An Awareness of Wishes: An Interview with B. D’Amato, author of Triskele

B. D’Amato is a psychoanalyst in private practice in NYC. She has written numerous professional papers analyzing the psychic conflicts of literary characters and their authors, i.e., Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. B. D’Amato’s most recent publication considers the lyrics in Bob Dylan’s Murder Most Foul from a hypnogogic perspective. She has written extensively about dreams, adoption, and the curative potential of human interconnection through emotional communication. Triskele is her first work of fiction.

You can buy Triskele here.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title, Triskele, was actually the second iteration. As the work progressed and I went through numerous editorial processes, it became clear that the three intertwined characters all held equal importance in the story and needed to be reflected in the title. A triskele is an ancient pre-Christian Celtic symbol consisting of three interconnected spirals emanating from a central core. It was perfect.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I was literally shaken by how well it represented my story. The colors were dark and mysterious. The lone image of a shimmering orange silhouette facing away from the reader with beckoning, outstretched arms amidst a wall of blackness drew my eyes as I struggled to discern the seemingly abstract representation. It was simple and complex at the same time.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My work as a psychoanalyst was a definite catalyst in my desire to write this novel. Of course, various personal reasons also informed the story. Many of those were unknown to me until I completed the book. This all speaks to the premise of the novel that we repeat what we don’t always know, and there are unconscious forces that drive us through life. We usually do better when we are able to become aware of our deepest wishes.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The completion and fruition of a piece of writing that felt so compelling to write. Being able to share the novel in published form was an important piece of the process.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Oh, that is easy because I sent two songs to Ronaldo as descriptors of my story that his art team was able to realize in their rendition of the cover: Damien Rice’s It Takes a Lot to Know a Man, and Madonna’s Looking For Mercy.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope readers will take away the notion that people sometimes cannot help what they do, especially when there has been early trauma, yet they can master their demons with deep, personal working through.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I am currently working on a second novel about a woman whose life has been severely restricted by the death of her parents. Without realizing it, she begins a journey to discover her unknown roots. This one will contain a bit of magic, and won’t be as dark as Triskele.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press is outstanding. From the very first contact, they displayed integrity and transparency about the process. They are highly organized and passed me on from one professional to the next as the book made its way through their publication procedures.

You can buy Triskele here.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.