I struggled during parts of the book that revealed issues that I was not proud of.

Joan Cusack Handler, PhD – 20 November 2025

The Back Flap

Lights in Cold Rooms shares Joan Cusack Handler’s personal experiences with depression as a licensed psychologist with forty years of experience treating patients. For many, including Handler, quarantine precluded the preferred treatment of psychotherapy. Handler turned to her own pathology to teach herself and others how to navigate both isolation and depression. Feelings of anxiousness and impending mortality intensified as she faced the death of her older sister and grappled with the guilt that erupted when she learned that an in-person memorial service was impossible. Opening both her personal history and pathology to public view, Handler chronicles her confrontation with eighty years of family dynamics and explores the path she took to return to a place of hope.

About the book

What is the book about?

A practicing psychologist with over forty years of experience treating patients, particularly depressives, I too became depressed during Covid and imposed quarantine when no clinicians were available to see patients. I was left to treat the illness on my own. Lights in Cold Rooms follows that journey through depression to wellness.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book during the earliest stages of Covid.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took the better part of four to five years to write it.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea came from my careful study of my unconscious, which utilized ‘stream of consciousness’ or ‘free writing’ to record exactly what came to me with the commitment to not edit whether the material made sense or not. The concept is that the earliest material that comes to the patient is the closest he or she gets to revealing the unconscious—the storehouse of our repressed feelings and experiences. The goal is to make conscious the unconscious.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, I struggled during parts of the book that revealed issues that I was not proud of.

What came easily?

The easiest material to face was the love and joy that came from my husband, son, and two granddaughters.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are true to life and do not reflect any fictitious traits or characteristics.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any Particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

The writers who have most influenced me are Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy for their impeccable understanding and acceptance of humanity and how it is expressed in all of us.

Do you have a target reader?

Though I consider the book appropriate reading for adults of all ages, I imagine it to be most helpful for those who are facing their illness alone.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so, can you please describe it?

My writing process is relatively simple; I wait until a thought stirs in me and I follow it, recording it on my computer, notebook or any piece of paper or napkin that is available. That’s the beginning of the process for me. From that point on, I work on the poem or prose piece almost exclusively and daily for several hours until I consider it finished. It is then that I turn to editing it as needed, careful not to intrude on its integrity and natural direction.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do not outline generally; I prefer to allow the material to develop naturally without formal instructions or intrusions.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I wait until I’ve finished writing before I edit. Early editing can intrude on the natural flow of the work.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Though my book was published by a small press, I did hire a professional editor to work with me until a small press accepted the book

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, I do not.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I submitted my work to a few agents but received no responses, so I went with an indie publisher.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was a gradual process.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My publisher assigned my cover to the designer he customarily used. Though I did not design it myself, I was influential on the design.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have hired a publicist for the book and a person who updated my website.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

It is a good thing to hire an editor of your own, besides working only with the editor assigned to you by your publisher. It may take several months for you to find a publisher on your own and starting the editing process beforehand will likely strengthen the book. Strive to actively participate in as many aspects of designing your book as possible but do it with respect for professional boundaries. Be vigilant about researching individuals or publishers who might be interested in your book; ask friends for advice. Do a thorough study of any publishers you consider.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in “Throggs Neck” in the Bronx, NY

Where do you live now?

I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

What would you like readers to know about you?

I believe in humanity which implies imperfection in all of us, so the truth and mutual respect are very important to me.

What are you working on now?

I am working now on marketing the book and expanding its readership.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Lights in Cold Rooms from Amazon US or Amazon UK.