On this episode of Complicated Conversations we chat with Katelyn Monroe Howes about her debut novel, The Awoken, a cinematic, speculative debut about a woman who undergoes cryogenic preservation at the time of her death and wakes up a century later in a world where her very life is a crime.Katelyn shares the personal story that inspired The Awoken, even though she didn’t consciously know she was writing about her own death. Clearly, the writer's subconscious is a real thing! We discuss how The Awoken is a feminist’s hero's journey where the heroine realizes she can be strong, but also that she can’t do it alone. As further proof of that theme, The Awoken involves a love story that transcends time and space and we discuss how her main character gets stronger and feels more supported through that love. Speaking of support, Katelyn reveals the very famous women in Hollywood who believed in her writing and this book from the first seed of an idea. We loved hearing about how becoming a mother transformed Katelyn and how her son literally became a shield for her against anything dark. Finally, we discuss astrology…not only does her astrological sign track, Katelyn is apparently a magnet for people born on her own birthday! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.