As I move through the aging process privy to the life experiences of friends, family, self, I feel compelled to share an excerpt from my novel READING TO JANE.   Through laughter, tears, irreverence, and a large dose of life as it is, READING TO JANE combines the  reality of aging, the brashness of youth, the stigma of societal outcasts, and the turmoil of loss into an intricately woven three-part adventure.  READING TO JANE is everyone's story, so real in spots you'll have goose bumps.  

EXCERPT PART II - The knock on the door grew louder and louder.  Eventually she realized it was not part of the dream.  She opened her eyes to the white of moonlight streaking across the black of Daisy the cat tightly curled on the rocker to the side of the window.  She left her robe at the foot of the bed and tip-toed barefoot along the hall past their bedrooms.  The boys were sleeping.  Her daughter’s door was ajar.  Jeans and sweaters were strewn on the unmade bed.  “Must have forgotten her key,” she muttered to the dog at her feet and stumbled downstairs to let her in.  Headlights from the car idling in the driveway illuminated the front porch.  Voices crackled with static from the vehicle’s CB radio.  Two uniformed men pressed their badges against the long, thin side window to the left of the door.  She slid the deadbolt, curled her hand around the cold, brass knob below, and opened the door.  The sweet aroma of burning wood was in the air.

     “Sorry to bother you, ma’am.  Is this the Corrigan residence?”

     “Yes, yes it is.  I’m Mary Corrigan.  Is there a problem, officer?”

In between her question and his answer, Mary reassured herself with the only logical explanation for cops on her front porch at three in the morning. Must be prowlers in the neighborhood.

     “There’s been an accident, ma’am.  Is Jane Corrigan a family member?”

More info and READING TO JANE  trailer www.carolemarshallstudio.com