Meet Manon Rinsma | Author of A Far Cry from Yesterday

We had the good fortune of connecting with Manon Rinsma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Manon, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
For me, the key is being brutally honest with yourself. When uncertainty creeps in, when exhaustion takes hold, when self-doubt whispers that maybe you should walk away—I’ve learned to pause and ask: Is this truly the end of the road, or am I just afraid of what’s ahead?

There’s a difference between something no longer being right for you and something being difficult. Perseverance isn’t about blindly pushing forward; it’s about adapting, learning, and refining your path. Giving up has never sat well with me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t pivoted or let go of things that no longer served me. Still, I’ve always believed that if something keeps tugging at you, even when you try to set it down, you owe it to yourself to keep going. I’ve learned to recognize when resistance comes from fear rather than intuition. If fear is the only thing holding me back, I push forward. Because fear fades, but regret lingers.

Writing my latest book, A Far Cry from Yesterday, tested me in every way. It took years to write, to make sense of my scribbles, to revisit painful memories. There were moments I thought, “Maybe this is too much. Maybe I should leave this chapter unwritten.” But deep down, I knew that wasn’t an option. I was just afraid. I had to see it through.

Even now, in difficult moments, I ask myself: Is this a challenge worth overcoming, or is my energy better spent elsewhere? That question has guided me through creative roadblocks, personal setbacks, and unexpected detours. The answer isn’t always immediate, but I’ve learned that clarity comes in the doing. If something still matters, I keep going. If it doesn’t, I make peace with letting it go. Either way, I trust myself to know the difference.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My writing is deeply personal and rooted in human emotion—grief, resilience, transformation. I write to bridge distances between past and present, between loss and healing. The strength of my writing, I believe, lies in its rawness and the unfiltered honesty with which I approach my experiences.

My first book, 13 Diamonds, reflects childhood pain as I watched cancer slowly take my mother away; my latest, A Far Cry from Yesterday, is a testament to how far I’ve come and the miles I had to travel to find myself. I don’t shy away from the uncomfortable parts—loneliness in a foreign country, heartbreak, the ache of losing home. But I also capture the light—the unexpected friendships, the thrill of discovery, the quiet moments of peace found in the most unlikely places. I want readers to feel like they’re right there with me, experiencing every moment as if it were their own. It hasn’t been easy—navigating grief never is—but through writing, I found a way forward. I want people to know that healing isn’t linear, but movement matters. And that’s what my story is about.

I started writing A Far Cry from Yesterday on the heels of publishing 13 Diamonds, and my soul needed a break. I had just gotten married and was really starting a life in California. When life is up, it is really hard to choose to bring yourself down. When I write, the whole world fades—I block out the noise. It’s the kind of focus I am very grateful to have, but the challenge is that I transport myself back to those hard moments of my journey, reliving everything, feeling so deeply.

Then there was also the fear of hurting my family. When I wrote 13 Diamonds about losing my mother to brain cancer, I deliberately focused on my family’s love. Even though many moments were difficult, there was always love. But in A Far Cry from Yesterday, it becomes clear that things took a turn after my mother’s death in a way no one saw coming. Even though A Far Cry from Yesterday takes place ten years after my mother’s death—the point where 13 Diamonds left off—I knew it would be painful to put those memories of grief and anger on paper. After all, how those ten years unfolded was one of the main reasons I left. I felt like I no longer belonged.

Now, back to starting a life in California, I did belong again. I was happy. So every time I picked my book back up and tried to write another chapter, the contrast weighed so heavily that it made it hard to keep going. But I knew the story would always take up space in my mind until it was on paper. I had to finish it. When I became pregnant, the urgency to finish my story grew stronger. I knew that if I didn’t make space for this story now, I might never get the chance to share it. It wasn’t just about finishing—it was about letting go of the weight of the past.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Life doesn’t always unfold as we expect, but even when it shatters, we have the power to rebuild. It’s never too late to rewrite your story. Success comes from showing up, adapting, and having the courage to carve your own path. Pain doesn’t have to define you—it can shape you, making you stronger. And belonging isn’t just about a place; it’s about the people you meet, the moments you create, and the way you show up for yourself.

We are never alone. Our stories matter. And even the smallest step forward is still progress.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love when friends or family visit California, especially those coming from Europe. Their first response is usually, “No way we can do all of this in one day!” I take great joy in showing them around—starting with ice cream at Salt & Straw on Abbott Kinney, then heading to the Pacific Ocean, which is always a highlight. We stroll along Venice Beach, make our way to Ocean View Park (one of my favorite spots), and continue all the way to the Santa Monica Pier. Afterward, we cruise down Rodeo Drive and wander through the charming streets of residential Beverly Hills. I’ll toss in a quick stop on Hollywood Blvd (not usually my first choice, but it’s iconic, haha) and finish with stargazing at the Observatory under the night sky. If there’s more time, I’ll show them UCLA’s campus or take them to a Dodger game, both for the views and atmosphere. Or we might catch a live show—attending live TV tapings is always a hit. After all, Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe my biggest shoutout to my mother. Losing her to brain cancer when I was twelve changed everything. Her love, even in absence, has been a guiding force—a light I followed, one I was desperate to reclaim within myself. She has shaped me in ways I never could have imagined.

But I also owe so much of my journey to the people who believed in me when I forgot to believe in myself. My dad, who, despite everything, remains my rock. My brothers, my godparents, and those who stood by me in spirit. The countless strangers who became friends along the way—those who offered a meal, a story, a connection, a place to stay, a moment of kindness that changed my course. The people who made the world feel a little smaller, a little warmer.

After my journey, the incredible people I met in Los Angeles, who, without knowing me, made me feel at home so quickly. Special thanks to those who took a chance on me—MOT Creative and Cape Coaching. And, of course, my husband, who, soon after I moved to California, made me feel like I truly belonged, supporting (almost all of) my wild ideas. He also gave me my beautiful daughter, who provided the final nudge to finally publish my new book.

And to every reader who has connected with my memoirs, 13 Diamonds or A Far Cry from Yesterday, and has shared their own story of loss and resilience with me—you remind me why storytelling matters.

Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17714199.Manon_Rinsma

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manonrinsma/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manonrinsma/

Other: Buy book on Amazon: https://shorturl.at/NJfxG

Image Credits
Dustin Sheffield