The Story: Beth Olson is a middle-aged woman who has lost everything: her career, her house, her mother, and even herself. Suspecting the chaos of her present is rooted in the hidden trauma of her childhood, she is suddenly forced to run for her life when her abusive brother, Kelsey, attempts to kill her.
With the help of a long-time friend, Beth escapes into the underground. She is introduced to a secretive, fiercely protective group of people who live beneath an abandoned abbey at the base of an extinct cinder cone—a place simply known as The Village.
Here, the real journey begins. Working with a counselor and a Physical Therapist, Beth confronts terrifying flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and the chronic physical pain of a body that has braced for impact her entire life. Even as her past continues to hunt her, Beth begins to unearth the truth about how trauma is stored in the body.
Through devastating lows—including a suicide attempt—and triumphant highs, Beth learns to trust, lead, and even love.
Why a Fictional Setting for a True Story? Calm Out of Chaos is a true story of healing embedded within a compelling, suspenseful fictional setting. This unique narrative structure serves two vital purposes:
While the abbey is fictional, the emotional reality is absolute. Every flashback, every therapy session, every paralyzing fear, and every hard-won victory toward freedom is a direct reflection of the author’s actual experience.