Facing Lillia: A Novel

by Collette Shedd, April Bair (Editor)

"Facing Lillia is an outstanding fictional account of one person's therapeutic journey, undertaken in desperation and audacious hope. It is about the universal yearning to be heard to be understood, to be well. Written beautifully, the book is filled with wisdom about the human struggle for wholeness. A remarkable book!" -Robert Ritzema, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist. *** Lillia is deeply troubled. Her therapist is burned out. She’s not letting him get away with it. Facing Lillia follows the on-again, off-again relationship of a damaged woman and her platitude wielding therapist. Lillia’s dramatic flares and witty repartee are offset by sullen depressions leading them both to wonder if the treatment is worth the cure. To heal, her trauma must be unmasked. But, releasing Lillia's imago is a dangerous gambit. Collette Shedd’s debut novel is the story of a woman defending her life while battling herself. A must-read for everyone who's been in therapy or knows someone in treatment. About the Author Collette Shedd never thought of herself as an author. She's always been attracted to stories but dyslexia makes reading challenging. Still, she appreciates the way words sculpt ambiguity and, simply put, she craved a robust book with cadence her dyslexic brain could digest so she wrote it. Throughout her life, Collette Shedd has been attracted to outcasts. She wanted to give a voice to those who are pushed out and down and seeks to open the private door of therapy harboring a notion that a peek inside might resonate with others, through the fictional tale of a woman and her doctor. EXCERPT (reprinted with permission) Ch 8: A year later, Lillia scheduled an appointment. She was noticeably thinner. Looked fine. Rested. Shortened her long hair. Never removed her darkly shaded eyeglasses again. Time was not compatible with her mental condition. Lillia envisioned their fresh meeting as no more than a single day passed. The doctor refused to inquire about the lost year. After the doctor closed his office door, they stood face to face, with not more than a foot between them. Neither had words for each other. Nor was there consistent eye contact. Lillia was the first to speak. “This standing time doesn’t count. I don’t care how long it must go on. We’re not on official clock time.” A light smile revealed her sense of uneasiness. Readers, psychiatrists, and ministers agree that Collette Shedd's debut novel tells a universal story that needs to be told. For everyone who battles their own mind or knows someone struggling with mental health Facing Lillia carries a messy message of hope and even laughter along the way. An epic journey to wellness. A literary fiction novel that everyone who's been in therapy, or knows someone in treatment, must-read. After a lifetime of suffering facial dysphoria, always watching the monster of her reflection, Lillia summons resilience to overcome the havoc of her condition and the courage to transcend madness.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2020

About the author

I've always been attracted to outsiders. Being in the mental health care system, as both counselor and client, inspired me to give voice to those who are pushed out and down. I harbor a peculiar notion that opening the private door of therapy to give a peek inside might resonate with others.
I never thought of myself as a writer. I've always been attracted to stories with tension between beauty and unmentionable terror but, dyslexia makes reading challenging.
My writing style is inspired by an appreciation for the way words can sculpt ambiguity. My writing voice comes from believing that nature has the purest voice without intention.
I began writing Facing Lillia because I craved a robust book with a cadence my dyslexic brain could digest so, I wrote it.