Family Secrets
I often write about families,
because those primary intimate relationships seem to be at the heart of human
existence. Even people who seem independent are often strongly connected with
their family members, though they may be separated by time, geography, or
death. These relationships may be positive or negative, but nearly always they
are critically important. They teach us how to interact with others, how to
feel about ourselves, and how to express love.
Imagine a series of
concentric circles, with the innermost ring made of just those few people who
you can stand next to fully exposed, your real self, completely vulnerable, and
still feel safe. These people are usually family members, or others who act as
family. Admission to the inner circle is a rare privilege, only for a handful
of trusted individuals. If something goes wrong with one of these
relationships, it can be utterly devastating. It shakes the circle apart and
everyone is hurt. If the problem isn’t resolved, it can poison the circle for
generations and make the family totally dysfunctional.
Here lies fertile inspiration
for authors of family stories, like me. The drama at the center of family gatherings
makes a fabulous backdrop, and the tension between various conflicted family
members energizes dialogue. Add some mystery and a pinch of romance, and…poof!
We have my latest novel, THE TASTE OF AIR (Red Adept Publishing, September
2016). It’s the story of two sisters who discover their mother has been hiding
a secret life for over forty years. She has a lakeside cottage in Vermont and a
series of complicated relationships with people they have never met.
When my sister and I found out that my mother's name didn't match the one on her birth certificate (a small thing
compared to what Nell and Bridget find out in my book) it set me off thinking.
Did I ever really know her? What was she really like, when she was my age? What
did she go through, that she kept this secret from us forever? What if there
was a lot more to the story? What if…?
That real event influenced the creation of the fictional Reilly
family. And the real families of lots of people in my life contributed to bits
and pieces of other characters. It seems that everyone I know has at least one
family saga in them. Some people have so many melodramatic things happen in
their lives, a fictional version would be criticized as unbelievable. So
writers like me pick and choose from among the tidbits, trying not to overdo
it.
In THE TASTE OF AIR, Nell and
Bridget must learn to accept a new picture of reality as their assumptions
about the past are challenged, and their own lives take on new meaning. Their
inner circle is shaken, and when the earth settles into place again the
landscape looks different. It’s vibrant and glowing with color, and the air
tastes sweet.
If you ever wondered what
your mother is really like, you should read my book. Mary Reilly’s cottage is
vault for family secrets never suspected, and the gateway to change for all
three women.
Release Date September 22, 2016!
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