Author Spotlight: Helen Hynson Vettori and the Black Swan Thriller Series
From the front lines of emergency response to the high-stakes world of national security, Helen Hynson Vettori has spent her career navigating crises. After serving the National Capital Region as an EMT/Paramedic, she transitioned post-9/11 into a role as a senior medical intelligence analyst for the Department of Homeland Security. (Grace Taylor PR, 2026)
Specializing in biological incident planning and pandemic preparedness, Helen’s expertise earned her Employee of the Year honors for emergency management. Following her retirement, her reflections on the global response to COVID-19 inspired her to pick up the pen and explore the concept of “black swan” events through fiction.
Book Series Spotlight: The Black Swan Thrillers
The Black Swan trilogy blends scientific realism with political tension, exploring how humanity handles the unthinkable. While part of a trilogy, each of these books is designed to be read as a standalone story.
Set in the year 2113, the world has finally recovered from the scars of World War III. Scientific progress is booming, and the future looks bright, until a deadly pandemic emerges to threaten the global population.
Dr. Syia Case, Director of Epidemiology at the NIH, is called to advise President Daniel Piper and the White House Crisis Action Team. As the virus spreads, Syia realizes that the biological threat isn’t the only thing she has to fight. With questionable political maneuvers steering the country into dangerous territory, she must navigate a landscape of ignored warnings and unprepared leadership.
The second installment follows Marla Case, an elite athlete who walks away from her Olympic dreams to find a new purpose. After learning the ropes from a paramedic friend, Marla joins her mother on an academic tour that takes a terrifying turn when a massive earthquake strikes.
Using her physical prowess and newfound medical knowledge, Marla becomes a lifeline for the people of St. Louis, Missouri. However, amidst the chaos of the disaster, she must face a personal tragedy that tests her resilience.
3. Black Swan Terror
The gripping conclusion to the trilogy—coming soon!
Why You Should Read It: With vivid, visceral descriptions and a narrative grounded in firsthand expertise, Vettori’s work is a thought-provoking look at the consequences of being caught unprepared.
SA Examiner 