The Woman Between Worlds: A Journey Through Healing, Self-Discovery and Transformation, the first book by local writer Krisanne Gilbert, was released earlier this month.

The book, which the author describes as “very close” to her heart, is a collection of poetry, reflections, and creative writing that grew from her own experiences with healing, self-discovery, and transformation.

Krisanne, speaking to YGTV, said: “I wanted to create something that helps people feel seen and reminds them they aren’t alone, no matter what they’re going through. My hope is that readers finish the book feeling encouraged, hopeful, and inspired to embrace their own journey.”

She continues: “The Woman Between Worlds is, without question, the most personal thing I have ever written. It was born from my own journey with mental health, something I have struggled with for many years and have rarely spoken about because it has always felt deeply personal.”

Krisanne says that there were times in her life when she felt “completely lost and disconnected” from herself: “On the outside I tried to carry on as though everything was fine, but inside I was fighting battles that very few people knew about. I often found it easier to keep my feelings to myself than to ask for help, and that silence became incredibly lonely.”

It was in this difficult situation that writing emerged as way to cope with loneliness and strife. She explains: “Writing became my refuge. It gave me a place where I could be completely honest without fear of judgement. Every poem and reflection became a way of releasing emotions that I had carried for years. Through writing, I slowly began to understand myself, heal old wounds and rediscover the person I thought I had lost.”

Although there are parts of her journey that Krisanne still chooses to keep private, she says she wanted this first book of hers to offer hope— something she wishes she had had during her darkest moments. She says: “If even one person reads these pages and feels understood, comforted or encouraged to speak about their own struggles, then sharing my story will have been worthwhile. This book is not simply about my healing. It is about reminding others that no matter how difficult life becomes, healing is possible and no one should ever feel they have to suffer alone.”

Krisanne says her love of writing began when she attended Gibraltar College after leaving school: “I was fortunate enough to have an English teacher called Ms Cant, although everyone knew her as Ms C. She recognised something in my writing long before I ever did and encouraged me to believe in my own ability. Her belief in me gave me confidence at a time when I needed it most. She taught me that words have the power to comfort, inspire and connect people. From that moment, writing became far more than something I enjoyed. It became a way of expressing emotions that I often found difficult to say aloud.”

She says she now realises that those early lessons shaped the person and writer she would become: “Without her encouragement, I am not sure I would ever have had the confidence to write and publish this book.”

“I hope this book reaches anyone who has ever felt lost, broken or uncertain about where they belong,” she continues, “It is for those who have experienced pain, grief, anxiety, self doubt or any moment in life where they have questioned their own worth.”

More than anything, Krisanne wants people to know that they do not have to suffer in silence: “Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the bravest things a person can do,” she stresses.

“If my words can help someone feel less alone, encourage them to find their voice or give them hope that brighter days are possible, then this book has achieved exactly what I hoped it would. My greatest wish is that readers close the final page feeling lighter than when they first opened it.”

Asked whether she drew inspiration from any spiritual of self-help texts, Krisanne replies: “My writing has not been shaped by one particular spiritual or self help book. Instead, it has been shaped by life itself. The greatest inspiration behind The Woman Between Worlds has been my own journey through hardship, healing and self discovery. Every page has come from lived experience, from quiet moments of reflection and from learning to find light during some of the darkest periods of my life.”

She ends our interview on a positive note: “Rather than offering advice, I wanted to write with honesty. I wanted readers to feel as though they were sitting with someone who truly understands what it means to struggle, to heal and to begin again. If there is one message woven throughout the book, it is that even in our most difficult moments there is always hope, and sometimes the greatest transformation begins with simply believing that we are worthy of it.”

The book also features original illustrations, and is currently available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover.