Amy Rivers was raised in New Mexico and holds degrees in psychology and political science, two topics she loves to write about. She's been published in several magazines and anthologies, and her novel, All The Broken People, was recently selected as the Colorado Author Project winner in the adult fiction category. Her latest novel, Complicit, is the first in her new "Legacy of Silence" series featuring forensic psychologist, Kate Medina.
In Complicit, Medina left a dream career within the prison system after an unspeakable act of violence changed everything. She retreats to her hometown working in the "safer" world as a high school psychologist until tragedy strikes again when a student disappears. After the lead detective on the case reaches out to her for assistance, Kate finds herself directly into the crosshairs of an enemy who remains largely in the shadows. As her past and present collide, Kate is dragged into the middle of a deadly game where only one thing is clear—no one can be trusted.
Amy stops by In Reference to Murder to take some Author R&R about researching and writing the book:
I write about a lot of heavy topics: interpersonal and family violence, sexual assault, substance abuse, etc. In Complicit, sexual assault and trafficking are the heart of the matter and handling those topics with care is one of the most important parts of my job and my goal in writing these stories. Unlike police procedurals and other types of crime fiction that go into great detail about the investigatory process, my work focuses more on psychology including the motivation for human behavior and the underlying mental health issues that can lead to distorted thinking and behavior that is outside societal norms. Here is a little bit about my foundations and process.
The root of my understanding of these things come from formal study. I earned a Master’s Degree in interdisciplinary studies with focus on psychology and political science so that I could more clearly understand the intersection between human behavior and the law. Specifically, I studied the prevention of violence both in terms of mental health and the criminal justice system. After I began writing full-time, I completed a graduate certificate in forensic criminology to continue learning about the particulars of violent behavior, victimology, and trends in violent offending.
Now, the bulk of both my interest in and knowledge of the implications of sexual assault and community violence prevention efforts is experiential. For several years, I served as the Director for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) of Otero & Lincoln County. This organization consists of specially trained nurses who perform forensic exams and collect evidence in sexual assault and abuse cases. Forensic nurses are truly amazing people. They are tasked with interviewing and providing physical and emotional care to victims. They must follow the strict chain of command necessary to ensure the integrity of the evidence collected, treat injuries, and help victims find the resources they will need to heal and, when possible, seek justice. They are also asked to testify in court about cases they’ve handled, sometimes years after the incident.
In bringing the stories of these nurses into my writing, I have reached out to SANE’s and other forensic nurses throughout the country (and a few in other countries) through the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). These nurses have been incredibly giving of their time and willing to fact-check and provide input for this and future books. Finding resources in the field is a common practice in crime fiction and I am no exception.
I also look at the stories of real victims of crime. There are many resources for reading survivor accounts and these provide clues to how violence impacts individuals, their families, and even whole communities. In some cases, I have spoken directly with victims and their families. It is humbling to hear their stories and I think the most important thing for me, as an author, is to handle that information with care and compassion. The reality for many victims, especially of sexual assault and abuse, is that there are many reasons not to tell their stories—feelings of shame and guilt, re-victimization through the criminal justice system, lack of support, etc. Studies tell us that the number of victims who report their assault are statistically low compared to the number of assaults taking place. In my writing, I hope to not only paint a realistic and accurate picture of the impact of sexual assault and other violent crime on victims and their families, but to give voice to those who have suffered and to let them know they are not alone.
You can learn more about Amy Rivers and her writing via her website, and you can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Complicit is now available via all major booksellers.
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