Meet the Author: Yvonne Murray

Yvonne Murray is a multifaceted woman: a motivator, a creative force, and an author who channels her life experiences into poetry that resonates with the soul. Her work is deeply personal yet widely relatable, offering a mirror for others to see their own hidden truths, quiet hopes, and unspoken sorrows.

In her debut poetry collection, Pain in the Mask, Yvonne invites us into the intimate spaces where joy and trauma coexist. Her words move with grace between vulnerability and strength, painting a picture of what it means to show up in the world while navigating everything we’re taught to hide.

In this Q&A, Yvonne opens up about the healing power of writing, the emotional masks we wear, and how poetry can become a tool for resilience, especially in times of isolation.

Q: Your book, 'Pain in the Mask', reflects on hiding emotions. In what ways do you feel people wear emotional masks in their everyday lives, and how can we start to remove them?

We are hiding away from our emotional selves all the time. When we go to work, we say we are "OK" when we are far from OK. We smile because that is what is expected from us, but inside, we are screaming and crying. Some of us wear make-up to cover up pain, and wear sunglasses to disguise the tears, and the funny person telling all the jokes is often the only one not laughing.

I think if we feel a certain way, just feel how you feel; and recognise that things are not always going the way you need them to, but things can also get better, but we need to acknowledge we are hurting first. It really is OK not to be OK sometimes.

I think it’s healthy to sit in your pain, breathe out the negative and breathe in the positive. Tell yourself that things will be better and believe in yourself. Tell your friends what’s going on, and if they are good friends, you will feel so much better knowing you don’t have to hide from them.

Buy the Book

Pain in the Mask by Yvonne Murray

£21.44

Q: How can poetry and creative expression help people manage stress and anxiety, especially during times of isolation?

In times of isolation, I found writing a great comforter. I could ‘say’ what I wanted, make spelling mistakes because the writing is for my eyes only.

Writing is also a form of escapism, where you can disappear into someone else’s world for a while. Create characters, live out your dream in your stories – I’m already smiling at the ideas coming to mind.

Writing down how you feel – you can throw it away when you start to feel better or keep it as a reminder to show growth.

When feeling anxious, putting your thoughts down on paper really helps. You are relieving yourself of feeling this way. Write what you are feeling, where did those feelings come from; when you start to feel better, throw those feelings in the bin – you are good to go.

Q: As someone who writes about both joy and pain, how do you stay connected to hope and positivity in your life and writing?

I try to stay positive, as this is the healthier choice. I believe in the power that my energy has on those around me. I should be able to put what I mean into words, but I seem to have that thing where people gravitate towards me and want to share their joys and their pain, which is great because I enjoy talking to people, and if a few kind words help, that is the best feeling.

If something goes wrong, I will write about it. Once I have dealt with it, I’ll share it at an open mic or poetry group because the chance that someone else has gone through the same is high – I love connecting with other people. I am hoping the message that people see is yes, I am always smiling, yes, I have a very positive attitude, but yes, I go through sad times too – I just don’t let them consume me. My pen takes on that strain.

Something I did for myself is to create a wellbeing kit where I put reminders of what or who I need when I'm not feeling right. You have this little box to pull out phone numbers, prompts to write, books to read, meditate or a reminder to sit in the moment.

Q: What message or lesson would you like readers to take away from your poems, particularly when it comes to handling life's struggles with grace and resilience?

The main message from my book is that we all hide. I believe your eyes will always expose what you are hiding in your heart – it can be a real pain in the mask holding in your truth.

The first poem in the book is ‘What is true love’. A friend of mine told me that when she was struggling, when hurting, the line she would go to is ‘loving and respectful’ – not for another person but for herself. I often speak about loving yourself.

My first collection of poems is a mixture of love, laughter and trauma. I wasn’t sure if I would ever have the confidence to share my soul, but the resilience in me took a chance on publishing it when I decided to throw my mask away.

Yvonne Murray’s poetry is a gentle rebellion against silence – a call to honour our emotions, let go of perfection, and make space for healing. Her work reminds us that wearing a mask may protect us for a while, but true freedom lies in taking it off and standing in our truth.

Whether you’re drawn to her work for comfort, catharsis or connection, Pain in the Mask is available in the WRC Online Shop and offers a companion for life’s messy, beautiful journey.

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