Tracy Slepcevic is a leading voice for families impacted by Autism. As a former US Air Force Veteran, Bestselling Author, Sought-after Speaker, Certified Integrative Health Coach, and loving mother, Tracy brings a unique perspective and passion to her advocacy work. With her son Noah as her inspiration, Tracy has dedicated over 14 years to exploring alternative therapies for children with autism.
A native of Lincoln Park, Michigan, Tracy’s journey began when her son Noah was diagnosed with autism at age three. Refusing to give up, Tracy was determined to turn her son around from what doctors called an “incurable diagnosis” so that Noah could live his best life possible. This journey inspired Tracy to write her first book, Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Her Son with Autism. The paperback edition of Warrior Mom is slated for release on April 4, 2023.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has praised Warrior Mom, calling it “An inspiring testimony to the miraculous power of maternal love.” In her book, Tracy provides an intimate and moving account of her efforts to aid in her son’s recovery and offers guidance and advice from her fourteen years of comprehensive research and expertise in various treatments and therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As an Integrative Health Coach, and the founder of Pūr Health, LLC, her company aims to inform people about the remarkable impacts that diet and lifestyle choices can have on your happiness and ability to live the life you deserve. As an author and parent advocate, she has made it her mission to educate families on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
This book is evidence of Tracy’s unwavering dedication to improving the quality of life for children with autism and their families. It provides parents looking to manage their child’s care with a blueprint and empowers them to maintain hope in their child’s potential to recover and lead a fulfilling life. Tracy’s message is crystal clear: “A child’s potential is not limited by an autism diagnosis. Some children can go on to lead a fully functional life given the proper care and direction.” Parents, grandparents, and caregivers will have the resources they need with “Warrior Mom” in hand to assist their loved ones on their journey. This book is an essential tool for anyone hoping to improve any child’s life. It is a powerful reminder that anything is possible if you believe.
Tracy is more than just a mother; she is a warrior, a catalyst for change, and a source of hope and inspiration for those families impacted by autism. Her message is evident in her book: there is hope, and it begins with understanding.
First things first, how did we develop an interest in writing?
When I was in college, I loved writing papers and doing research. I never in a million years expected to write a book but I felt a divine intervention guiding me to be a voice for so many parents and to give them guidance… this IS my purpose.
When did you realize you had a story that the world needed to hear?
I have known for a long time that I have had a story to tell ever since my son Noah made such an amazing recovery with biomedical intervention so many years ago. It was my “ego” that stood in the way, and the belief that I wasn’t good enough to write a book.
What was the writing process like, did you come up with your title first and build around it or did the manuscript come first?
The title “Warrior Mom” has always resonated with me, even before I decided to write the book. Over the years, as I would tell people my story, others would say, “Wow! You are such a Warrior Mom.” So, I believe the name was already chosen for me long ago.
What is the message behind your title?
Since before my son Noah was diagnosed with autism, I have been battling with doctors, schools, caregivers, and individuals on every level to keep my son safe and healthy over the years. It’s a spiritual battle when you have a child with special needs but there are 2 ways you can approach it… you can be a Warrior or a Victim. I chose to be the Warrior.
Can you share 3 takeaways you would like women to take away from your book?
Never give up hope – I truly believe that where your mind goes, energy flows. Where your thoughts and actions go is where life will lead you. In the first part of my book, I tell an inspiring story of all the trials and tribulations we had in the process of healing our child but with a clear intention I was able to push through all those challenges so my son could lead a fully functional life with no limitations, and that is exactly what I did.
Guidance – In part two of my book, I created a guidebook for parents on “what to do if they think their child could have autism.” This is something I wish I had when Noah was diagnosed with autism because it would have made my life and our journey so much easier, and there would have been less bumps in the road. I also provide parents and caregivers the resources they need to get their child the help they need to be successful.
Healing – It is in my nature to want to heal people which is why I got in to the medical profession to begin with. In part three of my book, I discuss all the different healing modalities we used to address the underlying biological conditions our son was having so we could maximize his potential and give him the best life possible.
At any moment during your writing process did you experience writer’s block, what tips do you have for overcoming it?
As I wrote my story portion of the book, I did not experience writer’s block… the words just flowed onto the paper. But I did struggle with the layout of the book and how it was all going to look. Eventually, my literary coach recommended that I write the book in three parts; my story, a guidebook, and healing. After that, it was smooth sailing.
Take me through the first moment you held your book in your hands, what did that feel like for you?
Similar (but not quite) to holding my child for the first time. Writing this book was a labor of love. I poured my heart and soul into writing this book and my intentions have always been pure… never to profit off the book but to help others who have a similar journey, and give them all the tools they need to be successful.
What would you say was the most challenging part of your writing process?
Finding the right publisher and editor. At the beginning, I signed up with a publishing company that I truly feel misled me to sign a contract with the understanding that they were onboard with my story. After the contract was signed, they told me I had to write my story a certain way, and that was not what the agreement was. This resulted in my attorney writing a demand letter to get my money back. I had a similar situation with my first literary coach who tried to tell me I should write my book a certain way to be “politically correct.” This did not work for me either. In the end, I found an amazing publisher and literary coach (who became my editor) and it all worked out.
What key tips do you have for marketing your book and getting it out to the masses?
Wow! This is one of the hardest (but most rewarding) things I have ever done in my life. First, having the right endorsements is key. For that, you can go to events where these public figures are speaking and approach them in person. I had to ask Del Bigtree several time to endorse my book before I actually got him to commit to it; we even took him and his team out to dinner. Then end result was me being featured on the show The Highwire with over 4 million viewers. Never put limits on what you can accomplish. Lastly, build your social media… this was a challenge for me because I literally had no following and had to build it from ground up. Find those in the community that have a lot of followers and ask them to do a post for you and to follow your page… this is where I have had the most success with social media. You can also do paid ads to get likes on your posts. You can also reach out to podcasters, tv, news, radio, and get yourself a great publicist.
What audience is your book written for?
I wrote my book for parents, caregivers, therapists, and anyone impacted by autism. Warrior Mom is an inspiring story of hope and an indispensable guidebook for any parent desperate to hear the truth that autism is not an incurable disease and that many underlying conditions associated with autism are treatable.
Social Media Handles:
Website: www.WarriorMom.org
Instagram: @WarriorMomBook or @AutismAuthorTracy
Twitter: @AutismMomTracy
Facebook: Warrior Mom Book (Book page) and Tracy M. Slepcevic (Author page)
Link to book: https://linktr.ee/warriormombook
