Paradise Taken shares the story of Eden Flores to inspire and inform readers of the lasting effects of child abuse and sexual trauma. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Initially, I just set out to tell the story of my lifelong friend, Eden Flores. However, the more I heard about her traumatic childhood experiences, my inspiration changed. I did not just want to write a book about Eden Flores’ early life; I wanted to write a book that would inspire all who seek to understand or overcome the fragments left behind from child abuse and sexual trauma.

What was the most challenging thing you faced when putting this book together?

The most challenging part was the multiple interviews I conducted with Eden Flores. Some of the discussions became so intense that I often felt very uncomfortable and emotional and even stopped the interviews to give Eden and me a break.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Paradise Taken needed to serve as an advocacy recourse for sexual trauma and domestic violence victims. Sharing these strong and mature topics with Paradise Taken readers would also expose them to delicate and terrible issues some may find unfamiliar.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?

I want readers to recollect the abuses young Eden had suffered and reflect on the ways childhood abuse and trauma rob people of their innocence and impact every facet of their outlook for the rest of their lives.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook