If you’ve read Jojo Moyes’s book, Paris for One and Other Short Stories, or Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Blue Bedroom, then you’ll have an idea of what’s coming in my new book The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry. Heavily influenced by Rosamunde Pilcher as a young woman, and loving every story she wrote for The Blue Bedroom, I think I fell head-over-heals in love with writing—and wanting to tell stories—after reading her work. Her novels that followed such as The Shell Seekers, Coming Home, and September all inspired me to write stories where relationships and setting are the main drivers of the work. Likewise, Jojo Moyes has been a recent inspiration for my writing.
I’m taking a little bit of a risk and new approach with my collection of short stories and poetry: first, because I’ve only published novels (and a textbook) to date, and two, because I find sharing poetry to be almost as uncomfortable as walking around naked. Poetry is raw and untethered; it’s freeing and heartfelt; it’s scary and comforting at the same time. And, quite frankly, it took a lot of courage for me to share it publicly.
With the new cover photo taken by Grace Clark, I hope this is a book you will want to pick up and read at your leisure. There are 22 total short stories–some shorter than others–and all come from a place where all my work first derives—a place of love.
Special thanks to my kids, Matt and Ellie, who put up with my passion for writing, my husband, with his infinite patience as I tackle these projects, and to my parents for instilling confidence in me to pursue my dreams.
An finally, thank YOU for following along on my writing journey. It means so much to me that you check in regularly to see what I’m up to. So stand by—I’ll let you know when the book is available for sale.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED?
There are 22 total stories as I’m a couple of weeks away from going to press. Here’s a list of what’s in the book with a quick overview of the storyline for each:
The Message in the Bottle: a story about a last ditch effort to find love when internet dating and fix-ups don’t work.
After I Was Dead: a story about a restless ghost who seeks revenge on her young killer.
Dr. DeCarlo’s Patient: a story about an emergency room doctor who may be falling in love for the first time.
Unlost: a story about an older woman who finds a new friendship after the death of her husband.
Elsie’s Day Out: a story about a neglected older woman who finds fast friendship with a passing stranger.
The Girl on the Trapeze: a story told from a man’s perspective about whether or not to give love another chance.
The Ugly Side of People: a story about gossips and judgmental women who misunderstand another woman’s situation.
Sophie’s Ladybug: a story of a young girl whose father goes off to war.
The Postcard: a story of love and forgiveness, and knowing when and how to apologize.
The Spell: a story about a witch who wants to forget a hurtful friendship.
The Beach Cottage: a story about a middle-aged woman who has to figure out whether it’s worth it to save her marriage.
Sarah and Daniel: a story about love and the timing of relationships.
Smashing Pumpkins: a story about a young girl who is angry at her mother for leaving the family and what she does to get back at her.
Contelli’s Mimosa: the original short story on which Beneath the Mimosa Tree is based.
The Fortune Teller: the story about moving on from something you know isn’t right.
Broom: the story of a broom that comes to life and grants a young girl three wishes.
Tears to Funny: the story of an affair between two likable people told in dialog only.
Alberto’s Gravy: the story of the saucy beginning of a relationship.
Life with Nan: the story of a woman who lives with her grandmother in the Cotswolds and what she learns from her and her friends.
Playing with Fire: the story of the Wicked With of the West, her mother, and of course, Dorothy.
The Slump: the story of a Major League baseball pitcher’s slump, the reporter who covers it, and the future Hall-of-Famer who acts as the middle man when things get dicey.
An Untold Love Story: the story of a well-known author as she overcomes a crippling phobia and makes an appearance at a bookstore back in her hometown.
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