Hello everyone,

I wanted to share an update on the progression of my novel, The Green Lotus. The truth is, this book has been a difficult journey. Much like a long shift in the ER, some days are filled with chaos and heartbreak, and others bring unexpected moments of grace and clarity. Writing this story has felt a lot like that.

When I started, I thought I knew the story I wanted to tell. But as I’ve spent more time with the characters, they’ve taken me to darker, more complex places than I ever anticipated. This is especially true for my protagonist. Many of you were first introduced to her as Lily, but as the story has unfolded, she has been forced to become someone else to survive: Cena. Her story has become a battle for her own soul, a fight to see if "Lily" can ever truly come home from the war "Cena" has been forced to fight.

This novel has always been about exploring the gritty realities of addiction, trafficking, and trauma from the front lines. It’s about what happens to people in the dark, and the impossible choices they make to see the sun again. The story has reached a critical turning point, a point of no return for every character involved, and I wanted to share a small piece of that with you.

Thank you, as always, for your patience and support on this journey. It means the world.

With love from, 

Deanna LaForce RN

Sneak Peek from The Green Lotus

In this scene, the brilliant but reckless neuropharmacologist, Sophia, confronts her father—the mysterious "Harmacist"—about the successful human trials of their new creation, the Green Lotus.

His gaze, sharp and unyielding, bore into her.“You began human trials without consulting me,” he said, his voice low and simmering with contained anger.Sophia held her glass steady, the ice clinking softly. “Yes. At a few parties. Controlled settings. They were a hit.”His hand slammed down on the table, making the glasses jump, echoing like thunder in the otherwise silent room. “¡Estúpida! Your school, your reputation, your future… it is fragile. You surround yourself with fools. If word spreads, you lose everything. We lose everything.”She flinched yet stood her ground. “I didn’t say it was mine,” she countered quickly. “I told them I bought the alcohol from a local dispensary. Which will be true once Los Osos takes over distribution. I was cautious.”His glare did not waver, a storm brewing in his dark eyes.“Do not ever use yourself as a shield. That is what the criminals are for. They take the risk. We take the data.”Sophia lowered her head, swallowing her pride.“The beer is ready, Papá,” Sophia declared, her voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of anticipation. “The results speak for themselves. Addiction within one dose. Elevation of mood. Light hallucinations, increased suggestibility. It’s not just effective... it’s spiritual.”He continued, his voice softening yet chillingly cold. “The ethanol base is harmless enough. The stimulant blend... your MDMA synthesis... is perfect. But it is the alkaloid from the Lotus that gives it... transcendence. When properly balanced, it allows the user to touch the divine.”Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t believe in God... not the way he did. To her, the Green Lotus represented control, power, and the unraveling of free will through addiction. But she nodded anyway, feeling the weight of their shared ambition.