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Putting a Human Face on the Opioid Crisis
The Weird Girl explores the collision of opioid addiction, privilege, and teen vulnerability through the intersecting lives of a foster teen, a sheltered girl, and a weary social worker in a small town. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I completed The Orchid Tattoo, the first Georgia Thayer novel, the characters lingered. I wanted to explore what happened to them after the trauma of exposing the human trafficking ring. Tessa and Georgia had more to tell me. Their relationship evolved, each dealing with their own struggles, and I enjoyed diving into that.
The fentanyl issue in our country has haunted me for years, and I don’t think we pay it enough attention. As a social worker/author, I use my novels to examine social issues. In The Weird Girl, I wanted to put a human face on the opioid crisis. What drives people to seek out this drug? What role does basic greed play in its manufacture and distribution? I may not have the answer, but I do believe that having a deeper understanding will help us find one.
Tessa’s voice is incredibly raw and compelling. Was she based on someone you’ve known or entirely fictional?
I worked as a therapist for years. No, Tessa isn’t based on a particular client, because that would unethical, but her experiences as a trafficking/trauma survivor are similar to a hundred stories I’ve heard in my office and in my advocacy. Once I began writing her in The Orchid Tattoo, she came to life for me. (Being a writer is an odd process, to say the least.) The same is true of Georgia Thayer. So while they are both fictional, I feel like they’re real, and I enjoy knowing them and watching their growth.
How did you approach portraying addiction and trauma so authentically?
I’ve had a great deal of training in addiction and trauma treatment, but honestly, I learned the most from my clients. I’ve watched so many undertake the hard journey of recovery. They struggle, they succeed, they falter, and they start again. Watching that process and doing all I can to support it is what resonates for me about being a social worker. And as an author, if I could impart some of what my clients have taught me through my novels, then I’m satisfied.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m revisiting an old project tentatively titled Bird on Limb. It’s crime fiction told through braided stories of struggling artist, her famous author mother (who battles dementia and other health issues), and the biracial half-sister she never knew existed. Throw in art forgery, an unsolved hate crime from the 1960s, and a mysterious artist who may be the center of it all and you get an idea of this wild project. I hope to complete it early next year.
And then there’s the third Georgia Thayer novel that keeps dancing around in my brain. Apparently, Georgia and Tessa have even more to tell me.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | X | Facebook | YouTube
Social worker Georgia Thayer (The Orchid Tattoo) has spent her career fighting for the vulnerable, but nothing could prepare her for being a foster mom to Tessa—a teenager haunted by her traumatic past. Determined to give her a normal life, Georgia’s efforts to give her a normal life crumble when a neighborhood party spirals into disaster, leaving one girl fighting for her life while another disappears from the front yard of her family’s home.
As Georgia undertakes a frantic search for the missing girl, she uncovers a dangerous fentanyl trade that snakes from hospital emergency rooms to high school hallways to the darkest corners of her city. She is up against a charismatic candidate for attorney general and a ruthless drug kingpin, two powerful men willing to use lethal means to bury their secrets.
With her chosen family threatened, her faith in herself shaken, and an unexpected ally emerging from the shadows, Georgia’s efforts to save one girl puts her own in danger.
The clock is ticking. The truth is deadly. And every second lost could mean another life destroyed.
The Weird Girl
The Weird Girl by Carla Damron is a fast-moving and emotionally charged novel that plunges into the dark heart of opioid addiction, teen vulnerability, and the long shadows of power and privilege. Set in a small South Carolina town, the book follows a multi-threaded narrative centered around Tessa, a trauma-scarred foster teen; Lily Grace, a sheltered, socially awkward girl; and Georgia, a social worker struggling to hold her foster family together. When a tragic hit-and-run at a high school party injures popular girl Sara Clark, the town is forced to reckon with secrets, lies, and the consequences of denial. As police investigations unfold, truths about drugs, justice, and who gets protected come to light.
The thing I liked about Damron’s writing was how authentic and raw it felt. The dialogue is crisp, often painfully real, and never overpolished. Characters felt alive, flawed, messy, complicated. Tessa’s inner world, filled with a mix of bitterness, longing, and resilience, was beautifully rendered. Georgia, the foster mom and social worker, was probably my favorite. She’s stubborn and human and funny in all the right ways. The scenes from the hospital, in particular, hit hard. As someone who’s seen how addiction can gut a community, I appreciated that this book didn’t sugarcoat anything. The emotional weight is heavy, but never cheap. There were moments when I had to stop and breathe.
Parts of the book made me furious, not about the book, though. The way the legal system is manipulated by those with money, how teenagers are left to flounder while adults spin their reputations like a game, got under my skin. And it should. The book pulls no punches about privilege and corruption, and I found myself wanting to shake some of the characters. Damron doesn’t wrap everything up in a neat little bow, and I loved that. Real life isn’t tidy.
I’d recommend The Weird Girl to readers who appreciate character-driven fiction with heart, guts, and grit. It’s perfect for anyone interested in social issues, especially those who work in schools, healthcare, or with youth. It’s not a light read, but it’s a powerful one. And while the book tackles big themes, it’s the quiet moments, two girls walking after school, a mom worrying late at night, that you’ll remember after finishing this book.
