Sandra de
Helen is a multifaceted author. Along with writing thrillers and a female-centric
detective series that pays homage to Sherlock Holmes, she’s a published
playwright and a poet. Her plays have been produced throughout the United
States, including in New York and Chicago, as well as in the Philippines,
Ireland and Canada. Learn more about Sandra and her books at her website.
My thriller Till
Darkness Comes features a young woman who goes to talk therapy for the
first time and has a lesbian therapist. Both these things are central to the
plot, and how they communicate in their sessions demonstrates their character
traits through their interactions. I realize not everyone has had sessions with
a psychologist, but I think they can see what is happening, even without that
background.
As for me, I've had years of therapy, on an
individual basis, in couples counseling, even family and group sessions. I've
had both good and bad therapists, those who followed all the ethical guidelines,
and those who didn't. Everyone in the profession is human, which is important
to remember when you're going to a therapist, and when you're reading my book.
Risa Rispoli, the therapist in Till Darkness Comes is fictional and is not based on anyone I've
ever met. Risa comes to her job with a background that leads her to want to
take care of her clients, often to her own detriment.
The protagonist, Beth Vogelsang, has had a difficult
childhood and an even more difficult early adulthood. She is broken. Will Risa
be able to help her? Or will Beth trigger something in Risa that sends her
spinning?
In my own experience with therapy, I learned the only
thing I could change was my perception. Maybe it is because I was born with an
optimistic nature, but I now view the "terrible things" from my life
as obstacles I had to overcome in order to become who I am today. And as a
writer, I was provided plenty of fodder, or as my writing buddy used to say,
"grist for the mill."
Till
Darkness Comes
When
Beth Vogelsang's Uncle Jerry is tortured and murdered Beth's estranged friend
Regan is the first cop on the scene. Regan hopes for reconciliation, but
they've led different lives. Beth has been abused, beaten, raped, and has
experienced a devastating death in the family. She's also fallen in love with
her lesbian therapist. Will she reunite with her friend? Or will their
individual secrets keep them apart? Meanwhile, there's a serial killer on the
loose, putting both their lives at risk.
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Thank you for having me! I look forward to any questions your readers may have.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that I really appreciate that Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers featured Sandra de Helen's Till Darkness Comes. I have read it, loved it and thought how interesting her character Risa is and am hoping there will be a sequel featuring her and what might happen between her and Beth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam. I do plan to write that sequel, probably not until next year though. Have to get the next Shirley Combs mystery finished first. :-)
ReplyDelete