FAQ
Questions and answers.
Clear answers about the author, the novel, the editions and the publishing house.
- What is I Give Back What Was Never Mine about?
- Through Élise's journey, I Give Back What Was Never Mine explores the invisible mechanisms that sometimes lead us to forget ourselves in order to preserve a relationship. The novel deals with emotional control, guilt, family loyalty, the need to be loved and the slow path towards inner freedom. It is a story that invites every reader to ask what they still carry that was never theirs.
- Is it a true story?
- No. It is a work of fiction. The characters, the dialogue and the events are imaginary. The emotions, the relational mechanisms and the human dynamics running through the story, however, are based on widely documented realities. That is precisely what allows many readers to recognise themselves in the book without it being anyone's story in particular.
- What is the Dressed Madman concept?
- The Dressed Madman is one of the central concepts of the novel. It describes people whose lives appear perfectly under control while they are going through deep inner disorder. They keep up appearances, reassure those around them and meet every expectation, until they disappear behind the role they play. The novel invites readers to look beyond appearances and to question what each of us sometimes hides behind a flawless image.
- What are the Mirror Questions?
- The Mirror Questions are questions scattered throughout the novel. They deliberately interrupt the reading to invite the reader to look at their own path. They do not aim to provide answers, but to open a space for reflection. Every reader finds a different echo in them, depending on their own story.
- Who is this novel for?
- This novel is for readers who love stories that stay with them long after the last page. It will speak in particular to people questioning their relationships, going through a period of rebuilding, or wishing to understand certain human mechanisms better. It will also interest counselling and care professionals looking for a literary narrative rather than a theoretical work.
- Why read I Give Back What Was Never Mine?
- Because it does not set out to teach lessons. It tells a story in which everyone can recognise an emotion, a relationship or a part of their own path. The Mirror Questions extend that experience by inviting readers to reflect on their own story.
- Do you need to have lived through a toxic relationship to appreciate this novel?
- No. The novel speaks more broadly about the bonds that build us, influence us or hold us back. Anyone can find situations that echo their own experience, whether the relationship is romantic, family, friendly or professional.
- Is this novel the first in a series?
- Yes. I Give Back What Was Never Mine is the first novel in the series Les chemins d'Élise. Each book offers a self contained story while exploring a new perspective on human mechanisms and inner transformation.
- Is the book available in English?
- Yes. The English edition, I Give Back What Was Never Mine, is available as ebook, paperback and hardcover. It allows English speaking readers to discover the first novel in the series Les chemins d'Élise in a translation faithful to the original work.
- Do you ship to Belgium, Switzerland, Canada or other countries?
- Yes. Books published by Éditions Clair Regard are distributed by several partner platforms and can be ordered in many countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Delivery times and shipping costs vary depending on the platform used.
- What does Éditions Clair Regard publish?
- Éditions Clair Regard is an independent publishing house that publishes contemporary novels and literary works exploring human relationships, choices, inner transformation and the mechanisms that shape a life. Its editorial line fits in one sentence: stories that change the way you look can change a life.
- Who is Lylia ISK?
- Lylia ISK is the author of the series Les chemins d'Élise. Through her novels, she explores the relationships, choices, silences and inner transformations that shape a life. Her stories invite each reader to look differently at themselves, at others and at what until then seemed imperceptible. Her first novel, I Give Back What Was Never Mine, is published by Éditions Clair Regard.
- How can I submit a manuscript?
- Éditions Clair Regard reads manuscripts that fit its editorial line. Authors can send their complete text as a PDF together with a one page synopsis through the Contact page. Every project is read attentively. A reply is usually given within eight to twelve weeks.
- How can I contact the publishing house?
- By email at contact@editionsclair-regard.fr. The house is based in Paris, France, and answers readers, booksellers and press within two working days.