The proposed project will investigate existing representations of recovery from early-life trauma and lifelong re-traumatisation in fiction and the potential for positive representations in the context of a climate-changed future. Through my research, I intend to explore how recent science and treatments have improved the potential for hope of recovery in the future life of a traumatised person. I will write a 20-30,000-word critical thesis detailing my examinations of recent fiction and autofiction offering representations of traumatised characters, alongside the most recent academic research into trauma writing and established and emerging theory regarding Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and its treatment. The ensuing analysis will inform the creative element of this project, a 50-60,000-word novel with the working title Terminal Island and will help shape a narrative that aims to present a positive view on the potential for human individual and species survival and experiments with form and style.
I have always worked in the Arts, primarily as an artist manager in music, but with a few diversions into film editorial and production, most recently as Consultant Producer on The Nettle Dress documentary. My writing career has run throughout and I'm the author of two traditionally-published novels, plus one self-published and another as yet unpublished. I have an MA in Creative Writing and another in Scriptwriting. I have taught Music Business Professional Practice at undergraduate level and designed and ran the MA Creative Writing & Publishing at West Dean College in Sussex. I am currently a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, based at Chichester University.