Deborah Sickle Hill

Category: Published Works

  • JUST HIT SEND!

    JUST HIT SEND!

    JUST HIT SEND!

    I finished it a month ago—my latest novel, Dark Consequences. Normally, I self-publish. More creative control, no middleman, a say in the logistics of the book, the title, and the cover. The best part, I don’t have to wait a year for the final product to come out.

    For reasons that escape me, I’ve decided to get this book commercially published. You know the rat race—finding an agent, finding a publisher, rewrites to fit someone else’s ideas of publishable, and a decrease in creative say in the book cover.

    I know why—I’m tired of hearing self-published authors don’t count. Bull sh–! Tired of my lack of marketing skills, damn introversion.

    Are these the real reasons, or do I suffer from imposter syndrome? I’ve never held a book opening event. Just quietly published, made some posts, and let it ride. People tell me both books, Death in Disguise and The Revelation, are gripping, with well-developed characters and plots and subplots that keep the reader engaged.  So what the f—- is my problem?

    Everything is ready: The synopsis, the query letter, the pitch. I think it’s a great story.  Just hit SEND!

    Did I tell you it’s the first novel of a four-part series—all of it written? Just hit SEND!

    You want to know what the story is about? It’s a dark historical supernatural novel. Set in 1848 Maryland amid the upheaval of a quarry town, the story blends gothic atmosphere with folk horror and social tension. It explores superstition, grief, and the resilience of working-class families. There is no reason not to hit SEND!

    Here I sit, everything ready to go, a destination picked out, and a fear of HITTING THE DAMN SEND BUTTON! Can anyone relate to this? If so, I’d love to hear how you overcame this affliction.

  • Memento Mori- Remember You Will Die

    MEMENTO MORI- REMEMBER YOU MUST DIE

    Call me morbidly curious, gothic—not goth, macabre, perhaps even a dark coper. They all mean about the same thing. Paraphrased from the dictionary, someone having a fascination for dark and unpleasant subjects, the supernatural, death, and melancholy. A dark coper, a person who uses scary media to process fear to gain a sense of preparedness for real-world dangers.

    You would never know this looking at me. I don’t advertise. This leads me to a quandary: trying to explain my writing to people who view dark fiction (horror) as slasher movies and grotesque. Yes, there is a market for this type of film. It’s not my market, and it is definitely only a sub-genre of a vast cornucopia of artistic endeavors.

    To me, a good dark fiction novel contains deep, well-rounded characters with strong arcs and meaningful relationships. They encounter, because of their own actions or the actions of someone or something else, a situation(s) leading them to a life and death situation. Physically or psychologically. A cause to reevaluate everything they thought they knew about life. A chance to make a difference. An opportunity to do the greater good—even if the result is self-sacrifice.

    Yes, there are works of fiction where the antagonist is the main character. The twists and turns of a mind deliberately cause the protagonist to struggle. Even then, both the antagonist and the protagonist need to be well-rounded characters—why else would you root for success? Though in some situations, the result is disquieting as the antagonist wins, leaving the reader with their own sense of dread or self-evaluation. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a good example of this. Spoiler: the aliens win.  

    Someone asked me, “Why do you write horror? Why not write romance or dramas?”

    All my novels contain historical drama and romance. However, my answer is simple.  It’s a great way to have a safe place to explore fears and past traumas. It’s cathartic, entertaining. I like it when a character beats the odds and comes out whole. And of course, it harks back to Memento Mori. I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame, unable to resist its calling.  (Not today—at least I hope not!)

    To date, I’ve written and self-published two fiction books. Death in Disguise is a dark murder mystery taking place in the 1950s in a small fictional town. The Revelation is a dark, supernatural tale set on an archaeological site in the 1980s. My latest finishedwork, currently vying for an agent, is called Dark Consequences, about an Irish famine victim, forced to come to America, where he makes a fateful decision bringing death to the small quarry community where he settles. It’s book one of a four-part series.

