Zoe Nauman - When Power Tempts and Hope Endures

Zoe Nauman is a journalist, copywriter, editor, and accomplished speaker with more than twenty six years of experience collaborating with some of the world’s most recognized brands and publications on three continents. At heart a dedicated globetrotter, Zoe left the UK in 2008 to settle in Sydney, Australia, where she lived for seven enriching years while exploring some of Asia’s most captivating destinations. She now resides on the Westside Los Angeles, where she spends her time writing, and caring for her three lively chihuahuas Poco, Chika, and Enzo. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about her novel, The Dawning.Please give us a short introduction to what The Dawning is about.The Dawning is a portal fantasy novel where teenagers from Earth are transported to the world of Amaris to help battle an evil force and save the people who live there from domination. The novel also explores the challenges of temptation, forbidden love and the issues of head ruling heart,  and all within an epic coming of age fantasy set against a backdrop of magic, dragons and battles.What interested you about exploring the idea that becoming more human can be both a gift and a vulnerability?I think as humans, we are all in a continuous battle to make choices and question whether they are the right ones. We all second-guess ourselves. Most people really want to do good and make sound choices. But sometimes, in certain situations, it's difficult to know if the choice is right because it is not always clear-cut. A good choice can sometimes be a difficult choice, which doesn't always have great consequences for everyone involved.Many prophecy-driven fantasies focus on a single chosen hero, but The Dawning brings together young people from different cultures, backgrounds, and personal struggles. What led you to explore salvation as a collective effort rather than an individual destiny?I wanted to examine the many issues young people face today and show them they are not alone. That life IS difficult and there is someone out there who is going through a similar experience. I’m also a massive fan of CS Lewis! The Lion the Witch and the Watdrobe was definitely an inspiration and one of my favourite kids' books!Several characters appear to struggle between personal desire and larger responsibility. Do you see sacrifice as an unavoidable part of leadership, or is the book questioning whether any cause is worth losing yourself for?I am definitely highlighting that leadership is difficult, and yes I do think that you often have to make sacrifices of all different kinds to achieve what you want, whether that’s leadership, or a goal. I know that from experience. In my opinion, the difficulty with a cause being worth losing yourself for comes down to the cause. I wouldn't agree with someone who thought it was right to blow people up for a cause. But there are people out there who do. And that’s definitely not right.I hope to challenge people to examine their perception of right and wrong. To think about the repercussions of their thought process.The world of the novel feels shaped by ancient histories and long-buried truths. How do you decide what parts of a world’s past should remain hidden from both the characters and the reader?The book is the first in a four-book arc - the idea is that other aspects of the history are revealed to the reader in the subsequent books. I want readers to really engage in the world and be excited to discover more! When writing books 1 through 4, I always had a journey in mind regarding what the characters would learn. And in all books, although they are stand-alone, there are seeds for a follow-up. People's names also offer clues about their future actions in the story and the history. The glossary is at the back so dive in and see if you can fit the jigsaw puzzle together!Throughout the novel, power is often presented as something seductive rather than purely empowering. What do you think makes the temptation of power so compelling, even for characters who genuinely want to do the right thing?Particularly today, power can come in many different guises. Doesn’t a person with thousands of followers on social media have power? Are they responsible with the power they have to shape people's opinions and vision of the world? Often not! We are fallible as human beings, even though we like to think we aren’t. I am attempting to encourage people to really focus on using a strong moral compass. I think today the lines between right and wrong are more blurred than ever. A sense of morality is not always instilled in people, or in children as they grow up. I think that is not only incredibly sad, but it also negatively affects humanity as a whole.Faith appears to play a significant role in the story, yet the novel doesn't seem interested in offering easy answers. How did you approach writing spiritual themes in a way that invites reflection rather than certainty?I have a strong faith myself, but I have always believed that forcing it down someone's throat only alienates them. I want people to feel compelled to investigate faith on their own terms and become curious about it. This is why the books are deliberately not promoted as Christian literature. I am opening the door for someone to step through it. Faith isn’t easy. It’s challenging. And often, the perception of faith is warped within the construct of religion. The goal of the books is to get people to look into faith and see how it can shape and change their lives for good. I know how it has supported me and I would love people to have the opportunity to experience that.The relationships in The Dawning seem to evolve under extreme pressure. Which was more compelling for you to write: the growth of trust between allies, or the gradual unraveling of trust when secrets emerge?Ahh, definitely the growth of trust and the building of relationships. To let the reader go on that journey with the characters. Teenagers today face many challenges for a variety of reasons. We could list all the surveys that highlight how teens feel alienated, alone, depressed, misunderstood. I could go on. I am glad my teenage years are behind me; dealing with everything they have to confront would be difficult. Having said that, a lot of what I have just said, adults have to deal with as well! I would love readers to see the nuances of getting close in a real bona fide friendship with another person in real life.The title itself suggests a beginning rather than a conclusion. Beyond the literal dawn, what does “the dawning” represent to you on a personal, emotional, or even spiritual level?Well, the Dawning is in reference to the book being the first in the series, as well as the dawning of Arielle becoming Satheriel. She is the only character in all four books - which are as I mentioned, stand-alone in plot. Each book takes place at different times on Amaris, sometimes thousands of years apart. The Dawning also refers, in part, to the fact that every single day we have the opportunity to start again. When you’ve had a horrible day, it is easy to think, 'That's it, everything is awful and nothing can be undone.' But that is not true. We always have the hope to move forward and make a change the next day. I would also like to think it is also a 'dawning' for the reader, not only of discovering the world of Amaris, but maybe a dawning for them of a new perception of attitude or approach to their own lives. I think every author hopes their books will have an impact in some way or another on their reader. I really hope this happens to my readers - that is will be in some part a journey or self-discovery.If readers finish The Dawning thinking about one idea long after the final page, what do you hope stays with them most: the question of fate, the cost of power, or the possibility of hope in a world divided by darkness?Absolutely hope in darkness. Our world right now seems so difficult and challenging and dare I say, without a positive future. But with a belief in light, there is always light to look to, as an inspiration and of hope.