Author Serena Bennett: Writing Through Trauma to Help Others Feel Seen

It’s not always easy to find an author who speaks with raw honesty and hits you right in the heart. But Serena Bennett does exactly that. Her powerful book “Raised by a Narcissist: That Woman aka My Mother” is a courageous, no-holds-barred memoir that dives deep into the emotional challenges of growing up with a narcissistic parent and finding your way to healing.

We had the chance to talk with Serena about her journey, the reasons she wrote the book, and how sharing her truth has impacted her life and others.

Before we dive into our conversation, let’s take a moment to get to know Serena and the story behind her powerful words.

About the Author: Serena Bennett

Serena Bennett is a prolific non-fiction author from the United Kingdom. Born and raised in a working-class environment that shaped both her resilience and her independence. The cultural clash between Caribbean values and British society made growing up complex at times, but it also gave her a unique perspective that comes through in her writing today.

Her powerful debut, Raised by a Narcissist: That Woman aka My Mother, offers a raw and heartfelt exploration of resilience and healing. Drawing from her Afro-Caribbean roots and personal journey, Serena bravely explores the deep impact of toxic relationships, inviting readers into a story of pain, hope, and the courage to reclaim one’s voice.

Her works also include practical personal finance guides, reflective journals, and interactive activity books that inspire growth and self-discovery.

Apart from writing, Serena also crafts beautiful handmade crystal jewellery, each piece designed to nurture emotional balance and inner peace.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Serena finds inspiration in travel, photography, and nature’s beauty, infusing every project with heartfelt purpose and passion.

Tell us about your parents, kids, and family.

I was raised by a mother whose love came with conditions, and that shaped so much of how I understood myself and the world. Both of my parents are from Jamaica, and their divorce during my teenage years brought more than just the end of their marriage; it created a divide within our family. My brother chose to live with my dad, so it was not just a parental separation, but also a sibling split. That sense of emotional displacement stayed with me for years.

My mother was the disciplinarian—sharp-tongued, strict, and emotionally unpredictable. My father took a softer, quieter approach and often left parenting responsibilities to her. That imbalance became a pattern I would later recognise and unpack through years of reflection and healing.

I am now a mother and a grandmother, and I take both roles seriously. I know what it means to carry generational patterns, to try and break them, and to live with the weight of not always getting it right. These days, I see family as something we consciously build—through boundaries, healing, and honesty—not just something we inherit by blood.

Further, author Serena Bennett shared some fun stories from her childhood, how she got into writing, what inspires her, and more about herself. Let’s jump straight into her answers – she’s got some great ones!

What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share.

I was a nightmare at school – always talking in class, getting sent out, and one of the popular girls whom others looked up to. Bit of a tomboy too. I did not go looking for fights, but more often than not, I would finish them.

I was the kind of child who stood up for underdogs, and I still carry that same fire in me as an adult. Even as a kid, I hated seeing others treated badly.

Surprisingly, I was in the top sets for all subjects and showed a lot of promise, but I did not receive the encouragement or support needed to channel that potential. I was also a Prefect in my final year and one of the fastest runners – sports gave me a way to let off steam.

What are your educational/professional qualifications?

I left school with virtually no qualifications and only went to college long enough to get a free bus pass for the year. There was no one pushing me to continue studying or believe that higher education was for people like me.

My real education has happened later in life. I have gained professional experience and insight through the natural role I have always played—as the “agony aunt” to friends, family, and colleagues.

People have always confided in me, and I am now considering pursuing a formal counselling qualification to build on that foundation.

What is your biggest achievement till today?

Writing Raised By a Narcissist: That Woman aka My Mother has been a defining moment in my life. Not just because it was emotionally demanding, but because of the messages I have received since.

Having various people reach out to thank me for telling my story, to share their own, or to simply say, “I thought I was alone”—that means everything to me. Knowing that I have helped and will continue to help others makes it all worthwhile.

Which writers inspire you?

Maya Angelou, bell hooks, and Jeanette Winterson continue to inspire me. Their honesty, depth, and refusal to sugar-coat the truth resonate with me. They showed the world that women’s stories matter—even the uncomfortable ones.

Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?

Spending time with my grandchildren (ages 1 and 6) brings me back to the present moment. I also enjoy keeping fit, creating healing crystal jewelry, travelling, running, and maintaining my two blogs: my author website at serenabennettofficial.com and my money-saving blog at missmoneysaver.net. I find real joy in creating various printables to sell in my online shop—it is another creative outlet that lets me support others while expressing myself differently.

What is your favourite motivational phrase?

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

~ Maya Angelou

What advice would you give to your younger self?

You are not the things they called you. Your worth is not conditional. Trust your inner knowing—and when you feel silenced, write.

What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?

I gravitate towards memoirs, psychological fiction, and books on self-awareness and emotional healing. I have reread and thoroughly recommend The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – an essential work for anyone unpacking trauma.

Right now, I am reading Love Block, Delete, Move On by LalalaLetMeExplain. It is an unfiltered, smart, and funny look at modern relationships, red flags, boundaries, and self-worth told in a way that feels like having an honest chat with your wiser friend.

If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

Educated by Tara Westover. Her story of survival, resilience, and reclaiming her identity felt like reading fragments of my own reflection. It speaks to the internal war between loyalty and liberation that so many of us quietly fight.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?

I had to. I reached a point where silence was doing more harm than good. Writing allowed me to heal a part of me that had never truly been seen or heard. It was not just about getting it all out—it was about nurturing the little piece of me that still needed care.

Do you have a special time to write and how is your day structured?

I would love to say I follow a structured routine, but I have ADHD, which means structure and I are often at odds. I can plan the best writing schedule, but rarely stick to it.

Mostly, I tend to work better in the evenings and have been known to write through the night into the early hours. I might wake in the middle of the night with something pressing on my mind and leave myself voice notes on my phone.

Writing comes when it comes and I have learned to honour that.

What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or your own self or some other thing?

At first, it was for me. To heal. To understand. But now, I write for others too. I write for the ones who feel invisible. For the ones who are still learning that it is not their fault. For anyone who needed to hear, “I see you.”

About the Book: Raised by a Narcissist

‘Raised by a Narcissist: That Woman aka My Mother’ is a powerful memoir by Serena Bennett. It’s an incredibly honest story of a woman’s lifelong journey to reclaim her voice and peace after a childhood filled with abuse and neglect.

Serena Bennett’s memoir is not a light read, but it’s an absolute must-read. She started writing this memoir in 2024 and self-published it in February 2025. The book has received praise from readers and critics alike.

Read Full Review of Raised by a Narcissist

What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?

Raised By a Narcissist: That Woman aka My Mother is a raw and reflective memoir. I have always been drawn to truth-telling—stories that do not shy away from pain but still hold space for healing.

Memoir allows us to reclaim our voices and speak the words we were never allowed to say. It is a genre that demands courage, and after everything I have lived through, it felt like the only honest choice.

What makes Raised By a Narcissist stand out in this genre?

This book is not wrapped in neat little bows. I did not write it to be palatable or polite. I wrote it to be real. What makes it stand out is its unflinching honesty.

It speaks to the lived experience of many people who were raised by emotionally damaging parents but never had the words or permission to say so. I speak the things that others often keep hidden—out of guilt, fear, or shame—and I do it in a way that still carries hope.

What/Who was the inspiration behind turning your painful struggles into a book?

There was a part of me that needed to be heard – truly heard – for the first time in my life. But beyond that, I kept meeting people who were quietly carrying their own pain, just like I was.

I knew that if I could speak my truth, maybe someone else would feel less alone. It was not just about revisiting trauma—it was about putting language to it so that others could do the same.

What should a reader expect from Raised By a Narcissist?

Expect truth. Expect rawness. And, expect moments that might feel uncomfortably close to home, but also expect validation, solidarity, and light between the cracks. This book is for the people who were told they were too sensitive, too dramatic, or too difficult.

It is a mirror for those who were made to doubt their own memories. It does not offer a perfect resolution, but it offers honesty—and sometimes that is the first step towards healing.

The book fearlessly talks about a deeply personal journey, sharing insights on unspoken subjects with honesty and strength. What was the hardest & the easiest thing while writing this book?

The hardest part was revisiting memories that I had spent years pushing down. Writing certain chapters felt like ripping off old wounds that had barely begun to scab. I had to feel it all again fully so I could tell it properly.

The easiest part? Once I started, the words came. They had been waiting, quietly, in the background for years. There was a part of me that had been rehearsing this story in silence. When I finally sat down to write, I could barely stop.

Any special experience while writing Raised By a Narcissist that you would like to share?

One moment that stands out is waking up in the middle of the night with a sentence so clear in my mind I had to grab my phone and voice-note it instantly. That happened more than once.

The book poured out in bursts – unexpected, unstructured, but deeply intentional. Each time I heard someone saying, “This part could have been written about my life,” it reminded me I was doing exactly what I needed to do.

Future Plans

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

My ambition is to keep writing the kind of work that makes people feel seen. I am not chasing fame or fitting into anyone else’s mould; I want to build a body of work that people connect with on a deep, emotional level.

Whether it is memoir, practical guidance, or creative printables, everything I do is about making people feel understood, supported, and empowered.

I also create crystal jewellery, which I sell on my website – each piece is made with intention and care, designed to support emotional healing and inner balance.

If my words or creations can help someone feel a little less alone or a little more hopeful, then I am doing exactly what I am meant to be doing.

Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?

As someone with ADHD, I rarely do things one at a time. I am always juggling multiple ideas, projects, and creative sparks at once.

I have already written and published another book called Smart Money Moves: 2025 Edition – Simple Tips That Help You Keep More of What You Earn.  It is a no-nonsense guide for everyday people who want to take back control of their money without being overwhelmed by financial jargon.

It is available on Amazon and also directly from my website.

As for what is next… I believe in letting projects build quietly before unveiling them. There are several exciting things in the works – more books, more resources, more tools to support people in ways that matter.

I like to encourage readers to join my mailing list via my website if they want to be among the first to know what is coming. Trust me—what is next is something worth waiting for.

What does success mean to you as an Author?

Success, to me, is someone reading my work and saying, “This helped me.” It is not about book sales or social media numbers – it is about impact.

If even one person feels heard, validated, or inspired to take back their power because of something I wrote, then I consider that a success. Everything else is just noise.

What are your views on self-publishing and traditional publishing?

Self-publishing has allowed me to tell my story in my own voice, without compromise. It gives authors full control over their work, which is especially important when writing something personal or challenging.

Traditional publishing has its place too, especially for reach and exposure, but for stories like mine, that do not fit neatly into boxes, self-publishing offers the freedom and ownership I value. The key is choosing what aligns with your purpose, not just your profit.

One learning that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.

Your voice matters. Even if it shakes. Even if it is not polished. And, even if you are still healing while writing. Do not wait for perfection—it will never come. Just start. Tell the story that only you can tell, and trust that the right readers will find it when they need it.

Your opinion about Vowelor.

Platforms like Vowelor are important because they shine a light on voices that might otherwise be overlooked. They provide space for new and diverse authors to be heard and celebrated. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story with a wider audience through their platform, and I hope others find encouragement here, too.