Discovering Strength Through Adversity and Storytelling
Lauren Trevan discusses her transition from nursing to writing, the themes of her debut novel, and her advocacy for domestic abuse awareness.
Lauren Trevan is a writer whose personal journey of resilience and courage is at the heart of her debut novel, Now I See You. After dedicating much of her professional life to nursing, she found the courage to pursue her long-held dream of writing. Her novel, inspired by her own experiences, explores the strength of female friendships and the fight for justice, set against the backdrop of domestic abuse and coercive control. In this interview, Lauren shares insights into her transition from healthcare to writing, the impact of her nursing background on her storytelling, and the deeply personal themes of her work. Her passion for advocacy, particularly in raising awareness about coercive control, is evident in her work both as an author and a speaker. For more information, visit Lauren Trevan’s website or follow her on Instagram and Linktree.
A compelling and heartfelt debut, Lauren’s voice resonates with authenticity and strength, inspiring readers to face their own challenges.
What inspired you to transition from nursing to writing?
I have always been an avid reader and for as long as I can remember, every time I was bored or on long road trips, my mind would wander to storytelling. I would look at the environment surrounding me and think of different ways of describing what I was seeing, hearing and feeling. The stories that came to my mind would always involve strong female friendships and I dreamed of one day writing a novel. After 16 years with my ex-husband, I learned of a police investigation into him. My marriage was over in an instant and I spent the following three and a half years in and out of courtrooms. I was forced to move back in with my parents and struggled to protect my children and regain any independence. During that time, I was living in such a heightened state of stress, I couldn’t even read one page of a book. It was the most difficult time and the fact it was so drawn out because we were dealing with legal matters, only added to the torture. ‘Now I See You’ was not the book I always dreamt of writing, but it is at its heart showcasing strong female connections and overcoming adversity.
“I would look at the environment surrounding me and think of different ways of describing what I was seeing, hearing and feeling.” – Lauren Trevan
Can you tell us about the journey of writing your debut novel, ‘Now I See You’?
My first draft of ‘Now I See You’ was written as a memoir because I had intended to release it under a pseudonym. I was strongly advised against this by Laneway Press as it is almost impossible to market a book without revealing my identity. I wanted to protect the victims of my ex-husband to remain anonymous, so we discussed me re-writing the manuscript as a fictional novel. I received writing coaching along the way and had the next manuscript submitted for editing within twelve months.
How does your background in nursing influence your writing?
Nursing gives you great insight into all kinds of people at their very worst, so I was able to draw on those experiences. Nursing has also helped develop my sense of humour in so many ways. When you cop of face washer covered in faeces to the cheek, you either must laugh or cry. You learn a lot about the people you are working with nursing as well, and what it means to develop true camaraderie amongst piers.
What themes do you hope readers take away from ‘Now I See You’?
Overall, I hope people see this story as one of strong women relying on each other through the worst times of their lives and on a journey of justice. There are certainly domestic violence themes, in particular highlighting the dangers and breadth of adept coercive controllers.
Can you share any personal experiences that shaped your perspective on domestic abuse?
My ex-husband was coercively controlling and I knew I had a terrible relationship, but he never hit me, so I didn’t recognise it as abuse until I was out of the relationship and able to reflect on the way I was treated and manipulated.
How do you approach the topic of coercive control in your advocacy work?
I love to pass on my knowledge and experiences to others. Speaking in schools has been especially rewarding and receiving wonderful feedback drives me to keep sharing. I talk to students about what healthy relationships look like compared to one where a person wants to control the other. Sentiments that seem to gel with the teens is when I explain that extreme jealousy doesn’t mean a person is really into you or cares a lot, it’s an early sign of control. I also share that a good partner will always want you to have the best life and follow your dreams and aspirations, encouraging wide and diverse contacts and friendships. Anyone that wants to make a person’s world smaller and isolate them is another red flag. It’s important that we see those red flags early in others and even in ourselves, so there is no chance to escalate.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to share their own stories?
Get typing! Don’t be scared and procrastinate because you want to make sure it’s right the first time. There is no escaping editing and a massive brain dump onto the pages that you need to severely edit is still much better than a blank page.
