Carousel – My Corner

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

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Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

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I was inspired to feature this song after reading about the passing of Jerry Marsden, who sang it with his group, The Pacemakers. But I’m not too impressed with his version. So, after more searching on YouTube, I found this rendition by Josh Groban, who, in my opinion, interprets the song the way it’s meant to be sung.

According to his website, Grammy award nominee Josh Groban has entertained fans around the world with his albums, DVDs, performances, and appearances in films and television shows. Two of his albums were best-sellers in the past decade. He’s been in such movies as Crazy, Stupid Love, The Hollars, Coffee Town, and Muppets Most Wanted. He has also appeared on NBC’s The Office and Always Sunny in Philadelphia and CBS’s The Crazy Ones. His book, Stage to Stage, talks about his journey from popular music and TV and film to Broadway. You can learn more about him here.

According to Wikipedia, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” published in 1945, was part of the musical, Carousel, written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. It’s performed by a massed chorus of supporters at association football clubs across the globe. This started after the release of the 1963 single by Gerry and the Pacemakers. In some parts of the UK and Europe, it became the anthem of medical staff, first responders, and those in quarantine as a result of the COVID19 pandemic. Click here to learn more. During these uncertain, unpresidented times as a result of the coronavirus and the events in Washington on January 6^th, I hope this song helps you see the golden sky and singing meadowlark at the end of the storm.

By the way, for those of you who use the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, The Red Dress is available for download from their site here. No matter how you read it, please be sure to review it wherever you can. That goes for all my books. Thank you for stopping by. Stay safe, happy, and healthy.

New! The Red Dress

When Eve went to her high school senior prom, she wore a red dress that her mother had made for her. That night, after dancing with the boy of her dreams, she caught him in the act with her best friend. Months later, Eve, a freshman in college, is bullied into giving the dress to her roommate. After her mother finds out, their relationship is never the same again.

Twenty-five years later, Eve, a bestselling author, is happily married with three children. Although her mother suffers from dementia, she still remembers, and Eve still harbors the guilt for giving the dress away. When she receives a Facebook friend request from her old college roommate and an invitation to her twenty-five-year high school class reunion, then meets her former best friend by chance, she must confront the past in order to face the future.

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