Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.
Today we have Dr. Laura Covington from Lessons of Evil, A novel of Psychological Suspense By Linda B Myers
Very cool Lessons of Evil cover
Katelina: Hi Laura! Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Laura: Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Laura Covington, Doctor of Psychology. My clients call me Dr. Laura. I call them Diaper Man, Weasel, Candy Rapper or whatever else they request.
K: Ha ha! So were you always a psychologist?
L: I left my corporate job in Portland, Oregon for a small town in the high desert to work for community mental health. I wanted a grittier, needier caseload … and boy did I ever get it. On a personal note, the move might have gone smoothly but at the last moment I had to take along my barracuda of a mother and a little boy whom I know almost nothing about. I hadn’t expected to become a mother myself at the age of forty.
K: I could be totally off base here, but it looks to me like you’re dressed for the 1980’s?
L: As a matter of fact, I am! Like most women of the 80s, I have a couple different styles. During the day its conservative khaki slacks and maybe Izod top; for a date I fluff and mousse my curly chestnut hair almost as big as the Flashdance cast. I shimmy into acid wash jeans then add an extra large sweater cinched with a wide belt. Put on my pointy-toed ankle boots and I’m bodacious, dude.
K: Oh! I didn’t realize this was another time traveling interview *glares at her author* She never tells me anything! How cool is that, though? I remember the 80’s! That was a fun time.
L: I really hate this 80s slang. Gag me with a spoon.
K: hee-hee! Okay, so your author isn’t much better than mine?
by Joleene Naylor
L: I just hope next time she puts someone else through all this murder, terror and mayhem!
K: I hear you! But, speaking of terror and mayhem…
L: I’ve always considered myself a pretty together person, but events knock me off my pins. I realize I’m not as in-control as I thought. And that some things can’t be solved in a psychologist’s office. Sometimes you have to use methods more cold-blooded than your adversary.
K: You used the word adversary?
L: Yes. In the 1980s, Oregon was the World Capital of Weird. Every crackpot cult got a foothold. Some were just foolish, but the one brutalizing my clients was deadly. As I fought to free them from this psychopath, he upped the game. After he attacked my family, I quit playing by the rules.
K: I don’t blame you! It sounds like the fruit loop crossed the line. (It is okay to call him a fruit loop, right?) I usually ask about the biggest challenge character’s face, but I’d bet fighting that guy is yours.
L: Actually, I was bequeathed a troubled little boy by a client who had nobody else. I was not prepared for motherhood and had to learn to be good at it even when I resented his claims on me and my time. But the more I got to know Wade, the more I realized this child needed me even more than my clients do. I knew I would care for him … but could I learn to love him? And if so, could I save him?
K: That’s actually kind of sweet. Not that I’m looking for kids or anything. Jorick is enough to handle *coughs* Um, anyway, speaking of men, is there anything exciting in the romance department?
L: Much to my surprise, yes! After my ex dumped me I didn’t expect to tumble again. A little mattress dancing was fine, but no permanent bunk for me. Then Rob marched straight into my heart and shortly thereafter, my bed. Long, lean. Yum. Full of secrets and smart enough to keep me guessing.
Photo by Tom Small via Flickr
L: As a psychologist, my role is to help people gain control over their own lives. But this psychopath? He terrified my boy. That event taught me that true evil exists … and you have to be willing to fight dirty to stop it.
K: And it looks like we’re almost out of time. real quick, if you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?
L: Trauma victims are punished a second time when they are overlooked or not believed. Multiple Personality Disorder may be a child’s response to trauma as surely as a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is for many battle-weary soldiers. Be open to its existence.
K: It never hurts to be open minded about a lot of things, after all, who knows what someone else has gone through? Thanks again, Laura! It was great having you here!
You can find Laura in Lessons of Evil, A novel of Psychological Suspense By Linda B Myers. There is a free excerpt at www.lindabmyers.com
And the eBook available now on
and other eStore locations
And a special thank you to Linda Myers for playing along!
If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:
Amaranthine by Joleene Naylor 
Lindsay
/ July 30, 2011From the sounds of it, this is the kind of book you should read with the lights on and a trusted (yeah, right) friend with you.
Linda B Myers
/ July 31, 2011Yep, Lindsay. I’m betting that collie cutie would fend off the bad guys … right after another little nap.
Joleene Naylor
/ August 9, 2011yeah, I’m thinking so! 😉
Sue
/ July 30, 2011I loved the names for your clients–a bit of whimsy is needed in the profession. And quite agree about trauma victims. As you know, PTSD is not only a disease of soldiers. It’s unfortunate that is only in ebook….don’t have one; would love to read it. The book sounds entertaining and educational as well. How much research did you have to do? Best of luck to you.
Linda B Myers
/ July 31, 2011Primary research was with a counselor who worked community mental health in the 1980s … there were actually more resources for troubled people back then than now what with all the government budget cuts. Lots of research into psychopaths, too, as defined at that time.
Sue
/ July 31, 2011Yes I agree – the cutbacks have made the problems worse, governments can’t handle it, and they don’t see the long term effects. Have the definitions changed? I started a book about a crazy psychiatrist …maybe I’ll get back to it. thank you
julihoffman
/ July 31, 2011This sounds like an interesting read. I think I’ll have to give it a go.
the island traveler
/ August 1, 2011Now you got my attention with this post. Deep, very interesting.
Steve Wasilewski
/ August 1, 2011Myers is a master at plot and character development. Read her other novel, “Fun House Chronicles”, for a sobering yet playfull look at the nursing home experience – something most Boomers will have to deal with.