Pages: 359 | ASIN: B0FKZHNY7T
Justice Be Done
In Justice Be Done, Carla Damron delves into the turbulent dynamics of a community caught in the throes of racial conflict as seen through the eyes of social worker Caleb Knowles. Set against the backdrop of Columbia, South Carolina, the narrative unfolds following a volatile incident involving Laquan, a black teenager, and a racist elderly white man. This event sets off a chain reaction, igniting riots and protests in the city.
Caleb, balancing his responsibilities as a social worker and his commitment to his family’s safety, finds himself at the heart of this turmoil. He is torn between fostering justice and peace in an increasingly chaotic environment. As the story progresses, it lays bare the extremes to which individuals will go to maintain control, underscoring how hatred and fear can fuel shocking behaviors.
Damron’s novel, which marks the fourth installment in her Caleb Knowles series, is notable for its nuanced portrayal of complex characters and themes. The protagonist, Caleb, is introduced with depth and clarity, and this attention to character development extends to the secondary characters as well, all without overshadowing the book’s anti-racism message. The author addresses delicate social and racial issues with a thoughtful approach, maintaining reader engagement through a swift narrative pace, diverse perspectives, and an exploration of the broader impacts of these societal problems.
The multi-faceted viewpoints enhance the story’s build-up to its climax, allowing readers to experience the growing tension firsthand. Damron’s exploration of unchecked hatred and generational trauma offers a poignant look at the repercussions for a community grappling with these deep-seated issues. Justice Be Done is a compelling and thoughtful addition to the Caleb Knowles series, offering a resonant reflection on contemporary social challenges.
Pages: 302 | ISBN : 978-1622681815
An Incredibly Lucrative And Cruel Crime
The Orchid Tattoo follows a social worker who uncovers a human trafficking ring while searching for her missing sister. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a social worker, I’ve done advocacy to get more progressive anti-human trafficking laws passed, and to educate people about the prevalence of this crime. I met survivors, law enforcement, and advocates and heard countless stories of trafficking right here in my backyard. I wanted this book to entertain but also educate my readers about this crime.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Someone with mental health issues can still live a productive, fulfilling life. The mystery genre has done a huge disservice to people with mental illnesses, so I wanted my protagonist to balance a difficult career and other life challenges with her symptoms. She doesn’t let mental illness define her. Hers is a journey of recovery.
Another important theme relates to human trafficking—an incredibly lucrative and cruel crime. I want readers to connect with the characters, many of whom are victims, and come away with a passion to impact this crime.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
The bad guy—nobody suspects who he is! I dropped clues, but he’s still stunning people. That’s a good thing!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Justice Be Done, crime fiction about a murder that takes place during race riots, will hopefully be out later this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Twitter | Facebook
Social worker Georgia Thayer can balance her own mental illness with the demands of an impossible job. Mostly. But when her sister vanishes in the dead of night, her desperate quest to find Peyton takes her into the tentacles of a human trafficking network-where she encounters a young victim called “Kitten.”
Kitten is determined to escape. She won’t be trapped like the others. She won’t sell her soul like Lillian, victim-turned-madam, feeding the dark appetites of international business moguls and government leaders. But the Estate won’t let her out of its lethal grip, and her attempts at freedom threaten her very life.
Aided by Kitten and, at times, by the voices in her head, Georgia maneuvers to bring down the kingpin of Estate and expose its dark secrets, but her efforts place her-and the few people she allows to get close-in grave danger.
The Orchid Tattoo
The Orchid Tattoo is an exceptional work of fiction that cleverly intertwines two critical issues; human trafficking and mental health. After finding out her sister is missing, a social worker unexpectedly finds herself uncovering a brutal human trafficking network. Meanwhile, the book follows the lives of two girls trapped inside the trafficking ring, with two different yet equally devastating roles. Each story overlaps over time as more secrets and links are discovered. The book shifts between the stories of each character, aided by Carla Damron’s smooth and realistic writing style, to deal with a topic that is usually shied away from, despite being an extremely important issue in today’s society.
Without a doubt, The Orchid Tattoo is the best book I’ve read in a long time. Carla Damron personifies the victims involved in human trafficking. The reader realizes that behind each statistic on the news are real individuals with unique personalities and backgrounds, all with enormous bravery. The Orchid Tattoo is a gripping book that will break your heart and fill you with anger. Although it is a heavy topic, and some parts may be hard to read, it also opens the reader’s eyes and inspires change. It is fast-paced, with thrilling action and unpredictable twists. I love how the book’s main character is a social worker who also struggles with her own mental health difficulties. This bridges the gap between those giving and receiving help and makes the character much more relatable. It is unsurprising to find out that the book was written by a social worker, as it reflects a deep knowledge and understanding of the subject.
The Orchid Tattoo is an emotionally charged crime mystery filled with suspense and thrilling twists. It is a story that will stay in your mind for a long time after reading and will force you to question why we aren’t discussing the atrocities of human trafficking more often.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B0B7BB616Y
LITERARY TITAN 