Triskele follows two siblings separated by abuse whose lives intersect with a psychoanalyst they both independently develop a relationship with. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Coincidence and the power of unconscious forces were the kernels that drove the story. Bethany and Paul’s relationship was the necessary fulcrum upon which the entire drama would unfold. My premise was to establish that individuals are unconsciously drawn to seek out what they most ardently desire. Paul’s leaving home was a metaphor for anyone who has had a tragic family occurrence that ends with separation. Such “lost” persons frequently spend a lifetime making choices that are motivated by a wish to reconnect with that part of themselves that has vanished. I have observed such situations in my work and in my own family. Personally, it began when I discovered through happenstance that my mother’s brother, who had been killed in WWII, was someone she adored but rarely spoke about. On the day I graduated from psychoanalytic training, my mom told me that it was the same date as her estranged father’s birthday – whom I also never knew. This coincidence piqued my interest. I researched the family tree and eventually found out that the date in question was not my grandfather’s birthday but the date that my mom’s brother had been killed. I located his grave and paid my respects. His memory had been found, so to speak, after a generation of his absence. I believe this was the impetus for my story. Of course, I didn’t realize this until Triskele was completed.  

Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?

We write about what we know as well as that which we are not consciously aware of but need to express. Psychoanalytic thinkers believe that writers are in touch with unconscious drives, and debut novelists frequently work through their conflicts in a first work of fiction. Because I am a psychoanalyst, most people assume that the character of Dr. Lillian Mitchell is the closest depiction of myself. However, the two siblings, Paul and Bethany, share aspects of my character, very much like every character in a dream.    

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I wanted to explore the concept of motivation as an essential component of human behavior. We don’t always understand why we do the things we do, and sometimes we can’t give them up or change them even when they don’t serve us. Psychoanalysis, I believe, is a vehicle that can help people to discard counterproductive tendencies once they come to know who they really are and why they do what they do. Through this process, individuals can change.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

The core conflict of each central character was resolved, or at least on the road to resolution, at the end of Triskele. Therefore, I do not envision a sequel or series. I am currently working on a second novel about self-discovery and transgenerational secrets. It is not quite as dark. It is called Keys to the Castle and contains a bit of magic. 

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Instagram