COMING APRIL ‘26

Book cover titled 'Finding Truth with Michael' featuring two black-and-white photographs of a woman, one labeled 'Michael Jackson' and the other 'Darl Centola,' with the subtitle 'A Memoir of Friendship, Faith, and First Love' on a green textured background.

Finding TRUTH WITH MICHAEL

A coming-of-age memoir by
Darls Centola about growing up Jehovah’s Witness in 1970s LA—and forging a tender teenage friendship with Michael Jackson.

“Darls was my first and only friend outside the family, and I treasured the time we spent together. One of the few girls in our school not in awe of Michael, she treated him as just another kid, which he really appreciated.”
— La Toya Jackson, "Growing Up in the Jackson Family "

EARLY REACTIONS FROM READERS

“It’s such a sweet love story, and a special window into the innocent personality of young Michael Jackson and his delicate, unique feelings.”
— K.D.
“As a Michael Jackson super fan, this was an absolute treat. So many never-before-told stories—I feel like it brought me even closer to him.”
— S.P.
“Spiritual abuse is a topic very close to my heart and to see it through the eyes of someone who went through the experience and came out triumphant at the other end was very powerful.”
— C.W.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Darls Centola is a Los Angeles-based trauma therapist, author, and educator with over 25 years of experience helping individuals heal from the lasting effects of high-control religion, spiritual abuse, and adverse religious experiences (AREs).

A former Jehovah’s Witness who walked away to reclaim her autonomy, she brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to her work—specializing in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and trauma-informed care.

Her debut memoir blends personal narrative with cultural insight, chronicling Darls’ coming-of-age inside a restrictive belief system as a Jehovah’s Witness.

It documents her tender friendship with Michael Jackson, forged during high school, where they spent time together and studied as teenage Witnesses.

A woman with long gray hair, wearing a black top and jewelry, standing outdoors in front of green leafy plants with some red berries.

Darls Centola, LCSW

A powerful voice in the growing conversation around faith deconstruction and recovery

Contact Us

Have questions? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Literary & media inquires
Kim Dower
323-655-6023
kimfromla@earthlink.net

Speaking & marketing inquiries
Zuzanna Wilson
415-425-8926
zuzanna@fattypontoon.com