MANscapes by Manuela Cardiga
MANscapes Journey into the light
By Manuela Cardiga's
" All women - from the most exquisite beauty to the plainest drab - want to believe in the Cinderella myth. Even the harsh-faced and sour-hearted, somewhere deep in their night-time struggles with their bitterest reality, dare to dream some Prince could still see past the dense veil of unkind nature and time, to the delicate, frail-hearted beauty within."
But Clara wasn't Cinderella, waiting for her Prince, she was Sleeping Beauty poisoned by a deadly kiss. After 24 years Clara awakens from a living nightmare of abuse and discovers her life unfolding miraculously; but the true miracle is her own blossoming: the maturing of a frightened abused girl into a strong woman capable of love, laughter and joy. In Tahiti's exotic landscape Clara finds her way from darkness to incandescent light, embracing in herself the strength of choice, and the power of decision.
MANscapes is a powerful parable of hope and renewal, a story of one woman's discovery of herself and her journey into love.
By Manuela Cardiga's
About MANscapes
" All women - from the most exquisite beauty to the plainest drab - want to believe in the Cinderella myth. Even the harsh-faced and sour-hearted, somewhere deep in their night-time struggles with their bitterest reality, dare to dream some Prince could still see past the dense veil of unkind nature and time, to the delicate, frail-hearted beauty within."
But Clara wasn't Cinderella, waiting for her Prince, she was Sleeping Beauty poisoned by a deadly kiss. After 24 years Clara awakens from a living nightmare of abuse and discovers her life unfolding miraculously; but the true miracle is her own blossoming: the maturing of a frightened abused girl into a strong woman capable of love, laughter and joy. In Tahiti's exotic landscape Clara finds her way from darkness to incandescent light, embracing in herself the strength of choice, and the power of decision.
MANscapes is a powerful parable of hope and renewal, a story of one woman's discovery of herself and her journey into love.
Interesting story... somewhat disturbing but at the same time hopeful. I would not recommend this to anyone who likes to avoid the subject of rape in their books. The husband/father was a peculiar and disturbing individual. His fetish for violating women in their sleep made me extremely uncomfortable... so, just FYI in case anyone else out there might be sensitive to this type of content.
After 23 yrs of enduring nightly assaults from her husband, Clara finally finds the courage to leave. She ends up finding solace in Tahiti where she rediscovers her love for art and finally grows to become a free woman who learns to love.
This author has a talent for writing stories that are unique and full of eccentric and unusual characters. I loved her book Guilty Pleasures for that very reason... it offered something a little different and it was interesting and entertaining. Definitely not like anything I've ever read before. This book was the same experience, just a little darker in content. I will admit that while I was intrigued by the story itself, the colorful and artsy descriptions sometimes overwhelmed me. But, this writing style may have a stronger appeal to an art lover.
I would recommend this book to those who like to occasionally step outside the box of your more traditional romances. This would be a good choice for a book club. Lots of interesting issues that would make for some colorful debates and discussion. Especially in regards to Clara, our leading lady... very much a victim who finds her way back from dark to light.
After 23 yrs of enduring nightly assaults from her husband, Clara finally finds the courage to leave. She ends up finding solace in Tahiti where she rediscovers her love for art and finally grows to become a free woman who learns to love.
This author has a talent for writing stories that are unique and full of eccentric and unusual characters. I loved her book Guilty Pleasures for that very reason... it offered something a little different and it was interesting and entertaining. Definitely not like anything I've ever read before. This book was the same experience, just a little darker in content. I will admit that while I was intrigued by the story itself, the colorful and artsy descriptions sometimes overwhelmed me. But, this writing style may have a stronger appeal to an art lover.
I would recommend this book to those who like to occasionally step outside the box of your more traditional romances. This would be a good choice for a book club. Lots of interesting issues that would make for some colorful debates and discussion. Especially in regards to Clara, our leading lady... very much a victim who finds her way back from dark to light.
Manuela Cardiga was born in Mozambique and raised in South
Africa where she studied fashion design. She moved to Europe where she worked
as a fashion designer, then moved to the crazy world of advertising as a
graphic designer and copywriter. Manuela is a designer by profession, a cook by
vocation, and a writer by compulsion. She currently resides in Lisbon, Portugal
where she writes contemporary and historical fiction, designs book covers,
illustrates children’s books, and mothers a gorgeous daughter while juggling a
day job. She also dabbles enthusiastically in exotic, experimental cuisine,
much to the discomfort of family and friends.
