Not here any more

This novel is a suspenseful family drama set in the aftermath of Argentina’s Dirty War. It follows the path to reconciliation for two sisters, Lourdes and Marena, ripped apart by the disappearance of their mother who was pregnant with Marena at the time. Raised without knowledge of the other and in diametrically opposed environments, the sisters must overcome the agonies imposed by state-sponsored murder, family betrayals and their own genetic failings in order to find their way home again. Research to develop this novel focused in five main areas: the history of Argentina’s Dirty War (1976-1983); the rise of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization anchored in their campaign to reunite appropriated children with their legitimate families; the first-hand accounts of these children, now adults, as they reconcile themselves to the truths of their past; the mental health afflictions commonly triggered as coping mechanisms against trauma, especially alcohol addiction and disordered eating; and finally, the symptoms and treatment of late onset genetic kidney disease. Sources included a literary search, especially autobiographical accounts of survivors of the Dirty War and historic texts; a media analysis of the coverage of reunited families in Argentina; published graduate theses on related topics; and personal interviews. Not Here Any More examines the intergenerational blast radius of trauma and how secrecy extends it. The moral ambiguity laid bare by class and family loyalties collides with the unintended consequences of a culture’s quest for justice at any price, as two women navigate their own boundaries of right and wrong.Arts, Faculty ofGraduat