Trail on which a smart person would have remained
Maybe this happens to you, too? You’re breathing out relief because you got through something—and you look back and feel immense gratitude for the help that carried you to the other side. My husband and I have limped through a tough year with a lot of help from our friends, and I’m feeling very grateful. Lots of people have so much more, much worse, with which to contend—I know this. What made it difficult for us was the tumbleweed effect of my husband’s radiation for cancer (successful), very quickly followed by his hip replacement, very quickly followed by knee replacement. And just when we were finished with all that…… my crazy yellow Lab, Scout, took off to roll in a dead deer he’d sniffed out. I went charging into the woods after him, shouting and swearing as I ran, ”Don’t roll in that, don’t eat it, LEAVE IT!” I would have been so, so much smarter to just wait on the trail and let him come back to me after he’d had at it, because a fallen wire fence was six inches high in the undergrowth, an invisible trip wire. I went down hard and knew it was bad when I couldn’t get up, even using a tree trunk for support. Yep, broken right ankle.
attractive and comfy footwear
The offending Lab (once he finished with the deer) came back to check on me, said, “Oops, guess I messed up,” ran ahead and barked frantically at friends who were a quarter of a mile ahead and couldn’t hear me yelling for help. Then Scout ran back and stayed on the trail parallel to where I was—still off trail where I’d chased him—and barked continuously, leading Barb to me.
See? Grace. I had help. Even from the dog.
But much more: I have dear friends who helped me and my husband. Family offered continual support. My brother-in-law, a doctor, looked at countless x-rays and pictures emailed to him this year and gave reassurance when I got scared. Once I sent him a video at midnight to ask if I needed to take my husband to the emergency room. (I didn’t.)
I have a wonderful agent who has been nothing but encouraging and supportive. THE TESTAMENT Of HAROLD’S WIFE has done well, even though I haven’t been on social media as much as authors are supposed to, nor done as many events. Thank you all for that, and for the truly great reviews you have posted. I’m thrilled by how many people have loved the way Louisa makes her way through tragedy (with some help from CarolSue, her chickens, Marvelle, and a splash of Wild Turkey). There’s a stand-alone follow-up novel coming: CarolSue and Gus are the primary narrators this time, although Gary and Louisa speak up, too. Gary’s gotten himself in big trouble, which may not come as a huge surprise, if you’ve read TESTAMENT. CarolSue is living with Louisa. Imagine those two sharing a house with Louisa keeping one giant secret from her sister.
The book is written, and the art department is at work on the cover. Publication is scheduled for August 25, 2020. We’ve finally settled on a title. I preferred The Book of Small Graces, small grace being a term that appears several times in the novel and fits the themes. But my good editor and the sales department said it was important to stick to the original title, The Book of CarolSue, because The Book of Small Graces might be taken to be religious book, which it’s not. Would you make that assumption? Which title do you like better? If you offer an opinion, thank you! I think my editor will read your comments. I know I will!
