Table of Contents
Embracing Vulnerability in Memoir
Author Rachelle Atkins, shares her journey and the inspiration behind her memoir ‘Sleep Like Starfish’. She discusses a transformative experience with a psychic, her long marriage, and the creative process of writing. Emphasizing meditation and intentionality, she highlights her writing techniques and the ease of reading her work. The conversation also explores the concept of home, emotional awareness, and the healing power of writing, concluding with an invitation to her book launch.
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Healing Through Writing with Author, Rachelle Atkins
Jennifer: Hello, everyone! Welcome to Oui Talk Raw. I’m Jennifer Busco, your host today, and we have a very special guest. Our other host, Greazy Keyz, has a rock star wife—but today, it’s her turn to shine. Please welcome the amazing Rachelle Atkins!
Rachelle: Thank you!
Greazy Keyz: How’s it going, everybody? Thanks to the rBeatz fam for having Rachelle on. She has an incredible story and a new book you’re all going to want to read. Enjoy the interview, everyone!
Jennifer: The happiest couple in Charlotte, right?
Rachelle: As far as we know!
Jennifer: Welcome, Rachelle! I’m so excited to chat with you. Funny story—I was reading your book at Common Market with a friend, and she snapped a photo of me because I don’t usually read. Your book had me completely hooked!
Rachelle: That’s a big deal. Thank you for sharing that!
Jennifer: Your book is called Sleep Like Starfish. How did you come up with the title?
Rachelle: It’s a fun story. I was at a point in my life where I had a lot of questions, so I went to see a psychic. She told me to do this exercise—lay on my bed with my arms and legs spread out, like a starfish, and repeat, “My father loves me.” It was meant to connect me to both my earthly and heavenly fathers. The first time I did it, I felt safe and vulnerable, and I fell asleep in that position—hence, Sleep Like Starfish.
Jennifer: It sounds like that was a healing and grounding practice for you. Did it feel safe?
Rachelle: Yes, exactly. Kind of like when a dog feels safe enough to roll on its back—it’s a vulnerable position, but it brings comfort and security. That feeling of safety became central to the title essay and the book as a whole.
Jennifer: I love the idea of connecting to both earthly and heavenly fathers. It’s like our parents are our first understanding of God, so if there’s tension with them, it can feel like a spiritual disconnect.
Rachelle: Yes, that’s exactly right.
Jennifer: Let’s dive into who you are, Rachelle. You’re married to Greasy here, and you’ve been together for almost 25 years?
Rachelle: Yes! We got married young and have had so many adventures together. I work in custom luxury home building and write on the side. The book touches on many of those adventures.
Jennifer: Are you empty nesters now?
Rachelle: Pretty much. Our kids are 24 and 22, and we’ve had some real conversations about how childhood experiences shaped them. Writing the book felt timely—it was a chance for reflection and growth.
Jennifer: Writing memoir is a brave undertaking, requiring you to be toughest on yourself for it to feel authentic.
Rachelle: Absolutely. It’s essential to be honest and reflective. Otherwise, it’s not a true story.
Jennifer: We love creativity here at rBeatz. Tell us about your creative process. How do you channel that energy?
Rachelle: I make time to be quiet and reflective, often through meditation or walks. Starting my day with that space really opens the creative channel, allowing me to think clearly before the world’s noise comes in.
Jennifer: And how long did it take you to write the book?
Rachelle: Some essays started when I went back to school in my late 30s, but the book, as it is now, took about three years of focused writing.
Jennifer: It’s very easy to read—so engaging! How did you remember all the details?
Rachelle: Thank you! Spending that quiet time reflecting really helps, as does focusing on pivotal moments rather than trying to recall every chronological detail.
Jennifer: Let’s talk about the book’s themes. It’s not just about storytelling but healing. You mention “The Body Keeps the Score”—how did you connect physical symptoms with emotional traumas?
Rachelle: That idea became clear during a creative group meeting. I noticed my body felt worse after sharing a painful story, which led me to explore the mind-body connection. Through various healing practices, I learned how deeply trauma can embed itself physically.
Jennifer: The concept that our body holds onto trauma is so powerful. And you’re helping others understand that healing is about awareness, evolution, and finding meaning in what we’ve been through.
Rachelle: Exactly. It’s about finding peace in our experiences, not necessarily accepting that everything happens for a reason but making meaning from it. It’s a journey toward growth and acceptance.
Jennifer Busco: So, let’s talk about that—the process of feeling lighter, of releasing or processing. No one’s ever fully healed, right? But I always say that awareness can move mountains. Sometimes just having awareness of a belief you hold in your body, or something stored from past trauma, can open doors for growth. Your higher self sees that awareness and creates opportunities.
Rachelle Atkins: Yes, for me, it was like carrying a mountain on my back. Writing this memoir has been a huge release; it’s brought healing to my family, too.
Jennifer: How did the writing process itself become healing?
Rachelle: Well, memoir is unique because I’m sharing stories as I experienced them. My parents read it, and they were so gracious—no one argued, “That’s not how I remember it.” My mom even said, “Do what you need to heal the family.”
Jennifer: That openness from them must have been powerful for you.
Rachelle: Absolutely. It created healing both backward, with my parents, and forward with my children. Through this, I’ve learned how I can respond when my kids need healing in the future.
Jennifer: And they have this memoir as a history to refer to forever.
Rachelle: Exactly. It explains so much about who I am. My parents’ acceptance showed me how to offer the same openness for my kids someday.
Jennifer: So beautiful. It’s like, you can turn pain into something transformative.
Rachelle: Definitely. And, through this process, I’ve also let go of a lot of beliefs and fears that no longer serve me.
Jennifer: Yes, because we can only carry those things for so long.
Rachelle: Writing it was like finally acknowledging my own shadowboxing—the survival mode I was in for years. Now, I can truly understand myself.
Jennifer: Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! It must feel amazing to see it all come to life.
Rachelle: Thank you!
Jennifer: And the book is now available! How can people get a copy of the memoir?
Rachelle: You can find Sleep Like Starfish on BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, and locally in Charlotte at Park Road Books.
Jennifer: Do you have an event coming up?
Rachelle: Yes! I’ll be at Park Road Books in Charlotte on October 30th at 6:30 PM, talking about the book and memoir writing with WFAE’s Sarah Delia.
Jennifer: Amazing! Before we go—do you like Taylor Swift?
Rachelle: Oh, yes. Mad respect for Taylor.
Jennifer: Perfect answer. Thanks so much, Rachelle, for being here and sharing your journey with us.