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Overcast Island Park author ‘finds happy’ in new book
Book signing at Cradle of Aviation March 18
Island Park resident Selene Castrovilla is releasing her first self-help book, “Ten Steps to Finding Happy,” on March 20. She and co-author Dr. Lindsay Weisner will discuss the book and sign copies at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on March 18.
Castrovilla, 53, was on a journey to “find happy” her whole life. She’s lived in Island Park for the past 26 years, where she raised her two sons, Michael, 25, and Casey, 20. From the mid-‘90s to early ‘00s, she owned a gift basket shop in Oceanside. It wasn’t until she started writing and publishing books that she found true bliss because writing has been her passion since childhood, she said.
“In college, people said ‘Who are you to think you’re a writer?’” she recalled. “People kept putting me down, and people are very negative toward the arts in this country. So I thought maybe I’m not good enough to be published, and I opened the store because I needed something to be creative with. I believed all the negativity.”
However, when she had her second son, she realized she wanted to leave something behind for her children. She got her first book contract in 2003 and released her first publication, “By the Sword,” a non-fiction children’s book about the Revolutionary War, in 2007.
Castrovilla left the gift basket store and started writing full time. She’s now published several teen novels, as well as history books about Long Island’s role in the American Revolution.
“Once I opened up my heart again to writing, it was like a fish caught on a fishing line and then suddenly gets thrown back in the water,” she said. “I had totally turned myself off to how this feels, but I got right back into it and didn’t look back.”
About two years ago, her son, Michael, suggested she write a self-help book — a guide to happiness. At first, Castrovilla laughed at the idea. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh no, self-help books are so hokey,” she recounted. “I always thought they were gimmicky.”
But one day, as she was browsing the internet, she saw a photo of a smiley face that looked “clouded over,” she said, and it inspired her. The photo is now the cover of her new book.
“Happiness is trying to break through the clouds,” she said, reflecting on her life. “I could find glimpses, pieces, moments … that’s how I felt through the years — it’s the struggle to maintain it and to be in this happiness.”
Instantly, she started writing. Then, she showed her work to Weisner, a fellow writer and a psychologist specializing in suicide. Weisner noticed that all of Castrovilla’s “steps” could be supported by research. So, she helped her write an introduction and found 24 experts on topics like meditation, exercise and music for happiness. “I reached out to anyone with an interesting story to tell and unique perspective to offer,” Weisner said.
The result is a handy, easy-to-read toolkit of fun ways to spark happiness in one’s life. Each chapter suggests concrete actions, backs those up with research and offers relatable personal experiences.
“There’s so many great points in it,” said Jennifer Boyd, who has read a preview of the book. “Some of them you wouldn’t think about until you read it.”
The event at Cradle of Aviation will double as a platform to spread mental health awareness and help end the stigma attached to it, the authors noted. There will be raffle prizes to benefit suicide awareness, including autographs from celebrities, such as the DJ Marshmello, media mogul Howard Stern and UFC fighter Connor McGregor, Weisner said.
“I’ve seen far too often that a teen tells their parents about a mental health issue, and these lovely, well meaning parents tell their children not to tell the teachers or grandparents or friends,” Weisner said. “It adds shame and further isolates an already struggling and depressed kid.”
She noted that the advice in the book should not be used in place of therapy or medication for a mental illness. However, it could serve as a great outlet or final secret to happiness.
