Stacey Simmons
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons
Author of The Queen's Path: A Revolutionary Guide to Women's Empowerment and Sovereignty
Women have a wholly different route to authority, independence, and freedom than men. It’s the path to sovereignty—the ability to direct and claim full ownership of their lives. In THE QUEEN’S PATH: A Revolutionary Guide to Women’s Empowerment and Sovereignty, Dr. Stacey Simmons, through years of meticulous research, shaped by her personal experiences, and validated through her work as a licensed psychotherapist, deftly lays out the one true route for women to reclaim every aspect of their lives, from work to motherhood, for themselves.
THE QUEEN’S PATH is a newly discovered archetypal journey that exposes a bitter lie at the heart of women’s everyday experience. Taking this revolutionary route allows a woman to choose her own embodied sovereignty over either her safe submission or her dedicated rebellion. Through a rich tapestry of fairy tales, films, television, and the lives of her patients, Dr. Simmons reveals an ancient pattern hidden in plain sight for over a thousand years.
Designed to help anyone codify their journey, achieve sovereignty, and define their own destiny, THE QUEEN’S PATH supports every form of storytelling, in every creative domain, by helping professionals—from writers to psychologists—think in revolutionary ways about women-driven narrative, the inner journey, and character.
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons
Author I draw inspiration from:
Marion Woodman, (all), Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women who run with the Wolves), Steven Pressfield, (The War of Art)
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
Outside under a tree on a thick blanket with horses nearby.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
I've been loving Leigh Bardugo's books of late. So either Santangel from The Familiar, or Alex Stearn from The Ninth House and Hellbent.
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I don't know that I knew I wanted to be an "author" so much as I loved words and wanted to be around them, touch them, create them. I wanted to be part of the world of books and contribute if I could.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardback, like-the feeling of connectivity to history, the importance of books, dislike- they're SO heavy. Paperback the ease of leafing through them, dislike: how pages yellow and feel like they're disintegrating over time. Ebook- I love having the option- I read on my ipad or kindle when I work out- best incentive to get up on the elliptical machine. Dislike- they don't feel "real" I usually buy a print and an ebook. Adiobooks: If I know I'm going to be driving or traveling, audiobooks are wonderful. I get so lost in the story. The narrator has to be good though. I can't listen if the reader is bad or mispronounces words.
The last book I read:
I just finished Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar. It really resonates for me with my own work in many ways. The idea of who controls miracles, who gets to decide what power is- we call something supernatural if it's outside of the norm. And when the powers that be can't control a power, they demonize it. It was an upsetting book in many ways, but beautifully written, and I loved the characters and the intrigue. I love it when I don't see something coming, and Bardugo does that beautifully.
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I do both- mostly outlining and research are pen and paper, and "writing" is on the computer. I think that's from my grandfather. He was a songwriter and a poet, and at night I would hear him typing on his typewriter. I loved the sound. Being a "real" writer meant writing with a typewriter. So when I'm using my computer it feels like I'm doing the "writer" part.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Alex Stearn in The Ninth House, I was also that kid that had weird things happen to her that I couldn't explain, and while believed me (in my family) it freaked most of them out, and they didn't know what to do. I was that weird, punk girl in high school and college. That's a huge part of my personality still.
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I'm a therapist, something I love doing. I work with creative people, again, that's kind of my dream job. When I'm on my own and feeling wistful I imagine owning a community tea and coffee shop with delightful pastries. It would have a witchy vibe though, so the coffee and tea would be named super interesting things. We'd probably have tarot classes and hold seances in the basement.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I love the 1920s and 30s, the clean lines and crisp fabrics. But I'm also a huge fan of 1980's designed Norma Kamali! And I love sparkles so Betsey Johnson is another favorite.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I've been to Paris a lot, and I love it. I would really like to visit Africa. I can't explain it, but I feel like I'm connected to it in some way. Specifically I'd like to go see Kilimanjaro.
My signature drink:
PSL and Greyhound with Grey Goose
Favorite artist:
Kate Bush is the genius of all geniuses. And I love Georgia O'Keefe and Edward Gorey.
Number one on my bucket list:
I did it by writing this book!
Find more from the author:
TikTok: @WitchDaily, @staceysimmonsphd
IG: staceysimmonsphd
About Stacey Simmons:
Author Interview - Stacey Simmons
Stacey Simmons, MA, PhD, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Psychedelic Therapist. She is a clinical supervisor at Hope Therapy Center in Burbank, California. Her practice focuses on creative professionals, where she works primarily with writers, directors, actors, and musicians. Her research focuses on creativity, archetypes, psychedelic psychotherapy, neuroscience and consciousness research. She is a volunteer researcher with the Semel Institute of Neuroscience at UCLA, as well as a researcher with the Trance Science Research Institute in Paris, France. She holds a PhD from the University of New Orleans, and a Masters degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
