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Resilience is Innate in All of Us
Now I See You follows a woman who must navigate a tumultuous relationship while transforming from a young lover to a woman of strength and resolve amidst the challenges of a sailing club backdrop. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Now I See You is inspired by the worldwide epidemic of domestic abuse and my personal experiences. I lived for many years with a coercively controlling partner who managed to make my world very small. I wanted to explore the multiple parallels of how abusers use coercive control in different forms of relationships to dominate, manipulate and alienate. I also wanted to show the strength and importance of beautiful friendships and how being able to lean on someone at different times in life is invaluable.
How did you develop the character of Jess, and what influenced her journey?
Jess’s character was inspired to demonstrate the full breadth of human growth from the ignorance of young adulthood, through to the strength gained from time and life’s journey. So often people are easily led and manipulated when younger. Jess’s journey is heavily influenced by my own experiences. I wanted to explore from a first person perspective how people find themselves in a relationship with an abuser. The love bombing in-between abusive and manipulative behaviours is often the unexplored and un-portrayed, yet extremely important part of the cycle of abuse. It’s difficult for people to understand why a victim stays in a relationship with someone who treats them so poorly. The truth is, by the time the abuse starts, a victim is already completely invested in that person and ultimately wants to believe the good in them. They want to believe that one day, the abuse will stop, and they can go back to the promise of what their life together was meant to look like.
The themes of resilience and overcoming adversity, I feel, are central to your book. Are these themes drawn from personal experiences or observations?
We don’t know our ultimate strength until adversity is thrust at us. Resilience is innate in all of us, even when we feel our weakest. Jess’s love story arcs from an exciting new romance to show a woman who is controlled and programmed to think she is worthless. This book is written from my growth and learning of my own strength and for the many millions of victims of abuse who feel they have no voice. You are stronger than you know.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have spent most of my career nursing and am currently working on a novel about a graduate nurse navigating her first year working on a general ward. There are many shocks, spills and thrills in Ruby’s journey to learning the skills of the job she always dreamed of. I am hoping to release my next novel in 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Linktr.ee | Website | Instagram
Jess met Julian when she was nineteen; he was thirty. He was charismatic, brilliant, and loving, until he was not. She thought she knew everything about him, but looking back, she wonders how she missed all the red flags. They were always there. But she did not see them until it was too late.
How could she have been so wrong?
A harrowing tale of coercive control featuring a strong female protagonist. The story crescendos in a courtroom drama that will keep readers compelled late into the night. A must read psychological drama.
Now I See You
Julian’s unexpected entrance into Jess’s life in Lauren Trevan’s Now I See You marks the beginning of a journey filled with emotional upheavals and dramatic twists. Portrayed as a refreshing contrast to her distant boyfriend, Julian emerges as a figure of kindness, care, and maturity, seemingly indifferent to their age gap. However, the novel skillfully unravels the complexity of their relationship, turning a promising romance into a story of determination and resilience.
Set against the backdrop of a sailing club, Jess’s encounter with Julian evolves from a passionate affair into a marriage marred by turmoil. Trevan deftly unfolds the narrative, allowing the early, subtle signs of Julian’s true character to simmer beneath the surface. This approach keeps readers engaged as the story gradually reveals the darker aspects of Julian’s personality. Jess, the protagonist, is particularly well-drawn. Her evolution from a young lover to a woman of courage and resolve is one of the novel’s highlights. Trevan navigates Jess’s transformation with a keen understanding of the intricacies of such a journey, offering a narrative that is both a cautionary tale and an uplifting account of overcoming adversity.
Now I See You delves into themes that might be sensitive for some but its overarching message is one of empowerment and hope. Trevan’s narrative is a compelling exploration of human resilience, particularly resonating with those who have experienced challenging relationships. It stands as a notable example of contemporary fiction that addresses serious issues while providing a source of inspiration.
Pages: 384 | ASIN: B0CLQKHT47
LITERARY TITAN 