Toni Fisher

A biography for an Author Page, should it be that, or should it be an autobiography?

I opted for the former and had a friend interview me after having read my books.

Q: I know you write fiction, but do have a purpose when you write, maybe a bias?

A: Most definitely I do, but what I tell you about today might not be what’s on my mind tomorrow. I tend to focus on particular issues until I feel comfortable with them and then I move on.

Q: And right now?

A: Right now, I have improving the mental health of women on my mind.

Q: What do you think affects the mental health of women?

A: One of the problems that I think women have, that affects them negatively, is that they perceive themselves in terms of having to be pretty. They see themselves only as objects that men will or will not find desirable. Worse, they feel that they have to be accepted and approved of by other girls/women. It’s just normal now that most girls grow up believing they can be anything they want to be, but there still seems to be a perpetual ghost at their side ensuring that, even with success on other, no, on all fronts, they feel the need to wear a mask, to look beautiful, to be sexually alluring and later in life, above all, to look young. And it is that need, exploited by industries of all kinds, that preys on their mental health because they will never be beautiful enough, alluring enough, or young enough to be happy with who they are.

Q: What do you think needs to change in the world for women to have better mental health?

A: One of the things that I believe is that there is too much pressure on women. Not only to be beautiful, but then, to have children, to have a career, to take care of their family, to advance in their job. And, all the while, at all costs, to stay beautiful. And the result is a feeling of failure because no one can do it all. Not only do they have to look good, not have a hair out of place, not have an unsightly blemish or a bulge and certainly not have a sag, but they also have to be perfect in their work and home lives as well. What are we, women, doing to ourselves? Why? And I have to be plain about it, sorry as I am to have to admit it, but women are doing this to themselves. They can’t blame anyone else. My mother always said, “Women are their own worst enemies.” When will we have the strength to stop, to stop judging each other, to stop trying to keep up appearances?

Q: And men? What about how they feel?

A: I’m not qualified to say, so I won’t. I hope that some men will approach writing in a way that can assist them, as males, writing books that don’t just entertain with destruction, mutilation and murder of which I see far too much. I’m sure there are many, even now, and I hope they get an audience, just as I hope I will, someday.

Q: Anything else you want to add?

A: Yes. As I said, the issues I want to write about, that I FICTIONALISE, major emphasis there, as all of my characters are fictional, the issues are subject to change. But what doesn’t change, what always underpins my writing, is my belief in the magic of the world, my belief that most people are good, and how glad I am that there is always so much to laugh about.

Two further notes.

One of the photos on my page is of me, the other is of my illustrator, who is also my daughter!

If you'd like to contact me about my books, I'd love to hear from you. fishertonijean@gmail.com