📘 Interview with Arturo José Sánchez Hernández
Arturo, when did you start writing?
Although I was passionate about books and ideas since my teenage years, it was during medical school that I felt the need to express myself in my own voice. Writing became a refuge amid the challenges of studying and daily life. It helped me organize my thoughts and find calm in moments of pressure. Since then, writing has been a way to breathe and give meaning to my experiences.
What were those beginnings like?
I started by jotting down and commenting on sayings, reflections, and thoughts. During the hardships of what we in Cuba called the Special Period, many didn’t understand why I spent so much time writing. For me, it was like rescuing small seeds of wisdom in the middle of scarcity. Over time, people realized it was something serious, and they began to support me.
What do you most enjoy writing?
I enjoy writing popular self-help literature focused on values and mental health, because it offers simple tools for everyday life. I also deeply enjoy creating fables, where animals and landscapes become symbols that speak to the heart. I feel that fables have the power to heal gently, without imposing or judging. They are stories that walk alongside the reader and carry a message of hope.
Since when have these themes interested you, and why?
Even before entering university, these themes fascinated me. I can’t fully explain why, but I felt they gave meaning to what I was doing. Exploring the connection between values, mental health, and daily life has always captivated me. Over time, I discovered that writing about these subjects made me feel useful and connected to others.
Do you remember the first piece you ever wrote?
Yes. It was about how to redirect our efforts according to circumstances if we want to achieve success. That first text evolved over time and became part of the book Cardinal Virtues: Illustrated Sayings for a Fulfilling Life. It appears in the chapter on spiritual strength. That early work showed me that writing could grow alongside me.
Have your initial ideas changed over time?
The essence remains the same: writing with purpose, using sayings and images to share ideas. What has changed is the way I present them, which has become clearer and more visual. New technologies have also enriched the results. Thanks to them, I can reach further, while still preserving the simplicity that defined my beginnings.
Was there any author, book, or experience that especially inspired you to write?
There were books that left a deep mark on me and awakened the need to write with purpose. Among them are Aristotle’s Moral Works and Confucius’ Analects, which first introduced me to classical wisdom. Later I discovered Erasmus of Rotterdam’s reflections and works like Machiavelli’s The Prince, which made me think deeply about human nature and power. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe also struck me with its vision of resilience in the face of adversity. And throughout my life, biblical texts have been a constant source of meaning and strength. All of these, in their diversity, inspired me to build bridges between reflection, everyday life, and hope.
Where do your ideas come from?
They emerge from daily life, from what I hear in psychotherapy, and from sayings that spark new reflections. Many times, patients themselves inspire themes by sharing their deepest questions. Ideas also arise from exchanges on social media, where reactions help me adjust my messages. Each idea becomes a bridge between personal experience and collective reflection.
What is your writing process like?
In the past, I would research a topic, look for sayings, write the text, and only then add images. Today the process is more dynamic because I also write for the blog Mental Health in the Heart of Maun. There, topics are discussed in a WhatsApp group, and that dialogue greatly enriches my books. Writing is no longer a solitary act, but a shared construction.
How do you design a book cover?
At first, I imagined the cover while I was writing and then searched through hundreds of images to capture the book’s essence. It was a long but meaningful process. Now, with the help of artificial intelligence, the process is more agile and creative. Still, I remain committed to ensuring each cover is deeply symbolic and aligned with the book’s content.
How does your work influence what you write?
My work as a psychiatrist and teacher is the root of everything I write. Listening to patients offers me perspectives that I then transform into stories and reflections. Each consultation is like a spark that motivates me to write for a broader audience. In this way, clinical practice and writing continuously nourish each other.
If you could, would you devote yourself only to writing?
No. Writing completes me, but it wouldn’t be the same without the human contact that clinical work gives me. My practice provides the raw material for many of my ideas. Writing, in turn, allows me to organize and share what I learn from each encounter. They are two paths that complement and strengthen each other.
What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
I enjoy seeing that what I write reaches people and makes a difference. When someone tells me that a fable, a post, or a book gave them comfort, I feel it has all been worthwhile. That is a deep joy that keeps me creating. For me, writing is about planting small lights along the paths of others.
What do your readers mean to you?
They are much more than readers: they are companions on the journey. Through my writing we share a silent and sincere bond. Knowing that someone feels understood through my words confirms that this path has meaning. Writing is a way of being close, even across distance.
What book are you working on now?
I am currently working on a series of therapeutic fables for people facing addictions and emotional trauma. These stories aim to reflect difficult realities but always with a thread of hope. They are written in a symbolic and visual style, designed to heal without imposing. This project connects me with those who most need companionship.
What is the story behind your latest book?
