I discovered Jonathan Kellerman novels as a young psychology student in the early 1990s and became fascinated by the thought of having a dual career as a psychologist and novelist.
Sandra Griffith – 24 February 2026
The Back Flap
Some memories protect you. Others imprison you.
When August Caine receives a phone call from a Savannah attorney, she is blindsided by the news—her Aunt Helen has passed away. But how can that be, when August’s mother insisted Helen died in a car accident fifteen years ago? Determined to uncover the truth, August returns to the deep South, where the ghosts of her past—both real and imagined—await her.
Plagued by a memory splintered by her father’s unsolved murder when she was a child and further tangled by psychiatric treatments for the debilitating depression she struggles with, August realizes her survival depends on unraveling the mystery surrounding her father’s death. This means returning to the one safe place she remembers from the childhood she has mostly locked away inside her mind: Aunt Helen’s home, and the ghost tours they created together.
A chilling exploration of mental illness, mother-daughter bonds, and generational secrets, One Beautiful Year of Normal follows August as she pieces together the long-buried truths that shaped her family’s tragic past and confronts the question that has haunted her for years: Can the truth set her free, or will it unravel everything she thought she knew?
About the book
What is the book about?
One Beautiful Year of Normal is the story of a girl whose father was murdered when she was eight, forcing her into the role of caretaker for her mother, who develops severe psychological issues as a result of her husband’s death.
When did you start writing the book?
In 2014
How long did it take you to write it?
It took nearly ten years because it was always a start-and-stop process. I sometimes would go months without touching it. I also rewrote every single sentence several times.
Where did you get the idea from?
I read a lot of coming-of-age stories, psychological thrillers, and family sagas, and wanted to write a book that combines all three.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
For me, making the dialogue between characters sound natural was difficult.
What came easily?
The story came easily. Making it flow without providing too many or too few details was the difficult part.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I’ve been a psychologist for over thirty years with a very busy practice that has primarily focused on children and adults who experience severe difficulties, some of which present in unusual ways. The mother-daughter dynamic in One Beautiful Year of Normal was shaped by this.
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?
I discovered Jonathan Kellerman novels as a young psychology student in the early 1990s and became fascinated by the thought of having a dual career as a psychologist and novelist. My second inspiration for the book was John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I loved Savannah before I read it and was absolutely enthralled by it afterwards. It uniquely and beautifully portrayed the city as the main character. From the minute I finished it, my goal was to both live in Savannah and to write a story with it as the setting. It took a long time, but One Beautiful Year of Normal will be released in February 2026, and I was finally able to become a part-time resident of Tybee Island (just outside Savannah) in 2021.
Do you have a target reader?
I think the book would appeal to anyone who likes family dramas, coming-of-age stories and psychological thrillers.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I have a writing process that is very flexible. Sometimes I only want to rework existing material versus trying to add new chapters. Sometimes I only want to work on grammatical editing. I don’t try to force anything I’m not in the mood to do. Giving myself time to think instead of feeling pressured to put words to paper has been helpful.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I made a bare-bones outline of the entire book before starting.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
A little bit of both. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to write, so I’ll spend an entire day doing a line-by-line edit. Sometimes it’s the opposite.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I changed the story and had three rounds of professional editing before it ever got into the hands of my publisher.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I don’t listen to music while I write. My attention span is too short.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I queried several agents before approaching the publisher directly. It was several months before I heard back from any, and by then I’d already submitted the manuscript to She Writes Press.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Being new to writing, I think it was more of a gradual process. I had no idea how complex the publishing process is. I spent a lot of hours researching various indie publishers, and that included reading several of their books, especially those in the same genre as mine. I’m thrilled to have found She Writes Press.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My book cover was professionally done by She Writes Press.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I researched a lot of publicists and am fortunate to be working with the group at Spark Point Studio. They encourage a collaborative approach and have a tremendous track record.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Indie versus traditional publishing is a good option if you’re willing and able to help market your book. With that said, choose an Indie publisher that has a lot of distribution experience and a wide national/global reach. I was surprised to learn that some publishers provide very little marketing and have limited distribution agreements. Research this beforehand. I would also add that Indie is a great choice for debut writers because it provides a stepping stone for subsequent books.
End of Interview:
For more from Sandra Griffith visit her website.
Get your copy of One Beautiful Year of Normal from Amazon US.
