I essentially wrote Nest as a means of tracking my own progress during pregnancy, including my anxieties throughout the process. I do not believe enough mothers have committed to the page their honest fears about creating new life. But as a writer, I must always remain above all honest.
I share my deepest fears in the most intimate way I know how—by writing them all down. The concept of nesting is a Montessori one that allows Winnie to channel some her negative anxiety into something more productive. By working through her fear of the unknown, she learns to exist with the anxiety while still hoping for better for her child.
I believe that parents have a responsibility to raise a child to become a moral adult in the future, and all of those microscopic moments along that journey make life worth living—from seeing the pregnancy test affirming your greatest fears and joys to laboring for hours all to meet the stranger in your womb.
Winnie and Thomas are based off of me and my husband, but the actual events are fictionalized. However, their flirtatious and joyous spirit with each other is very much real. I hope this novel brings new parents together and reminds older ones to take a deep breath—slow living allows for plenty of precious moments to be savored and held as close as the baby in your arms.
About the Author: Kaitlyn Bankson is an American literary novelist. She writes psychologically driven literary fiction and hosts the Bankson Manor podcast. Read more of her work at kaitlynbankson.com.
Views Expressed Disclaimer: Please know that while I consider myself an Objectivist and my work is inspired by Objectivism, it is not, nor should it be considered, Objectivist since I am not the creator of the philosophy. For more information about Ayn Rand's philosophy, visit aynrand.org.
