To Those Who Battle in Silence

authorhannahcurrie


Hi everyone! I’m Hannah Currie and I write Young Adult Contemporary Christian Romance books with royal characters (aka YA Princess books, which is way easier to say!). I’m also a very proud Australian. G’day from Downunder! You can learn more about me and my books on my website and on Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.  My latest release, Heart of a Princess, is the second book in my Daughters of Peverell series.

To the watching world, Princess Alina has it all – maids to serve her, a kingdom to revere her, a prince to marry her, and a wardrobe filled with enough frills, flounces and shades of pink to rival a flower shop. But behind the smile and designer clothes, Alina has a secret. She’s barely holding it together.

After a moment of panic almost ends in tragedy, Alina is sent to a refuge far from the palace to recuperate. Her family claim it’s for her own good but – faced with cows, knife-beaked ducks and far too many of her own insecurities – Alina is pretty sure it will kill her first. And Joha Samson, infuriating man that he is, will laugh as it does.

Only there’s more to Joha than she realises, and more to herself too. When the time comes to take a stand, will she find the courage?

You can read the first two chapters here.

To Those Who Battle in Silence

As you might have figured out from the blurb, Princess Alina has pretty bad anxiety, something I never actually planned on writing about but somehow made its way into Alina’s character despite me. Likely because it’s something I’ve struggled with in my own life since my late teens. Not enough to incapacitate me like it does Alina, but always there. In every decision. Every minute of the day. That voice in my head – sometimes whispering, sometimes so loud it blocks out everything else– taunting me. Telling me I’ll never be enough. That everything is going to fall apart and it’ll be my fault. Playing through ‘what if’ after ‘what if’ after ‘what if’ until I’m all but curled up in a ball from the pressure of it all. 

Anxiety, like many mental battles, is an invisible fight. A silent one. One that more people than you know are probably fighting. One that you, yourself, might be fighting. Especially this year when, along with every new day, comes a new set of news reports, restrictions, and reasons to fear.   

Not giving away any major spoilers here but in Heart of a Princess, Alina never gets over her anxiety. It doesn’t magically go away. She still struggles just as badly with it at the end of the book as she does at the start. What she does find, however, is hope amidst the battle. A hope that helps her to fight.

Today, I wanted to encourage those of you fighting too. Those who don’t wear a cast but ache just as much. Those who are silent on the outside but, inside, screaming to be heard. Those who worry, who wonder, who overthink, and are broken over and over by the little things that they know shouldn’t matter but do.

You are seen. 
You are valued. 
You are enough. 

God sees your battle. He knows how much you struggle. He’s holding you together on those days when even deciding what outfit to wear is one thing too many. 

You don’t have to climb a mountain for him to be proud of you. Take courage, and take the next step, even if it’s more of a shuffle than a stride. Because even on those days when it feels like you’re all alone, you’re not. You are seen, dear one. You are valued. You are enough.

Published by authorhannahcurrie

349 thoughts on “To Those Who Battle in Silence”

  4. Love what you wrote above!! My FB might be messing up but I couldn’t get the “like” or “follow” to work. Sent you a message about it. Subscribing to your newsletter next 🙂
    Thanks so much for this opportunity!

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      1. Looking forward to reading your books! My daughter struggles with anxiety as well. Thank you for writing about this very real issue!

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  12. Thank you for this post and the reminder of how much God loves me. I have really been struggling with anxiety lately and needed to read this. I look forward to reading these books!

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    1. You’re very welcome. I’m so glad it could encourage you. 2020 has been really tough for a lot of people. Praying you find moments of peace amidst the fight ❤ Thanks for stopping by.

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  14. I’m already a subscriber & follower on Facebook! What beautiful covers for your books & I love the book quotes you shared here. To be loved so completely by God is amazing!

    Thank you for the extra giveaway and participating in the scavenger hunt! I love these every year 🙂

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    1. Thanks Trixi 🙂 These scavenger hunts are always a highlight for me too. Although I’m not sure my toppling TBR appreciates them quite so much :p So many amazing books! Glad you’ve enjoyed it.

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  21. Hello, Hannah! I hadn’t heard of your books before but they sound like something I’d enjoy. Your words about anxiety were especially touching to me because I struggled with anxiety in my late teens too, and still occasionally fight with it. I hope I’ll get a chance to enjoy your stories soon. 🙂

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    1. Thanks 🙂 I’m so glad my words could encourage you. Anxiety is such a tough thing to deal with. Thanks for continuing to fight ❤ Hope you enjoy the stories! Thanks for being part of the hunt.

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    1. Oh nice! So glad you enjoyed the sample. Roseanna’s been an author I’ve admired for many years so I was totally blown away to see her mention my book. She’s so lovely! Hope you get the chance to read the rest of the story 🙂

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  28. Just finished reading “Heart of a Royal”, and now excited to read Alina’s story. Thank you sharing. Happy spring, & soon summer, to you! 🥰📚

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  33. Subscribed! Yes, anxiety is overwhelming at times, and I love that you incorporated something that so many of us deal with into a character!

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    1. Thanks Laura 🙂 Funny story, I never actually meant to write about a character with anxiety. Alina surprised me with that one. It was something God had been dealing with in me and helping me through and somehow, it made its way into the book. Really glad it did though. I’ve loved how much people have been connecting with her character and story because of it.

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  42. I subscribed. Your book sounds like a very good read, and the book cover is Gorgeous ! I love it. Thank you for the chance. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.

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    1. Sorry. It’s on the home page of my website just under my photo. Hope that helps? (You can still sign up if you like. The main giveaway is finished but mine is still currently open 🙂 )

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    1. That would be awesome! Church libraries are amazing. I volunteered in my church’s library for years and absolutely recommending books to everyone. Thanks for being part of the hunt 🙂

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