Congratulations to Michelle Tobin and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Home for the Bewildered, the story of a psychologist who has no problem saving her patients...but can she save herself?
★★★★★ “A poignant, funny, inspiring exploration of the healing power of empathy and common humanity.” ~John Neafsey, psychologist, author of A Sacred Voice is Calling
Home for the Bewildered
NEW RELEASE: September 3, 2024Genre: Historical Fiction
4.95 stars, 21 ratings on Goodreads
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $5.99
It's 1974 and Dr. Dorothy Morrissey becomes the first female psychologist at St. Lawrence Asylum in Lansing, Michigan.
Dorothy’s patients mirror her emotional issues as they draw her into their often-chaotic lives:
- Thomas’s flair for drama as a cross-dressing homosexual with bi-polar makes Dorothy laugh as much as he makes her cry.
- George is at the asylum after pleading "not guilty by reason of insanity," causing Dorothy to wrestle with an inexplicable aversion to him.
- Ruth’s post-partum psychiatric break threatens to draw Dorothy in with her.
- Marcella, labeled as borderline, frustrates Dorothy's efforts to keep her from self-harm.
As good as Dorothy is at holding and interpreting her patients’ past traumas, she resists looking at her own, causing a strain on her relationship with Kenneth. It seems Dorothy has no problem saving her patients...but can she save herself?
Praise for Home for the Bewildered
★★★★★ “Tobin masterfully takes us deeper and deeper into the minds and hearts of her characters. You finish, wanting a sequel.” ~Dan Mulhern, J.D., Former First Gentleman of Michigan
★★★★★ “Tobin tackles HUGE subjects: grief, homosexuality, priest abuse, family denial, parental guilt, the AIDS crisis, hypermasculinity, and feminine stereotyping with a clear sense of unity and emotional richness.” ~Beth Gylys, Ph.D., author of Body Braille
★★★★★ “A compelling work of fiction that could also serve as an excellent resource for teaching the art of psychotherapy.” ~John Neafsey, author of A Sacred Voice is Calling
About the Author
Michelle Tobin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults, including her city’s refugee population. She also writes psychological assessments for annulments. Michelle trained as a chef at the internationally acclaimed Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Most recently she earned certification in Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Health. Her clinical work includes cooking therapy as part of the treatment protocol. In addition to writing, she is an avid lap swimmer, dog walker, reader, fabric artist, and volunteer cook for a soup kitchen. Michelle is married and raised three children. Like one of her characters, Michelle is one of twelve children. Learn more at noleftovers.wordpress.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com.