Writing a story about a supernatural hero serving justice to those whose crimes have gone unpunished helped Leona cope with witnessing the senseless murder of her peer, Lyra McKee
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In 2019, Northern Irish journalist Leona O'Neill witnessed the murder of fellow journalist Lyra McKee in the streets of Creggan in Derry while covering the riots.
That experience left her with PTSD and in need of counselling. She pivoted her career into academia while finding a positive release in book writing.
She co-authored her first book in 2022 called Breaking: Trauma in the Newsroom, where she was amongst 16 journalists detailing how the profession has impacted their mental health.
More recently though, her writing career has taken a new direction. Next month, she will publish her first fiction book, Perdition Street, a supernatural story inspired by her own journey.
In this week's podcast, we hear what it is like, as a journalist used to stick to facts, to veer into creative storytelling. Here's a hint: journalists have a wealth of inspiration all around them every day.
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