I recently read a digital memoir by a lovely young writer – an ebook with videos to accompany the story – sort of a like a play script with snippets of the actual play. Chloe is a woman full of life and energy, passionately accounting her childhood years growing up in a chaotic world with a not-so-average mix of places and faces.

Chloe wrote her memoir while spending some time studying abroad in Greece. I asked her to describe this experience:

“Basically, I was out of my comfort zone, thousands of miles from home/everything I knew, and as a result of that combined with an amazing group of writers and mentors, I was able to completely let go of any predisposition I was harboring about writing things that I held on to so tightly”

She has captured the story of her own life – however influenced by her mother, father, stepfather and siblings. Moving from place to place, making new friends and experiences, struggles, raising a mother, raising a brother and sister, trying to understand the world she’s in. I loved her fearless tale of a young life lived boldly.

As I read her memoir, I felt as though I was present with her – sitting on the floorboards of her house and watching the night fade into sunrise. I felt the honesty and the courage of her commitment to family regardless of their struggles or disagreements. I want to read Part 2.

I connected with her as she described the many trips spent in Barbados visiting her stepfather’s family, and the island life and carefree attitude of the Caribbean. She spoke to me when yearning for the calm assurance of the ocean. I felt myself cheer with her when she overcame a particular hardship, and cry with her as she comforted a sister or brother – share her anger at petty arguments and frustration at the obstacles life continually throws at you. But mostly, I was eager to see her grow and discover herself as the mature woman that life was sculpting her to become.

Chloe currently resides in Mexico, where she designs a line of clothing while continuing to write. I’m drawn to her little online boutique of hand made cotton and wool sweaters and layering pieces. Here.