Avery Stafford was a woman who knew exactly who she was. The daughter of a congressman, her family's ties to southern wealth and power ran deep. From a young age, Avery had a sense of purpose; a sense that she would always achieve what she set out to do. So when a quick run-in with a strong-willed woman at a nursing home leaves her shaken and with questions about her own … [Read more...]
‘How to Walk Away’ a Touching Tale of Tragedy
Margaret Jacobson's life was nearly perfect. In her late 20's, she was set to start her dream job and enter into the next phase of her relationship with a man she adored. But despite her years of hard work and doing everything she was supposed to, it took only a few chaotic minutes to throw it all into disarray.How to Walk Away by Katherine Center tells the story of … [Read more...]
‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ and the Resiliency of the Human Spirit
Kya Clark had every reason to believe the world was set against her. Left to fend for herself at the age of ten and forced to raise herself in a small, rundown shack in the marshes of coastal North Carolina, Kya lived life in the shadows. Despite her deep longing to step into the light, past experiences taught her that living on the fringe was safer. Yet, the basic human desire … [Read more...]
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Jodi is invisible. Okay, she’s not actually invisible, but she feels like she is. It’s a feeling that started in childhood, when her twin brothers came along and stole the spotlight. It persisted into adolescence, when she did everything she could to be seen, whether by family or strangers. It was, in fact, her desire to be seen that landed her in prison at age 17 for … [Read more...]
Denfeld’s ‘The Child Finder’ a Work of Subtle and Lyrical Beauty
Rene Denfeld, a #30Authors contributor whose novel The Enchanted, was an award-winning lyrical masterpiece, is back. This time, she explores what it means for a child to go missing, the stories they tell themselves to survive, and how the threads of despair can weave their way into everything we do in The Child Finder.At the age of 5, Madison Culver went missing. Three … [Read more...]