In the Book
One spring day, I received an invitation for Ben and Amanda
for a summer wedding. The invitation was on a full sheet of paper, folded.
Because of the folds, the first thing I saw was "Amanda in summer." I was instantly
transported to another era. Holding a folded sheet of paper was reminiscent of
an age of letter writing communication. That led me to a woman named Amanda,
toes in the sand on a summer day. Inspiration hit. I wish I’d kept a detailed
account of where my mind wandered. But I didn’t. The complexity of this brief
novella tells the tale.
Three generations of
women…and the secret that strengthens their love.
Imagine summertime, lazy days, lying on the beach
watching the waves roll in and writing a letter to your best friend. Okay, this
is probably totally foreign to some of you. Write a letter? Why not just call
or text? In 1947, you wouldn’t have had that option. Writing a letter was an
art, an intimate exchange and a satisfying pastime. The excitement of waiting
for a reply and checking the mailbox every day was a treat.
Amanda
in the Summer is told through that old-fashioned way of
communicating. Three of my characters are named Amanda, mother, daughter and
granddaughter, and through letters they write to Tilly, over the course of
fifty-seven years, a story of love, pain, secrets and joy unfolds.
We never hear from Tilly, but through the words of the
three Amandas we meet the woman who is the epitome of the forward-thinking
female of her era. She’s a member of the beat generation of the forties and
fifties and holds a secret that affects all three generations of Amandas.
Although each generation has her own voice, the friendship and love remain
constant. But then there’s that secret…
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