The Iceberg Syndrome
It’s good to have a psychologist in the house.
Throughout my writing journey, my wife Denise has lurked in the background. Her input has been merciless, accurate, and vital.
That’s because she’s an avid reader in general and a licensed psychologist in particular.
Twenty-two years have passed since my first novel, “Daniel,” was published, and nine more have followed. The genres I write in are a mix of psychological mystery, espionage thriller and even magical realism.
Most of my novels involve strong female characters, including the Cape Cod Mystery series, in which the protagonist is Stacie Davis, a newspaper reporter. My background in journalism helped me create an authentic portrait of Stacie’s job as a reporter for a daily newspaper.
But Denise’s input to create the emotional authenticity for Stacie–and all my characters–is an important part of my writing process. “Would Stacie really do that?” Denise would ask. Or “That doesn’t sound like something Stacie would say.” When there are inciting incidents or dramatic twists that force Stacie to react, Denise is always looking over my shoulder to ensure the character’s actions are plausible.
Over the years, Denise and I have developed a work process that allows me to craft a story without her input. When I finish the complete manuscript, I drive to my local Staples and have them print a bound hard copy. Denise prefers working from a hard copy and jotting down questions. She folds down the corner of a page that has a comment.
In some of my novels, the protagonist sees a therapist dealing with an issue. Using therapy as a narrative tool can be useful for a writer. It helps fill in the character’s backstory and shows them struggling to understand their emotions and interpersonal struggles. Having Denise there to lend professional oversight to the rendered sessions is so important.
Psychological thrillers require the protagonist to struggle with both an external menace and internal uncertainties and confusion. But the reader only cares about what happens if they also care about the protagonist, and that’s where emotional authenticity is important.
In the most recent Cape Cod Mystery, Lost in the Crush, Stacie suffers a devastating personal setback that sends her reeling into a complex set of circumstances that tests her sanity and her relationships. She’s a dogged journalist seen as brash and forceful. Her strength is sometimes her greatest weakness, and Stacie struggles to understand what happened to her and why. But that journey causes friction with her friends and family as she stalks the truth. Is she going too far? Why does Stacie persist? What about her family background makes her such a driven person?
Sigmund Freud said, “The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” With my wife Denise’s help, I strive to show my characters’ motives and struggles that sit right below the surface.
Lost in the Crush
Stacie Davis is about to marry the man of her dreams, but on the night of the rehearsal dinner, a dark secret unravels everything she holds dear.
Get ready to be swept away by a tidal wave of deception in this gripping psychological thriller set on the shores of Cape Cod. With the stunning backdrop of the ocean, Stacie must confront the truth and face the consequences that come with it. Will she be able to survive the brewing storm?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQ88ZNYW
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-the-crush-keith-yocum/1146747051?ean=2940184540061
Keith Yocum is an author of ten novels and lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He grew up overseas as an Army brat, including long stints in the Panama Canal Zone and Western Australia. He has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and a graduate degree in journalism. He has an extensive career in publishing. He was the founder of a group of weekly newspapers in the western suburbs of Boston. He has also worked for publications including The Boston Globe and The New England Journal of Medicine.
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