    If you’re interested in well-developed characters living somewhere in history, a solid cast of characters and plots where the consequences of decisions are life-changing, exploring the world of the supernatural, give me a try. I’m really not that scary.

  • New Book Cover: Death in Disguise

    Death in Disguise New Cover 2025

    https://amzn.to/4lz0HgK E-book

    https://amzn.to/44r2Rs0 Paperback

  • WHEN A LOVED ONE IS TRAUMATIZED – is now out!

    Trauma doesn’t just affect one person—it ripples through families.
    When a Loved One is Traumatized: Information for Families is a supportive and accessible guide for those who care for someone living with PTSD. Traumatic events can strike anyone, anytime, leaving lasting impacts on the mind, body, and spirit—not just of the survivor, but of everyone around them.

    This book offers clear, compassionate explanations of what trauma is, how it manifests, and what loved ones can do to support healing. From understanding triggers to navigating emotional responses, it answers the what, when, and why of life after trauma.

    Whether you’re a family member, partner, or friend—or a survivor seeking insight—this guide offers reassurance, clarity, and hope on the path to recovery.

    Available in Kindle e-book and paperback

    ISBN 979-8645316655

    https://amzn.to/3TBbStr E-book

    https://amzn.to/45TB2Lx Paperback

  • CREATING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS is in Print!!!!

    CREATING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

    Healthy relationships don’t just happen—they’re built.
    Creating Healthy Relationships is your guide to understanding what makes relationships thrive. Drawing from decades of counseling experience and grounded in Choice Theory and Cognitive Behavioral principles, this book offers practical insights into forming and sustaining meaningful connections.

    Adapted from a popular blog series, this collection reads like a mini-instruction manual, exploring topics such as:

    • Spotting and avoiding relationship “killers”
    • Repurposing your life after loss or change
    • Finding the right partner (and knowing when to keep fishing)
    • Learning to live with yourself
    • Navigating life with adult children returning home

    Whether you’re starting fresh, redefining boundaries, or simply trying to connect more deeply, this book provides the tools to help you grow healthier, more fulfilling relationships in every area of life.

    Available in Kindle e-book and Amazon paperback.

    https://amzn.to/4njLnqg E-book

    https://amzn.to/4liRg5a Paperback

    ISBN: 9798666189337

  • OPEN THE THERAPIST IS IN: 101 Mental Health and Wellness Counseling Insights– THE WORKBOOK — is in publication!

    Open: The Therapist Is In, 101 Mental Health and Wellness Counseling Insights, The WORKBOOK

    Step into the therapy room—on your own terms.
    Drawing from nearly 30 years of counseling experience, this easy-to-use WORKBOOK offers a practical and insightful collection of mental health and wellness idioms. Designed for quick reference and deep reflection, each entry invites you to explore the powerful connections between your thoughts, emotions, actions, and body.

    Whether you’re looking to build resilience, navigate stress, or strengthen relationships, this workbook gives you tools to better understand yourself—and grow. With thoughtful prompts and exercises, you’ll put what you learn into action, creating a personalized path toward greater well-being.

    Perfect for anyone ready to pause, reflect, and take meaningful steps toward a healthier life.

    Available in Kindle e-book and paperback form.

    https://amzn.to/4lnSwEi E-Book

    https://amzn.to/43TtK90 Paperback

    ISBN:9798644311682

  • OPEN: THE THERAPIST IS IN,101 Mental Health & Wellness Counseling Insights, is in Publication.

    Open: The Therapist Is In, 101 Mental Health and Wellness Counseling Insights

    Step into the therapy room—on your own terms.
    Drawing from nearly 30 years of counseling experience, this easy-to-use book, a condensed version of the WORKBOOK by the same name, offers a practical and insightful collection of mental health and wellness idioms. Designed for quick reference and deep reflection, each entry invites you to explore the powerful connections between your thoughts, emotions, actions, and body.

