look + feel / expe ience
Local author Janyre Tromp pulls together her own experiences with those near her in the novel "Shadows in the Mind's Eye."
EXPERIENCE
A novel approach to PTSD
Author’s work of fiction draws on real experiences.
BY ANN BYLE
// PHOTOS BY BRYAN ESLER
J
anyre Tromp knows something about PTSD. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood trauma. She experienced it as a result of her daughter’s long illness, which brought to the surface her childhood experiences once again. Combine that with stories from her grandfather’s experiences in World War II and a friend’s family history, and she had the makings of a novel. “Shadow in the Mind’s Eye,” which released in April and is published by Grand Rapids-based Kregel Publications, is the story of Sam and Charlotte Anne (Annie) Mattas, who must together face the demons from Sam’s years fighting with the U.S. Navy during World War II and the demons that seem to have followed him to their Ouachita Mountains home. Sam, and others, think he’s seeing things when he begins to note strange things going on near his home. He’ll do anything to protect Annie and their daughter Rosie, including leave if his nightmares GR M AG .CO M
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3/28/22 3:08 PM
