Category: Excerpts

Vain Teenagers #excerpts #Thursday Book Feature

“Mom, where’s my Sugar Shack shirt?”
On a Saturday afternoon in June, Eve Sawyer turned from her computer with a sigh and faced her seventeen–year–old daughter, Julie, who was standing in her home office doorway, fresh from the shower, clad only in a long t–shirt.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy with the proofs for Always that I haven’t gotten around to putting away the laundry. It’s still in the dryer.”
Julie rolled her eyes. “God, I hate having a bestselling author for a mom.”
As she flounced away to the basement to retrieve her shirt, Eve turned back to her computer.
Julie reappeared a few minutes later, the garment slung over her arm. “I found it, Mom. Thanks. I’m running late, so can I use the car to get to work?”
“Sure. I’ll be busy with the proofs this afternoon, so I probably won’t be going out.”
“Thanks, Mom. By the way, the mail’s on the hall table.” Julie gave her mother a quick hug before hurrying upstairs to dress.
Eve shrugged. The only reason Julie had brought in the mail was that she was expecting the monthly issue of a teen magazine she enjoyed reading. Then again, Eve was proud of her daughter. Julie did well in school and would be starting her senior year in the fall. This summer, she’d found a job at a local ice cream parlor.
A few minutes later, Julie came thudding down the stairs and hollered, “See you later, Mom.”
***
Leaving the dog tied outside the store, Eve purchased hamburger and other items. After returning home and putting Ginger in the yard with a bone, she walked into the basement laundry room and groaned. Clean clothes were scattered on the floor and on top of the washer and dryer. She could never understand why the kids couldn’t put everything back in the dryer once they found what they needed.
She’d discussed this with them many times. Julie’s response had always been, “Mom, if you’d only put the clothes away when they’re dry, we wouldn’t have to hunt for them.”
Often, Eve had explained that she wasn’t the maid. She’d reasoned that her writing provided most of the income that paid for the house, food, clothing, and entertainment, and that when there was a deadline, that took priority.
Ashley and Thomas had always promised to try to do better, and Julie had always shrugged and said, “Whatever.”
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The above excerpts are from my latest, The Red Dress. See below for more information. Thank you for reading today.

New! The Red Dress

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A Winter Adventure #Thursday Book Feature #Poetry #Excerpt

The following poem appears in the current issue of The Weekly Avocet. It was also published in my collection, How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver.

You may think this doesn’t look like a poem, and it doesn’t. It is what’s called a prose poem, which means basically that it looks like prose but reads like poetry. You can click the link below the poem to hear me read it.

A Winter Adventure

On a cold, cloudy day, we strap on our skis, boots, head up the trail. I inch along, sure I’ll fall at any minute, as my skis slide through packed snow.

“Left foot right pole, right foot left pole. See if you can go faster,” Dad says. I prefer to keep my slow, plodding pace.

At the top of the hill, we retrace our steps. My feet slide out from under me. I land flat on my back. “Smile,” says my brother, holding the camera.

“Stick that camera where the sun won’t shine,” I want to tell him.

“You’re not falling right. You could get hurt,” he says. I remove the skis, walk the rest of the day.

A Winter Adventure

New! The Red Dress

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Concealed Cane #Poetry #Excerpt #Thursday Book Feature

Today, I’m tooting my own horn instead of reviewing someone else’s book. I know. Sometimes, I can be so vain.

I’m pleased to announce that my poem, “Concealed Cane,” which was originally published in my collection, That’s Life: New and Selected Poems, now appears in the December 2019 issue of Wordgathering. This online journal features fiction, poetry, essays, book reviews, and interviews by and about disabled people.

Because of the magazine’s move to its new headquarters at Syracuse University, the release of the December 2019 issue was delayed until last week. You can visit the publication here.

The poetry section offers recordings of poets reading their work as well as the text of the poem. My poem is displayed this way. Please click here to read it or listen to a recording of me reading it. Enjoy! Thank you for stopping by.

