Dirty Little Secrets FAQ

Dirty Little Secrets

Paperback

Did you grow up in a hoarded home?

A: No, I didn't. I actually come from a long line of OCDers, although I have known several people who were/are hoarders, so I have an understanding of the psychology behind it. I had a lot of help getting the setting right for Dirty Little Secrets from people who let me borrow their experiences and I couldn't have done it without them.

I have to write a paper on your book. Can you tell me where it was set/how many pages/the major themes.

A: The town isn't named, but I set it in Northern California and it is 212 pages. For everything else, you're going to have to actually read the book.

Do you think that Lucy made the right decision at the end of the book?

A: I think that Lucy made the only decision that she felt she could at the time. Do I think that it was right? Not necessarily. I hoped that she would reach out to her friends for help, but that didn't happen. I like to remind readers that this book isn't a how-to manual, it's the story of one girl in a difficult situation.

Will there be a sequel?

A: Not at this point. I think Lucy's story ended where it needed to end. I did write an "After" chapter that you can read here, but you should ONLY read it once you've finished the book.

I watch those hoarding shows on TV—did you take some of the things in the book from those shows?

A: I wrote Dirty Little Secrets in 2007 and 2008, before any hoarding shows were on TV. I did watch Cynthia Lester's documentary MY MOTHER'S GARDEN for some of the details. I'm always amazed when people on the shows do or say the exact things that are in the book. It just goes to show that many aspects of hoarding follow a predictable pattern. And that I had wonderful advisors on the disorder.

I have a neighbor who is a hoarder and I'm worried about her. What should I do?

A: This is the hardest question to answer and there aren't a lot of resources at this point. Some communities do have hoarding support groups, so you should look around and see if there is one where you live. If you're friendly with this person, reach out and tell them you care and just want to make sure they're safe. If you feel that their life is in danger, you can call the authorities for a well-check visit, but know that if they have no support system, that might make the situation worse and cause them to lose their house completely. In any case, resist the urge to tell them to throw everything away and clean up the whole house right now. You should be primarily concerned with their safety, so make smaller goals—that they have water, power, clean food and a safe place to sleep. The rest can come in small steps.