Clara is a young woman from a small town who
comes to Lisbon to study Art. She has just begun her adventure of
self-discovery in the extravagant bohemian world of the late 70’s, when her
journey is abruptly cut short by a brutal rape by an acquaintance.
In the aftermath, Clara finds herself pregnant,
and her family pressures her into marrying the man who assaulted her, and who
claims “she was willing”. Clara is plunged into a nightmare of abuse that is to
last two decades.
One day something changes. A chance encounter,
a word spoken in passing by a stranger, and Clara awakens. Wakes and takes
charge of her life. She frees herself of the nightmare and of her oppressor,
but can she heal herself of the scars years of abuse have left on her spirit?
Determined to continue her interrupted journey,
Clara goes to Tahiti to fulfill her childhood dream and “paint like Gauguin”.
On the magical island of Moorea, Clara enters a
world of endless possibilities where she starts to blossom as a woman, and an
artist. There, Clara meets the right man, and falls in love with the wrong one…
A return to Lisbon gifts Clara with
vindication, closure, and triumph over her abuser, and yet her trials have just
begun. She is about to discover the path of life rarely runs smoothly, and before
she can reach for happiness, Clara must grow.
She must shed the abused girl and become a woman,
capable of making the hardest of decisions, taking responsibility for herself
and a new life. Setting out on the
difficult road that leads to maturity, Clara must complete her journey from
darkness into light.
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WHEN WERE YOU FIRST BITTEN BY THE WRITING BUG?
When I started reading. I was four years old.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST CONSIDER YOURSELF A WRITER?
Oh I don’t. I am a story-teller. I wouldn’t be so
presumptuous as to consider myself a writer. I am hopefully learning...
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC WRITING STYLE?
No, as a matter of fact, this novel is completely different
to the previous one. That was a romantic comedy, and this is a much darker
book. I think I tell the story in the character’s voices and each one is so
different!
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO GET OUT OF YOUR NOVELS?
Love.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS?
It’s a secret…
DO YOU SEE WRITING AS A CAREER?
A career? No. It’s a life’s work; it’s a compulsion, a need.
WHO DESIGNED THE COVER?
Well, actually, I did, I designed it.
There is a story to this cover. I had a childhood friend, a
very gifted artist living on a tropical island, and I had always loved this particular
painting of his, and so I asked him for permission to use it, and his response
was that he felt it wasn’t good enough…
But I insisted, and it turned out incredably beautiful. I
sent him the final artwork for MANscapes, and he loved it. Unfortunately three
days later, my friend tragically passed away.
In a way, I feel this book has become a tribute to him. Not
just because of the cover, but because the story is about an artist finding her
way home on a tropical island… Journeying into light. As he did.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF WRITING YOUR BOOK?
Living Clara’s anguish, her struggle to leave her pain
behind, to grow.
I felt it, every bit of it: the oppression, the agony, and
the ultimate achievement when she becomes a free human being. It was terrible
and incredible. It was exhausting.”
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM WRITING YOUR BOOK?
So much! I am still learning how to write. I told you I am a
story-teller, so my “thing” would be sitting in front of someone spinning a
yarn. This writing is something I am still learning…
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER WRITERS?
Be passionate about what you do. Tell the story for
yourself, not an audience, not the critics. Do it because you have a story that
needs to be told; because you can’t help yourself.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU WANT TO SAY TO YOUR
READERS?
Clara’s story is not unique. There are many Claras out
there. Many women are living in the hell of abuse, afraid to walk away because
it’s all they know.
Take that first step out of darkness. Once you do, you will
be surprised to find the light meets you halfway. Life is not punishment, we
all deserve happiness; but it’s not going to fall into your lap.
You need to fight for it.
The thing is, once you do act, decide to fight? Something incredible
happens: life, the universe –whatever you want to call it –
steps into your corner. But you have to choose. The essence of effective living
is choice. We choose.
Not all your choices will be right, not everything will work
out. But it is YOUR choice, YOUR life. You will no longer be a passive victim
things happen to; you will be a survivor, someone who makes things happen, who
decides, takes charge and responsibility for her own life.
And remember, the only power anyone has over you, is the power
you yield.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME
A PUBLISHED WRITER?
Submit, submit, submit, submit again; then submit yet AGAIN.
Never give up.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Please live. Don’t just survive from day to day. Make every
moment worth remembering. You don’t need to do huge things, change the
world.
Just make every day worthwhile.
Whatever you do it with it love, be passionately in love
with living.
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