Four Walls and a Leaky Roof

I've finally settled on a title for my second novel, Four Walls and a Leaky Roof. Editor Susan Malone has had it in hand twice. I have revised and revised. It is now in the competent hands of Createspace where it will have yet another copy edit. We are aiming for a November publishing date. The novel needs a descriptive subtitle. Suggestions are most welcome.

DESCRIPTION:

On a blustery winter night Tulip, a woman with a secret, flees her husband with three children and seeks refuge with Delilah, a friend who has a secret of her own, one that threatens their friendship.

Waitressing in a run-down diner, with no child support, Tulip struggles to provide the basics for her children and longs to create a home where they can be safe. Impulsively purchasing an abandoned house that she can ill afford, she discovers that it too has suffered abuse. With her feisty, can-do attitude she attempts to make the ailing house a home.

Warding off abusers, but falling through the cracks of a failed social system, Tulip is propelled into the arms of a man who has little to give. It is her neighbor Grace, a motherly woman with her own trauma and loss, who nudges Tulip toward repairing her life.

Aided by the friendship and support of Delilah and Grace, Tulip not only survives but discovers that she too has something to give.

AN EXTRAORDINARY, HEARTFELT BOOK

I've been busy writing and editing my second novel, still unnamed, and have not posted for sometime. I've been jogged out of complacency by my  friend and colleague who has published an informative and intimate book--a must read. These are the comments I made on Amazon Books.

Family Entanglement by Ellen Toronto is captivating, poetic, and at times amusing.

It is her story of parenting four boys, the joys and challenges, including her pain and struggles as they leave home. 

Dr. Toronto’s parenting is based on love, yet informed by child development. The book is unique in that the sons and father share their experiences. Readers will be touched by visiting this nurturing family whose children play a prominent, more equal role. 

This is not a how-to-book, yet there is much to be learned.

TULIP

July 9, 2012

An Update:  My second novel “Tulip” is drafted and I am in search of an editor to take it to the next level.

DESCRIPTION: Tulip is a gutsy young woman with three children plots to escape an abusive husband. She is aided by two women whose circumstances, although different, share trauma and loss.. It is Grace, Tulip’s strong and nurturing friend, who eventually needs Tulip’s help. This is a story of women’s tragedies and triumphs— how they survive and help each other to heal.

I’ve been calling the novel “Tulip” since its conception four years ago. Perhaps it’s time to name it. Any suggestions?

WRITERS ON THE RIVER

Sunday November 15, 2011 writing partners Peggy Singer, Susan Morales and I participated in the thirteenth annual Writers on the River event in Monroe, where Fifty-one Michigan authors met at the newly renovated Ellis Library on the bank of the Raisin River.

Friends of the library welcomed us and served a delicious lunch, after which we displayed and sold our works to a steady stream of area residents. It was a family event, with parents and children delighted to meet the authors.

Several mothers and teenage daughters bought copies of “Family at Booknook.” In the novel Sparrow and Finch come of age together and sensitive moral issues are explored; therefore I encouraged these mother-daughter duos to read and discuss the novel together.

Bernie Smith was the vivacious and competent director of Writers on the River. In her emails she explained that she is not a man but a little old woman. A small woman she is, but certainly not old. Writers on the River is part of the legacy she leaves at her retirement. It celebrates the written word, a gift to readers and authors alike.

BEAR RIVER WRITERS' CONFERENCE

“Family at Booknook” is available on Amazon, at Nicola’s in Ann Arbor and the Adrian and Ann Arbor Meijer’s stores, also available on Kindle. Currently I’m engrossed in a rewrite of my second novel.

The Bear River Writers’ Conference has been my summer highlight; Hosted by The University of Michigan, it is held at Camp Michigania on beautiful Walloon Lake. This was my sixth year at the conference.