New! The Red Dress

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Hemorrhage #Poetry #Book Excerpt

Today, instead of reviewing someone else’s book, I’m tooting my own horn. The following poem from How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver, gives a brief run-down of the journey my late husband and I took through the labyrinth of recovery and rehabilitation after his strokes. You can read a more detailed account in My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds. Click on the link below the poem to hear me read it.

Hemorrhage

Barely coherent, drenched in sweat, he lay on the floor. “What happened?” I asked. His response was unintelligible.

“I don’t need to go to the hospital,” he told the paramedics. “but if my wife wants me to go, I guess I will.”

“The stroke was caused by bleeding on the right side of his brain,” said the doctor. “He may need surgery.”

“In this case, surgery won’t help,” another doctor told us. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“He’s not strong enough to participate in our rehabilitation program,” said the social worker. “He’ll have to go to a nursing home.”

“I don’t know how much you’ll recover or how long it will take,” a third doctor said. “Continue the therapy, and watch your blood pressure.”

“We’ll work on strengthening your legs and try to get you up and moving,” the therapist promised him.

“They’ve given up on me. I don’t think I’ll ever walk again.”

Hemorrhage

New! The Red Dress

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Those Rotten Rockies #Book Excerpts

With the World Series starting this week, I can’t help thinking about my late husband Bill’s adoration for the Colorado Rockies. This baseball team didn’t always do well. After an especially tough game, Bill would say, “The Rockies are rotten to the core.” But the next day, his ear would be glued to the radio, paying attention to every pitch, catch, and the rare home run.

In 2007, the Rockies made the World Series. They played against the Boston Red Sox. Bill was in his element, sitting in his recliner with his radio broadcasting each day’s game. He’d suffered two strokes that paralyzed his left side, and we’d just realized he would probably never walk again. So, the Rockies’ good fortune couldn’t have come at a better time.

Unfortunately, the players must have let their World Series-making victory go to their heads because the team lost almost every game. When it was finally over, I expected Bill to say, “The Rockies are rotten to the core.” But he didn’t. Life went on. You can read more of our story in My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds.

Bill’s boyish spirit and unwavering support of the Colorado Rockies inspired a minor character in my new novel, The Red Dress. Thomas, my main character Eve’s son, is thirteen years old, and is an avid fan of The Colorado Rockies. In the following excerpts, he demonstrates his frustration after attending a game where they lose, then his eagerness to see them play in Los Angeles while the family is planning a trip to California.

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A few minutes later, as Eve was starting to unload the dishwasher, the back door opened and in came Greg and Thomas, followed by Ginger, who pranced about, wagging her tail.

Greg appeared subdued, and Thomas looked miserable.

“What happened?” asked Eve.

“The Rockies are rotten to the core,” said Thomas.

“In other words, they lost big time,” said Greg.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. What a way to end your birthday, huh?”

“They were way behind by the third inning and stayed that way throughout the entire game,” said Greg. “I wanted to leave at the seventh inning stretch, but this kid still believes in miracles.” He patted Thomas on the shoulder.

***

“Dad, I think the Rockies are playing the Dodgers in L.A. next week. Can we go to the game?”

“We’ll see,” said Greg. “Wait a minute. I thought you said last night the Rockies were rotten to the core.”

“They’ll do better,” said Thomas. “They were just in a slump last night.”

“That’s the spirit,” said Greg with a grin.

***

New! The Red Dress

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Birthday #Poetry

To commemorate National Poetry Day, here’s a poem from My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds. This Friday, October 18^th, my late husband would have turned 76. I wrote this on his 70^th birthday during the last month of his life after he moved to a nursing home when I could no longer care for him at home. Click on the poem’s title to hear me read it.

BIRTHDAY

Gray hair against white pillow,

lips caress my cheek,

his good arm encircles my shoulder.

The odor of peanut butter

scent of his shampoo comfort me.

Seventy years old today, he says he loves me,

kiss soft against my cheek,

as we hold each other,

for who knows how long.

New! The Red Dress

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