Imagine writing from the grave. That’s effectively what’s happened with the publication of ‘Repossessing Your Inheritance’, a novel by Sharon Apopa and the late Caron Assan.When her twin sister Caron died in 2009, Sharon Apopa, a devout Christian, a minister and a social worker, wrote a book to help her through her grief. She published that in 2010 but in going through Caron’s things much later, Dr Apopa discovered her sister had wanted to write a book herself.Caron had suffered with depression and sexual trauma and had written an outline for a book.“I only came across it (the book outline) by chance when cleaning out her apartment after her death. In the notes she expressed her desire for the book to be published and used as a tool to bring a message of hope and instruction for people battling with similar circumstances that she had encountered on her life journey. It was only natural after I understood her intent, to execute the project,” said Dr Apopa.She said she understood the book would be helpful not only to people recovering from traumatic events but also would also “assist with the de-stigmatisation of mental illness and remove the shame from those who have been victims of sexual trauma.”The project took her two years and is written partly in the first person, as Dr Apopa believes she knows what her sister experienced.“Writing from her perspective was a bit of an emotional journey for me. We were very close and talked every day even when we lived in different countries. There was no topic we had not discussed together and I pretty much could get the gist of what she wanted form the outline,” she said.“Of course there are places where the story converges into our joint experience, and places where you clearly hear her voice in the first person. The reader can expect to experience an integration of our individual and joint voices as they read the book,” she added.Both very religious, the twin sisters founded Twin Ministries a private company that addressed issues of organisational change management, programme development, workshops and trainings for churches, the establishment of the Women’s Treatment Program in Bermuda and the radio talk show — Women In Motion.Dr Apopa said the book would appeal not only to those interested in reading an interesting Bermudian story.She said: “If you have a strong religious background, this book will help you to address issues regularly confronting the church surrounding the causes of mental illness, the role of the church in the healing process and the tension that exists between religion and psychiatry in the process of healing.”One of the most important aspects of the book however is to accurately portray what depression feels like and what it feels like to be victim of sexual trauma.“If you are an individual who is trying to find a sense of self amidst the pressures to conform and are still on your journey to wholeness, this book gives some practical tips as to how to take your life back,” said Dr Apopa.“If you are a friend, a spouse or a family member of someone who is going through any of the issues aforementioned, the book gives practical information on how important the role of a support person is in recovery,’ she added.Dr Apopa’s latest book ‘Repossessing your Inheritance” will be launched on September 23 at the Adult Library from 5.30pm-7pm. It is open to the public. The book will be $20 at the door or $18 if pre-ordered. Proceeds will go to the Caron Assan Scholarship Fund.