A Northern Rivers nurse has turned a decade-long writing journey into a candid debut memoir, offering a deeply personal look at motherhood, mental health and the pressure to “hold it all together”.
Amie Weekes, from Lismore, has launched her new book, Anxiety is a Bitch … and so are Lunchboxes, a book born out of a 101-day family road trip around Australia that didn’t quite go to plan.
What began as a lighthearted blog for family and friends documenting the trip – dubbed a “Blockie” by her family – has evolved into a memoir that blends humour with raw honesty. Travelling from the Northern Rivers across four states and two territories, Weekes writes openly about the realities of modern parenting, including the toll of declining mental health, the strain on her marriage, and the pressure of chasing an unattainable version of perfect motherhood.
“When I started, I was dealing with some pretty significant mental health issues. Writing was a way for me to understand what was happening and also find my way through it,” she said.
Despite not coming from a writing background, Weekes said encouragement from friends pushed her to pursue the idea further.
“My friends told me I should write a book. But I am not a writer, I am a nurse,” she said.
“I did every writing course I could do locally, I travelled to Melbourne, Sydney and did courses online. Somewhere along the way, ideas started to become chapters and then a book sort of formed word by word. And at a certain point you just have to put yourself out there.”
The project has been more than a creative outlet, with Weekes describing the writing process as long, challenging and ultimately healing.
Her earlier short story A Harbour was published in The Gathering of Kindness Anthology by Hambone Publishing, reflecting a theme that continues to underpin her work.
“We need to be kind to mothers! Mothering is so hard these days. I don’t know when it got so complicated,” she said.
“A lot has been done to de-stigmatise mental health issues and dismantle the fantasy of the perfect mother, but there is still a lot we can do.”
While the cross-country road trip at the heart of the book may not be everyone’s solution, Weekes hopes readers will take away a simpler message.
“Being kinder to ourselves and each other might be a good start,” she said.
Anxiety is a Bitch … and so are Lunchboxes is available locally at The Book Warehouse, as well as online. The official launch will be held at Hotel Metropole at 6pm, with community members invited to attend.
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