Richard McCann, professor of Creative Writing at American University and author of memoir, poetry and fiction was the workshop leader for our group of ten. This was my second workshop with Richard, an exceptional teacher, who is open and honest and touches you deeply. This year he was editing a memoir about his mother’s death. “Be in the moment; write the hard stuff, unflinchingly;” is his motto. His words and writing triggered much emotion.

We became a group of mourners, writing about the deaths of our loved ones and supporting each other in our losses.

The last day I felt lighter and did not write about my mother’s death, but about her life, her hard work and ability to persevere. The following is an excerpt:

"RED APPLE NAILS"

I remember my mother’s hands in motion, always in motion, with her delicious apple-red nails, filed almost to a point, polished to perfection—pristine. This, in spite of her cleaning our motel—six rooms, six toilets—scoured by hand, with a rag and Babo. Not even rubber gloves. Several times a day she applied lotion, which diminished the calluses on her hands and kept them almost smooth. She wore little jewelry, only her wedding ring, white gold with a tiny diamond—a gift from my father years after their marriage.

Late Saturday afternoons she relaxed in our tiny living room with her drink of choice, Coke and Jim Beam, manicuring her nails. Mesmerized, I watched her apply two coats of shiny-red. I don’t remember wanting my nails polished. That was for grownups.

WRITING AND READING

I’ve been taking a break from marketing. However, “Family at Booknook” continues to be available at Nicolas Books and the local Meijer stores. I’ve been working on a second novel about an abused woman with three children who at great risk finds the courage to leave a sadistic husband.

I’ve discovered Dan Minock’s creative writing class at Washtenaw Community College. Many have taken the class before. And why not? Dan is a talented gentle soul who recognizes the best in all of us. As a man of humor and nature he has published a book, “Thistle and Other Essays.” The students are diverse; some write daily, others are new converts. A lovely Japanese woman is exploring poetry in English. Four or five writers read each evening and we critic them, focusing on what the piece means to each of us. An added perk: senior citizens can take one course at WCC tuition free.

A reading recommendation: “The Help” by Katheryn Stockett. Set in the 1960s, a naïve young woman in Mississippi interviews Negro maids about their experiences working for white families, riveting.

NETWORKING AT THE DEXTER LIBRARY

December 1st was a frigid, windy evening. Peggy Singer, my writing colleague, and I drove to Dexter and had dinner at Northpoint, a local destination restaurant—good food.


Lisa Ryan and Brenda

Adult Library Director Lisa Ryan greeted us at the Dexter library, where I was to speak. Including myself there were a total of six people in a large room with forty chairs: Lisa, my writing partners—Susan and Peggy, Peggy’s friend Mary and a very late comer. Why so few? Lisa thought it may relate to the fact that it was the week after Thanksgiving and people had Christmas on their minds. And it was COLD! In addition I am an unknown writer and did not contact the media to get an interview about the novel and event.


Peggy, Brenda and Susan

Still, Peggy, Susan and I had the opportunity to visit about the process of writing, about our group and about our books. Margaret Fuchs Singer published a touching yet riveting memoir, “Legacy of a False Promise, A Daughters Reckoning.” Susan Morales recently published a novel “A Bar Room View of Love.” In it a young woman attempts to expose an ashram and finds redemption. Check out their websites under relevant links on this blog.


Mary Higgins

Lisa, a savvy librarian and historian, has her own stories to write and Mary Higgins has written and produced a play. We stressed that writing groups provide structure, support and motivation. Lisa is in the process of establishing such a group at the library. Go Lisa!

What we learned: Many unknown authors, often self-published, send only a description of their books to the library. However, a book cannot be put into the library system without knowing the quality of the prose. This means that a librarian must read the book. A wise tactic for a little known author is to donate a book to the library. Lisa stated that, if a book earns a place on the shelf, her library will purchase another copy.

Intuitively I knew to do this when “Family at Booknook” was published. I donated novels to all the surrounding libraries. Since then, I’ve been invited to speak at Adrian, Saline and now Dexter libraries. All have assured me that they purchased extra copies. As with all writers, I want my novel read, and getting it in libraries is great exposure.