bit of both?

I always say that I write to dissociate from the world, which is true. Writing (and reading), in a way, saved me. For as long as I can remember, I haven’t felt in control of my life, but when I write, I’m in control of everything. I was able to let my emotions out through my characters, but that can be challenging too. I’ve definitely worked through some things while writing. Writing also gave me structure. A reason to get out of bed when I was not feeling well. Even when I thought I was standing still in life, I made progress in my stories. Besides writing fiction, I’ve written poetry too. It was my escape to process my emotions when I was struggling with depression.

Has your experience with mental health shaped the themes or characters in your stories?

At one point, I realised I always give my character trauma or other mental health struggles to work through. Although I give my characters something different than I have, my mental health has influenced my characters, but also the plot.

No matter how much my characters face, they survive, and in the end, they have a happy ending. For me, it’s a form of hope shimmering through the plot. That’s probably the reason why I love the romance genre so much. A guaranteed happy ending, even when things feel bleak.

Are there any writing routines, boundaries, or self-care habits that help you stay grounded?

There are some topics I wish to write about but don’t, because they hit too close to home, and I know I’m not ready for them yet. I’ve written one story about a teenager in high school who struggled with her mental health because she became chronically ill, and I’ve put real life experiences in it, but it was heavy to write. I guess staying away from certain topics (at the moment) is giving me boundaries.

What advice would you give to other writers who have similar struggles as you?

Don’t compare yourself too much to others. Not everyone goes through the same thing, and therefore, doesn’t have the same struggles. It’s sometimes hard when you see everyone reaching goals you have, too, but you’ll get there at your own speed. Celebrate your milestones, small and big, would be my bonus advice.

Have you ever taken breaks from writing to focus on your mental health?

I have. My recent break was a few months ago. I was struggling with writing, and it was hard to find inspiration. This was a few months before I published my debut book, which was more mentally heavy than I thought it would be. Somewhere along the way, I realised I was forcing myself to write, making writing more like a task I needed to do than something I enjoyed. Instead of forcing myself through it, I took a break. It made me come back stronger.

What’s something you wish more people understood about being a writer with mental health struggles?

We’re trying our best. There are moments I wish to write, but I can’t. It’s not laziness or that I need to get into a writing habit. It’s not even necessarily writer’s block. Sometimes, I simply just can’t write because I’m fighting my own mind. And sometimes, that also means I react a bit slower to comments and messages, which I’m not doing on purpose. I really feel bad about it, but all I can do is do my best.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?
I can’t express how much it means to me to see kind messages. I’m fighting my own mind and insecurities a lot, and even the simplest things can give me a boost. It can be someone reposting my book, someone expressing how excited they are to read my story, or it’s a positive review. The book community is such an important part of writing and publishing, and I wonder if they realise how much they can motivate or cheer up a writer.

Where can readers connect with you and your work? (Socials, website, books, etc.)

I have (up-to-date) links on my site here.

I’m on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky (@tallefey / @feytalle) If you want to stay updated on me and my books, definitely sign up for my newsletter: My books are published on Amazon and on KU.

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Thank you for reading!

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