Interview: Natalie Hampshire talks about Endo Empathy
Natalie Hampshire is an author, senior communications professional, and wedding celebrant. She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies from AUT and a Diploma in Creative Writing from Whitireia. Endo Empathy is her first book. Natalie talk to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about your book.
Endo Empathy is an emotional companion to life with endometriosis. It features 33 voices from the endometriosis community of Aotearoa sharing their stories and advice on the many emotions that people experience with this disease. Alongside this are interviews with an obstetrician-gynaecologist, clinical psychologist, and endometriosis and self-compassion researcher. It’s written to provide voices, visibility and validation to people with endometriosis.
What inspired you to write Endo Empathy?Endo Empathy is the book that I needed on my own journey with endometriosis. It took two years for me to get diagnosed, and by then my symptoms had progressed to the point that I was in pain daily. The hardest part of this journey was feeling isolated and dismissed by healthcare professionals and my workplace. I wanted to create a resource that would be validating for anyone with endometriosis who had also lived through (or are still living with) years of pain and gaslighting and provide tools to help them to care for themselves – because life with endometriosis is really hard.
What research was involved?
After my diagnosis of endometriosis in 2022, I sought to understand the disease by reading books, finding online resources, listening to podcasts and being advised by my gynaecologist. When I began writing Endo Empathy I knew I wanted it to be a credible resource of information for readers that combined my own learnings from my lived experience with voices from experts. I interviewed Dr Katherine Culliney, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty. She specialises in pelvic pain and endometriosis and performed my laparoscopy to excise my endometriosis in February 2023. I spoke with Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd, who is a clinical psychologist. Dr Kerry is also a published author and is passionate about communicating research-based evidence to help improve people’s lives. The third expert is Chelsea Skinner, a PhD candidate researching the interplay between self-compassion and endometriosis as a tool to improve a person’s life. All of these interviews feature in the book.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
It was quite sporadic. Because it involved a lot of interviewing other people and gathering stories, the content came together in ebbs and flows. I would often spend Saturday or Sunday mornings working at my desk in our study, writing and re-writing to pull everything together. Coffee/pastry.
If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
There is a playlist I created while recovering from my bowel resection and endometriosis excision surgery that filled me with peace and hope and is a perfect accompaniment to Endo Empathy. If I had to choose just two songs from the playlist, I’d say Mata Kohore / Stoned at the Nail Salon by Lorde and Bitter with the Sweet by Carole King.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you like to see playing the lead characters?
Well, I’ve been told that I have a likeness to Emilia Clarke, so she would be me! I’d be looking for lots of strong and inspiring female actresses to embody all the lived experiences of the amazing contributors of my book, like Saoirse Ronan, Zendaya, Emma Thompson and Jameela Jamil. I’d be asking Greta Gerwig to direct it, too.
What did you enjoy the most about writing Endo Empathy?
The sense of satisfaction and empowerment knowing I was writing something that will help so many people. While it was a very emotional experience that brought with it sadness and anger, the overwhelming thread of the book is the strength of the people who live with endometriosis and our willingness to band together and support one another, which was really uplifting.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
I was pregnant when I submitted the manuscript, so there definitely wasn’t any bubbles involved – I think my hubby and I went out and had a nice meal somewhere to celebrate the milestone. I’m planning a big launch to celebrate the publication date which will be much more momentous.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
I’m a mum to a toddler, am working fulltime and publishing a book, so sadly I haven’t had a lot of time for reading books this year. However, there’s a shared library in my workplace staffroom where I sometimes pick up a novel to read on my lunchbreak; most recently I read The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shrieve. I first read it in my early 20s and loved it – and I enjoyed it just as much the second time. The author’s ability to explore dialogue and give a sense of place is really beautiful. I felt as though I was there alongside the lead character in her big, empty house on the edge of the ocean going through all the emotions of grief.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I love speaking and communicating, and I am passionate about Endo Empathy having a positive impact on as many people as possible – so next is trying to take the book on tour. I’ll be hosting some talks around New Zealand to raise awareness of endometriosis and bring our community together to connect and validate each other’s experiences. If people would like to see me speak, they can visit my website to see what events I have lined up: www.endoempathynz.com.
Mary Egan Publishing
