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Advance Praise
“Peterson’s language captures perfectly the uncertainty of patients facing a mental illness where all solid ground becomes unstable and threatens to give way beneath their feet…. The book proves to be dazzlingly analytical and delicately sympathetic in equal measure….Few writers possess the courage or working knowledge to draw back the veil on this still largely taboo subject. Peterson possesses this rare talent.”
— Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
“This is a must-read for anyone trying to come to terms with a loved one’s mental illness or interested in learning what it’s like to live with Dissociative Identity Disorder.”
—Yuliya Geikhman, The US Review of Books
“Twenty-Four Shadows is a must-read. I fell in love with the characters. This book, just like Ms. Peterson’s previous ones, illustrates the struggles of living with mental illness. This is the most effective way to bring awareness of mental illness to the general reader. You get involved in the life of the character and all he is going through. The description of each emotion is so simple yet so powerful. It’s a story about understanding, compassion and love. This book is proof that getting the right support, mainly from family and friends, is the most important part in healing and adapting to mental illness.”
—Nicole El-Hares, mental health consumer
“As a mental health professional and avid reader, I usually go into reading fictional material based on real diagnoses skeptically, as they are often portrayed unrealistically. Tanya Peterson’s work is far from unrealistic. It is well-researched and delivered in a way that is enjoyable to both the layman and professional, alike. I applaud Peterson’s work, as it is sensitive to the subject matter and consistently enjoyable to read.”
—Shawn Verdin, LPC, LAC, Program Director - Behavioral
Health Unit
“Twenty-Four Shadows is a captivating portrait of the struggle, love and sometimes loss involved with those enduring mental illness. Tanya has created a complex character who takes the reader on a journey through his inner strife. This tale keeps you immured to the very last page!”
—O’Donis Person, Psychiatric RN, motivational coach
“Tanya J. Peterson is an award winning author because of her ability to write about topics that many people find hard to discuss let alone think about. Tanya has the gift of writing about mental health topics and gives a helping hand not only to those who suffer from illness but those who refrain to speak about it and those overwhelmed by the subject matter. Tanya continues to aide humanity by giving everyone a glimpse into the trials of many who suffer from mental health illness. Her books allow the readers to “take a walk in someone else’s shoes” for a short time and by the end of the book delivers a reader who is knowledgeable and often forms a greater sense of compassion for all who endure through metal health situations, whether it be the patient or the extension of family, friends or work associates. Tanya has taken the fear out of learning about depression, anxiety, and debilitating mental illness, domestic violence, and shows what healthy relationships look like and weaves into each book characters in a story you are cheering for and family members you cry for and friends you feel for and each book is an aide to helping each one of us embrace others and we are better because of the gifts she has given to the world.”
— Lady Selah SuJuris, Storytellers Campfire
Twenty-Four Shadows
A Novel
Twenty-Four Shadows
A Novel
Tanya Peterson
Apprentice House
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Copyright © 2016 by Tanya J. Peterson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission from the publisher (except by reviewers who may quote brief passages).
Twenty-Four Shadows is a work of fiction. While based on research including textbooks, journal articles, memoirs, documentaries, and in-person interviews, the characters and their stories are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real-life people and events is coincidental.
Names: Peterson, Tanya J.
Title: Twenty-four shadows : a novel / Tanya Peterson.
Description:
Identifiers: Subjects:
First edition. | Baltimore, Maryland : Apprentice House, Loyola University Maryland, [2016]
ISBN: 978-1-62720-105-6 (paper) | 978-1-62720-106-3 (ebook) | LCCN: 2016937241
LCSH: Mental illness--Fiction. | Mentally ill--Fiction. | Mentally ill--Family relationships-- Fiction. | Multiple personality--Fiction. | Psychology--Fiction. | Families--Fiction. | Struggle --Psychological aspects--Fiction. | Mood (Psychology)--Fiction. | Male friendship--Fiction. | Psychic trauma in children--Fiction. | GSAFD: Medical novels. | LCGFT: Medical fiction. | Psychological fiction.
Classification: LCC: PS3616.E8478 T84 2016 | DDC: 813.6--dc23
First Edition
Printed in the United States of America
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-62720-105-6
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62720-106-3
Cover is a derivative of “CLOSE IT UP” by chubstock and is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Editorial Development: Shannon O’Connor
Editing: Karl Dehmelt / Design: Kelley Murphy
Published by Apprentice House
Apprentice House
Loyola University Maryland
4501 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
410.617.5265 • 410.617.2198 (fax)
www.ApprenticeHouse.com
.
Previous novels by Tanya J. Peterson
Losing Elizabeth
Leave of Absence
My Life in a Nutshell: A Novel
For my friend Susanna
Thank you for talking freely with me, for sharing your own experiences, and for helping the world better understand what dissociative identity disorder is really like.
Chapter 1
“Daddy!” With a running leap, Dominic hurled himself at the man entering the backyard.
“Hey, who’s this?” Isaac struggled to catch both the little boy and his own balance. Dominic giggled gleefully.
“Daddy, it’s me! Dominic. Here, I axident’ly knocked off your glasses, but I catched them. I’ll put ’em back on so you can see me.” Sticky fingers clutching the lenses rather than the frame, Dominic shoved the glasses hard onto Isaac’s face. “There. Is that better? Can you see me now?”
“Maybe it’s time to switch to contacts, man. Might even give you half a chance against me on the tennis court.” Max slapped Isaac lightly on the back as he brushed past him and strode into the yard.
Isaac rolled his eyes at his best friend’s retreating back and adjusted his glasses with his free hand. “Yes, Tiger, it’s better now. Thank you.” Isaac whooshed his son into the air and studied him. “I can see you, and I can see that you’re