Beyond the Trap: Fables of Addiction and Hope was born from my desire to support young people living in remote areas who struggle with addiction. I thought of them while writing each story, hoping they would feel understood. Each tale seeks to encourage them not to give up and to seek help. It is a book written with empathy and hope.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your free time?
I enjoy reading, practicing tai chi, watching good films, and spending time with my family. I also seek out moments of calm and silence, because that’s when many ideas emerge. Sometimes a quiet walk gives me the spark for a new story. Inspiration is often found in the simplest things.
What inspires you to get up and fight each day?
I am inspired by contact with people who suffer and the opportunity to help them. I am also motivated by the love of my family, which supports and encourages me to move forward. Writing is another great source of inspiration, because I know that a phrase or an image can plant hope. That mix of love, work, and writing drives me every morning.
Has any message or story from a reader especially moved you?
Yes, many. But I especially remember one young woman who wrote to me from a very remote rural area. She told me that after reading one of my fables, she felt for the first time that someone understood her without judgment. That message deeply moved me. It was confirmation that writing can reach places I cannot always go.
Was there ever a moment in your life when you thought about abandoning medicine and giving up on writing? What kept you going?
During my student years, I went through a very difficult time. The economic situation at home was tough: my parents were separated, and I watched my mother make enormous sacrifices to support my studies. I decided to leave school and work; I even sold fruit and tried my hand at trading. But when I told my mother of my decision, she firmly opposed it and stood by me. Today I know that without her strength I would not be a doctor or a psychiatrist, and probably not a writer either. That moment taught me that sometimes real strength comes not from ourselves, but from the love of someone who believes in us.
What value do you think writing has in the process of emotional healing?
Writing gives shape to what we often feel but don’t know how to express. A good story can open space for reflection, soften resistance, and plant seeds of hope. It also allows people to see themselves reflected without feeling judged. Writing is, for me, a quiet form of therapy that reaches where other tools cannot.
How do you imagine the ideal reader of your fables?
I imagine someone searching for answers or comfort in the midst of everyday life. It could be a teenager, a worried mother, a tired worker, or someone carrying invisible pain. They are not looking for perfection but for closeness and truth. My fables aim to reach out to them in that moment of need.
What would you say to someone who wants to write about mental health but doesn’t know where to start?
I would say: start with your own lived experience, from the heart. Don’t try to teach, but to accompany. Use simple, authentic words, and always think of the person on the other side of the pain. Writing from personal truth is what connects the most.
What role does local culture play in your writing?
Local culture is both the landscape and the essence of my stories. The Okavango Delta, Setswana names, and the faces of my patients are part of the soul of my texts. They are not just background scenery but living roots that nourish my books. It is my way of honoring the land that has welcomed me.
Do you have dreams or projects you haven’t shared yet?
Yes. I would like to create a collection of illustrated, multilingual fables for at-risk youth, books that could be read even without professional supervision. I also hope to expand the Mental Health in the Heart of Maun project to new communities. These dreams grow from the desire to walk alongside more people.
What would you like readers to feel or take away after reading your books?
I would like readers to find comfort and companionship in my words. That when they close a book, they feel they are not alone, that someone understands them and respects what they are going through. I hope they carry with them a spark of hope, a practical idea, or a symbolic gesture that helps them keep going. If my texts manage to plant peace or motivation in times of difficulty, then they have fulfilled their purpose.
How would you like your work to be remembered in the years to come?
I would like it to be remembered as a close voice that spoke with respect, simplicity, and depth. I dream of my books being seen as small lighthouses: not grand, but steady. And I hope those who read them feel that, at some point, I reached out a hand to them. If someone opens my pages and feels they are not alone, then it will all have been worth it.
🌿 FINAL THOUGHTS
This project was born out of a desire to walk alongside those going through difficult times, offering simple words, fables, sayings, and reflections that bring relief, clarity, and hope. It isn’t about imposing ideas—it’s about extending a helping hand.
In every text and every encounter, there’s a piece of real experience drawn from the clinic, the community, and life itself. Because mental health is not a solitary path—it’s something we build together, step by step, with patience and trust.
💬 Now I’d love to hear from you:
👉 Which part of your own story resonates with what you’ve read?
👉 What topics would you like us to explore in future posts?
Your voice is also part of this journey.
💙 Together, we continue building bridges toward emotional well-being. 🌿
🌍 Looking for more articles on mental health and well-being?
👉 Browse the blog index in English.
👉 Or explore the blog index in Spanish.
💬 And if you’d like to share your experiences and reflections on mental health in a safe, supportive space, I invite you to join our WhatsApp group Mental Health in the Heart of Maun.
Connect with me online:
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✉️ E-mail: asanchez700908@gmail.com
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