    Whether you’re looking to build resilience, navigate stress, or strengthen relationships, book gives you tools to better understand yourself—and grow. With thoughtful prompts and exercises, you’ll put what you learn into action, creating a personalized path toward greater well-being.

    Perfect for anyone ready to pause, reflect, and take meaningful steps toward a healthier life.

    Available in Kindle e-book and paperback form.

    ISBN:979-8620992256

    https://amzn.to/3ZHV0oz E-Book

    https://amzn.to/466ga3s Paperback

  • Join my Celebration! My Book, The Revelation, has Arrived!

    Dr. Edwin Collins is a physical anthropologist who etches crosses on soda cans. He thinks he’s facilitating the end times as written in the book of Revelation in the Bible.

    Michael English is a man of science. He is determined to rise above the insanity of his supervisor, Edwin Collins, by professionally excavating and documenting one of the country’s best preserved plantations. The only problem is that the Maryland plantation has a reputation for paranormal activity, and Dr. Collins has incorporated the local hysteria into his delusional thinking.

    Tempers fly; personalities clash as English’s team of eleven graduate and undergraduate students in archaeology excavate. One by one, team members experience unusual events that no one can explain, and science is not equipped to solve.

    Together, they must decide, is it hysteria, multi-dimensional time slips, a haunting or validations of Dr. Collin’s delusions. More important, they have to find a way to survive.

    ISBN: 978499158342

    Available in E-book and Paperback.

    https://amzn.to/3I7SrWE E-Book

    https://amzn.to/469xzs6 Paperback

  • The Journey of a Writer and a Novel – The Release of Death in Disguise

    Death in Disguise New Cover 2025

    3-4 minute read

    “You cheating son of a bitch!” Muriel screamed at him.

    That’s the first line of my novel, Death in Disguise. It took me ten years to get that sentence on paper to my satisfaction—not because of writer’s block. I wrote the first draft in a few months. But then fear took over.

    Not fear of rejection from publishers. That’s part of the business. This was deeper: fear that my story wasn’t good enough—that I wasn’t good enough. So it sat on a shelf.

    We talk a lot about writer’s block, but not enough about writer’s fear. For me, it was perfectionism, tangled in the belief that my debut had to be flawless or it wasn’t worth sharing. That kind of thinking leads to silence.

    In those ten years, I wrote constantly. I filled binders with stories, red-inked drafts, and characters I loved. But envy started to creep in. Artists hang their work. Musicians perform. Writers? We wait to be read. Unless we’re published, our creations often stay invisible.

    Eventually, I took a class called Writing from the Heart. It broke through the perfectionism. I began to understand that perfection is a myth—and often a trap. Growing up as a performer, I believed hard work equaled flawless results. In writing, that’s rarely the case. Without feedback, I kept polishing drafts in isolation, terrified to let them go.

    I tried sharing with family and friends. Some promised to read but didn’t. I took it personally—maybe too personally. I confused their silence with rejection. I let it hurt my relationships, when really, it wasn’t about me. People have their own reasons. I had to learn that support doesn’t always look like a critique.

    Eventually, my parents read a draft—and loved it. My daughter even edited one and said, “Mom, I couldn’t put this down.” That was the moment I started to believe in my work again.

    I decided to publish Death in Disguise independently—not because I wasn’t good enough for a big publisher, but because I wanted full creative control. It was a steep learning curve, but I embraced every part of it. After years of fearing imperfection, I took the leap. I made the baby—I wanted to deliver it myself.

    We all have voices in our heads—old mentors, harsh critics, even well-meaning family members—who plant doubt. But writing isn’t about impressing anyone. It’s about sharing something true. Screaming into the forest and hoping someone hears.

    My book is finally out. I’m proud. Nervous. Ecstatic. And yes, a little scared. But this time, fear isn’t the driver. I am.

    ISBN: 9871497333420

    https://amzn.to/4kNGTq9 E-Book

    https://amzn.to/4ehTNKv Paperback