Jaded

ISBN: 978-1-84991-665-3
Published: 2011
Pages: 270
Key Themes: Mental Health, Dissociative Identity Disorder

Description

Lil is in the mental facility of Joliette prison, in Montreal. She is being accused of murdering Jenny, her partner.

Lil, as a young child, suffered greatly both at the hands of her abusive parents and later within the foster system. As a result of this, Lil suffers Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), therefore, incurring many setbacks for her release. Is she being viewed as insane, or able to stand a normal trial? The corruption within the adoption process and the institutions involved, such as the Sister House have played an important part in Lil’s mental illness.

There are many people fighting for her freedom, Lil’s daughter Jade and Lil’s son Ted… the twin boy that she thought died at birth. The story not only takes place in Montreal but we also travel to New England and meet Ted’s adoptive family. Emotions run rampant as these two families interact and try to become one. With another set of characters involved, the twists and turns of this novel will surely keep your senses alerted.

What will be Lil’s future? Will she be set free or spend the remainder of her life in confinement? If you have read “Lil’s Way” and want to find out what happens to Lil, then you will enjoy reading its sequel “Jaded.”

About the Author

Colleen Baxter Sullivan was born in Montreal, Canada. Her love for the city and its culture led her to write her first novel “Lil’s Way” and now its sequel “Jaded.” Never tiring of Montreal, she still roams its many streets in search of new and exciting treasures.

She is intrigued with the working of the mind, and continuously studies the effects of mental illness, both with people suffering it and how it is viewed by the public. She hopes that her many characters, might bring a better understanding of how this illness, and the stigma surrounding it is greatly misunderstood.

She started writing almost as soon as she learned to read. As a child she loved to journal. Every thought and adventure was recorded. This led her to write poetry and many short stories. Her passion for life and her vivid imagination is evident in her writing. She is best known for her description and detail. This makes her characters come alive.

She now resides in Deux-Montagnes, a small community on the outskirts of Montreal with her greatest joy, her family. She is a wife, mother and grandmother.

“Jaded” is her second novel. It is the sequel to “Lil’s Way.” She is presently writing her third novel.

Book Extract

Michael woke early the next morning. The sound of the phone caused him to jump out of bed. “I’m coming,” he screamed. He quickly looked at his watch realizing that he had no scheduled appointments and he was only meeting Jade later that night. “Hello. Just a moment, I can’t hear you. Yes, that’s better.

“What’s the hurry? I thought we had a thirty-day postponement. I know it’s not your fault. Tell him I’ll be there in an hour,” he said, very perplexed. A wave of panic came over him. He could not figure out the reason for this hurried summons. It was much too soon for a decision regarding Lil’s trial. This did not look good for the defence. He thought something serious must have happened to call such a hasty session. He had one foot out the door when his phone rang. “Yes,” he said getting more annoyed by the minute. “Jade, what’s the matter? Calm down. That’s right, I saw her yesterday in the afternoon. Holy shit, what happened? I’ll call you later; I’m on my way to the courthouse. They called some sort of meeting. Yes, I promise to call you as soon as I know something.”

Mike Miller was visibly shaking as he got into his car. What the hell happened? Sister Mary was fine when he left. Could it have been his encounter with her? True, he had bullied her, but she seemed fine when he left. He hoped this wasn’t the case. Before he knew it he was parking his car and sitting in Judge Sauvé’s chambers.

The defence and prosecution lawyers were present as well, looking as forlorn as he was. They gave each other a brief nod and exchanged looks of concern. All stood as the Judge entered.