In 2008, Dr Assoum eldest brother was murdered in cold blood for his strong and successful effort in preventing troubled youth from joining violent gangs. He was 26 years old. Unable to cope with the trauma of such a loss, Dr Assoum was flung into the grips of depression, which forced him to place his university studies on hold. 

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To escape his pain and sorrow,  Dr Assoum travelled around the world, learning, sharing and growing. Once he emerged from his dark place, he was inspired to dedicate his life to helping those who have survived trauma. Thus, A Dance of Storms and Shadows Series was born. 
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The idea for this series came about after volunteering with survivors of abuse and trauma. Having spoken to and mentored numerous survivors, when discussing inspiration, one commonality stuck out. There was a notable absence of protagonists who had risen from the throngs of real, profound trauma in literature and pop culture. 

Most, if not all protagonists in popular culture, experience some mild forms of trauma, which allow them to grow into becoming the heroes of the story. However, the antagonists of great literature are those who have been subjected to abominable traumas which turn them inevitably into villains. This series questions why should abominable trauma equal villainous behaviour? What if for once, protagonists turned to heroism through such extreme traumas?
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This literary trend disheartens those who have been through the unimaginable; having almost lost all hope for a better life. The real-world survivors, the heroes of said horrific traumas, who have turned to good rather than evil deserve literary hope and more so, representation.