Interview with Valina Aust - Author of Nayeli: More Than Just a Survival Story

Author Q&A

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest book is Nayeli – More Than Just a Survival Story.
It was inspired by thirteen years of shared life with a severely injured rescue dog who came from Romania to Germany. What began as an act of care slowly became a deep, quiet companionship that changed my understanding of responsibility, trust, and resilience. The book grew out of lived experience rather than a writing plan — it is the result of observing, accompanying, and learning over time.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes. At its core, the book is about what happens when compassion is practiced consistently, not heroically. It shows that healing does not always come through grand gestures, but through patience, reliability, and presence. I hope readers take away the idea that even fragile beginnings can lead to meaningful bonds — and that care, once given, leaves lasting traces on both sides.

How much of the book is realistic?

The book is entirely based on real experiences. Nothing was fictionalized or dramatized for effect. While the narrative is reflective, all events, developments, and observations stem from everyday life as it unfolded over many years. Any interpretation arises from reflection, not invention.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part was maintaining honesty without sentimentality. Writing about a long shared life also means accepting loss and limits without softening them for comfort. Finding the right tone — respectful, restrained, and truthful — required time and distance.

What genre do you consider your book(s)?

I consider Nayeli – More Than Just a Survival Story to be a memoir with strong elements of animal welfare literature. It also speaks to readers interested in quiet, reflective non-fiction about relationships, responsibility, and resilience.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Readers can learn more about the book and the broader project at www.meetnayeli.com

The website provides background on the story, the animal welfare context, and ongoing initiatives connected to the book.

From the Author
Some books are more than just stories—they are bridges. Bridges between past and future, between despair and hope, between those who have a voice and those who are unheard. My book is dedicated to the forgotten souls—the countless stray dogs fighting for survival, the shelter dogs longing for medical care, and the puppies hoping for a safe home. It tells the story of resilience, of those who refuse to give up despite overwhelming odds. But this book is also about the people who stand by them. The ones who don’t look away, who dedicate their lives to giving these animals a second chance. They are the unsung heroes of animal welfare, and their courage deserves to be seen, shared, and remembered. By telling this story, I hope to build a bridge—one that connects awareness to action, compassion to commitment, and readers to a cause that truly matters. Because every rescued life is proof that change is possible.

Nayeli – More Than Just a Survival Story is a heartfelt rescue memoir about the unbreakable bond between a woman and a severely injured dog who refused to give up.

Nayeli – More Than Just a Survival Story is available for purchase on Amazon 
https://www.amazon.com/Nayeli-More-Than-Survival-Story-ebook/dp/B0F1FVS3XG

Interview originally posted on BookBuzz

https://bookbuzz.net/interview-with-valina-aust-author-of-nayeli-more-than-just-a-survival-story/