Acamea Deadwiler on Rescuing the Little Girl Inside Her

Welcome to I’m a Writer But, where writers discuss their work, their lives, their other work, the stuff that takes up any free time they have, all the stuff they’re not able to get to, and the ways in which any of us get anything done. Plus: book recommendations, bad jokes, okay jokes, despair, joy, and anything else going on that week. Hosted by Lindsay Hunter.    

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Today, Acamea Deadwiler discusses her debut memoir, Daddy’s Little Stranger, along with writing about her childhood self, writing trauma while maintaining humor, lending grace and complexity to her family members, the nature of memory, Gary, Indiana, and so much more!

From the episode:

Acamea Deadwiler: It was painful to go back to, because now I’m looking at the kids in the story–the girl in the story–as not me. It’s me, it’s a younger version of me, but it doesn’t really feel like me. It feels like I’m watching this little girl navigating this, her and her little brother using their very limited survival skills as children. I felt, I think, even sadder, because I was outside of myself when writing this story and looking at this little girl and wanting to rescue her and save her.

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Acamea Deadwiler is a memoirist and essayist who received critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly for her book, Single That. She has been featured by the New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Bustle, and the FOX television network, among other media outlets. Acamea is also a TEDx speaker. Currently residing in Nevada, she holds a master’s degree from Valparaiso University and is a fellow in the MFA program at Randolph College.