I’m sorry your family weren’t excited for your book, I hope you’re still proud of your achievement regardless. Congratulations!
To answer your question, I do use imagery myself, usually it involves violence (can be slapstick, but usually errs on the more brutal side...) or some form of imagined karma. I admit it’s probably not the healthiest coping mechanism (violent thoughts, I mean). I don’t think of anyone in my family like this, just strangers who have gone out of their way to be nasty to me.