Unburdening: An Abortion and Generational Trauma Memoir tells the story of Teresa Benitez’ four pregnancies, three of them having resulted in abortions, and a fourth resulting in her ten year old daughter and her experiences as a single mother. Unburdening is Benitez’ debut book, but she has more ideas in store for future publications. Aside from writing, she has also earned her B.S. from the University of Puerto Rico, M.S. from Stanford, and Ph.D. from the University of Florida, all in mechanical engineering. She has served as an engineering instructional professor for nine years. Her book is deeply personal and readers say that it provides women who have gone or are going through the pain of abortion with a much needed voice. We’re pleased to have this opportunity to interview Teresa Benitez today, we’ll be learning a little more about her as well as her book!
Please describe your book.
Thanks for the opportunity to do this! Unburdening is a 198-page memoir about my four pregnancies—three of them resulting in abortions. I have a ten-year-old daughter, and my experience as a single mother is explored in the book, as well. But the before, during, and after of each abortion is the main point of the story, how it is such a complicated and difficult decision.
How do you make sure the information for your nonfiction books is accurate and up to date?
Although the book is a memoir, I still included abortion facts from the last hundred years (sprinkled across the book). I researched abortion books and articles to make sure that the information was accurate. There was a lot of available information from the time when abortion was illegal, all the way to today (post-Roe).
What does literary success look like to you?
This is a difficult question to answer. Financial success—selling enough books to make a living—is the goal for some of us. This is such that we may dedicate our time to our passion: writing. But success has other faces, as well. Sharing a story with the world, touching lives, that is success of a different kind. For me, a combination of both tastes like pure success—enough that I may continue writing until my body allows.
Do you outline your books beforehand? Why or why not?
I did not outline my memoir in detail. However, as I move on to a fictional novel, I plan to meticulously outline. That is just my personality! I do not want to be too surprised.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned while writing?
The most important lesson I learned during this year, while I wrote, edited, polished, published and marketed my first book, was to stop and enjoy each small step. Because it goes by fast, and expectations may take over your thoughts as the book is published. While you write your book, there will be emotional highs. Be sure to live them fully, to be in them fully. Otherwise, you might miss some of the beauty of the process.
How do you make nonfiction interesting and engaging while still being informative?
My nonfiction story is a memoir, so I tried to make it engaging by writing it as a novel. Ups, downs, drama, dialogue. Internal monologues and poetic prose. I wanted it to read as a novel.
Talk a little bit about yourself. What is your background? What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I am 38-years-old, born in Puerto Rico. I studied mechanical engineering and have a Ph.D. Taught for nine years at the university level. I am a single mother. My daughter is ten and we live alone with our three cats. I am a crazy cat lady! Love, love, love cats!
What do you find enjoyable or difficult about nonfiction?
I loved telling my story, even if it took some courage. It is challenging, at times, to work with non-fiction, because one has to be very careful with the words chosen. I used “poetic license” at times, but never when it mattered. For example, when I spoke of violent protesters outside of abortion clinics, I had to research and make sure that the facts were accurate.
Who will this book appeal to? What age range would you recommend it for?
Those with an open mind when it comes to the topic of abortion. Ages above eighteen years old.
Do you have an author website or other platform where readers can find more information about you and your books?
Sure thing! My website is teresabenitez.com, and I am active on Facebook. I would love to engage with my readers.
Is there anything I have neglected to ask that you would like to add?
Not that I can think of. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
