What Inspired The Author To Write Shadow Self Book?

I've always been fascinated by the darker aspects of human nature, and 'Shadow Self' was born from that obsession. The idea struck me after reading Carl Jung's theories about the shadow—the hidden, repressed parts of ourselves we refuse to acknowledge. I wanted to explore what happens when those buried emotions and desires finally break free. The book's protagonist, a psychologist grappling with her own suppressed trauma, became the perfect vessel for this theme. Personal experiences with therapy and self-discovery also seeped into the narrative, making it deeply cathartic to write. The eerie, almost surreal moments in the story mirror those late-night thoughts we all have but rarely voice.

Writing 'Shadow Self' felt like confronting my own demons through fiction. The initial spark came from a recurring dream I had—a version of myself doing things I'd never dare in waking life. That duality fascinated me. Jungian psychology became a cornerstone, but so did real-life observations. I noticed how people wear masks—polite at work, vulnerable with friends, angry in private. The book asks: What if those masks shattered?

Another influence was gothic literature, especially works like 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' and 'The Strange Case of the White Wolf.' The tension between light and dark isn't just a trope; it's a human struggle. I also drew from modern horror—films like 'Black Swan' and 'Get Out'—where psychological terror blurs the line between self and 'other.' The protagonist's journey mirrors my own fears of losing control, of the 'monster' within winning. It's not just a book; it's a mirror held up to society's collective unease with imperfection.

The inspiration for 'Shadow Self' was a messy blend of psychology, personal guilt, and pop culture. I binge-watched crime documentaries for months, obsessed with how ordinary people could commit atrocities. Then I stumbled upon an article about dissociative identity disorder, and the pieces clicked. What if someone's darkest impulses weren't just thoughts but a separate entity?

Music played a huge role too. Albums like 'The Downward Spiral' by Nine Inch Nails and 'Lateralus' by Tool fueled the book's chaotic energy. The protagonist's descent into madness mirrors the dissonance in those tracks—beauty and brutality intertwined. I also borrowed from folklore; tales of doppelgängers and cursed reflections felt eerily relevant. The book isn't just about fear; it's about the seductive allure of embracing what we're told to hide. Writing it felt like exorcising my own shadows, one chapter at a time.