Helen Hynson Vettori
( pronounced: HELL-lun HIN-suhn Ve-TOR-ee )
When Helen is not writing a book, she’s reading one. Some of her favorite characters are Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher, Claire and Jamie Fraser, and Alice (in Wonderland). If there is a movie or show associated with one of her favorite books or characters, she might be watching it. Aside from literature and film, she loves art. Viewing it or creating it herself, she can spend hours in her studio. You can find several examples of her paintings along with images from her days as a paramedic at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and emergency management specialist at the Department of Homeland Security in the picture crawl below. However, perhaps the thing she loves to do most is to spend time with her family at home or while traveling.
A former government employee of the Department of Homeland Security, Helen might become your next favorite author due to her unique bona fides. Black Swan Impact is a credible and horrifying tale born from her consternation regarding the United States government’s suboptimal response to SARS CoV-2. Appalled that previous years of planning and preparing for biological incidents, to include pandemics, were overlooked, she wrote the sci-fi political thriller. As a result, readers will find unnerving truths woven throughout this terrifying fiction. Further, with her background as a Senior Medical Intelligence Analyst and paramedic, she provides graphic descriptions with visceral details that compel readers to turn each page with chilling captivation.
The second book Vettori's Black Swan thriller novel series is called Black Swan Shock. It was released on August 15, 2025. Once again, Vettori uses her first responder and emergency manager experience to develop a plot that brings “An intense, futuristic thriller that recalls the best of 1970s disaster cinema” and “… The author, an emergency-services professional, clearly has a taste for disaster fiction, and her take on the calamities erupting around her characters makes them feel real …” -- Kirkus Reviews
The final book in the trilogy is called Black Swan Terror, and it is in the early draft stage.
My Story
My background afforded me unique first-hand knowledge to write the black swan trilogy. As a seventh generation Washingtonian I witnessed and discussed many aspects of the Federal government in the Nation’s Capital throughout my life. I served the National Capital Region first by joining the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad as an EMT/Paramedic. Then Post 9/11, I joined the Department of Homeland Security workforce as the Senior Medical Intelligence Analyst at the Protective Medicine Branch. When that branch was defunded, I transferred to a new position at the National Incident Response Unit. There I performed all aspects of emergency management duties but specialized in planning and preparing for biological incidents to include pandemics. Further, I performed duties as a National Security Professional Program-Emergency Management (NSPP-EM) fellow and was awarded “Employee of the Year” for my roles and responsibilities associated with planning and preparing for biological threats. However, everyone of us in the unit cross trained and worked in all areas of emergency management, so I am very familiar with ensuring continuity of operations/government when challenged by all hazards or threats.
