A Dip into the psychological Queer Thriller.

As I started work on my debut thriller, I knew that whatever story I wrote would be dark. For me, going about the business of writing a psychological thriller is what gets me enthused and excited to eventually share the story with readers. The crime aspect remains an important component and allows me to explore the morality of some characters and their coping mechanisms. The psychological thriller, in how I use my voice while writing, allows for a deeper dive into the psyches of the protagonist, antagonists, and others who populate the pages of my thrillers.

I can look into the mind of my main character and be a sort of witness to her past traumas, her successes and failures. I also get to examine the horrible effects of homophobia and transphobia to lend agency to the heroine and others so that they can push back against discrimination, bigotry and misogyny. I put all of the above in a relatable context, as something we could experience in real time. My characters are flawed yet have such beautiful qualities that help balance out some of the darkness.

I have a penchant for the unsafe. What I mean by that is I want to create situations that threaten to collapse, to break apart into a million shards. Clearly, my thrillers are for adults. While I’m still evolving as a writer with many soul-crushing stories to come, I can say that I do the psychological thriller with a twist of LGBTQ+. Mary Dubois, the MC of this series, is a queer, trans woman with plenty of baggage and unresolved issues. Her ever-vigilant mind has morphed into a most observant human machine, picking out details others miss, connecting barely visible strands. The ability that freaks most law enforcement officials out is how Mary seems to slip into the viewpoint of the criminal.

Trauma can affect changes in anyone. Sometimes, it's permanent, and sometimes until we can bounce back and regain control of our lives.  While developing characters, I listen to them and observe their reactions to various life experiences, particularly trauma and its effects on the body and mind. Certainly, Mary Dubois is no pushover, not a damsel in distress waiting to be swept off her feet. 

If you enjoy the psychological thriller or any thriller for that matter, stick around as I work on bringing my thrillers to you.