Twenty-Nine Sneezes by Judythe A. Guarnera
Having an opportunity to guest on Marilyn Meredith’s blog is
ultra-exciting. Given my one published novel, Twenty-Nine Sneezes, I’m in awe of the many mysteries she’s
written.
Since I never wanted to write fiction, it’s not too
surprising I haven’t devoted myself to that endeavor. I love to write but am
happiest when I complete writing projects and send them off for possible
publications in anthologies, newspapers, writing columns, and/or magazines.
I used to envy my husband, Steve, when he was still
teaching/coaching a classroom of kids. Although he put in long hours, fretted
over how to motivate his students, and came home exhausted to begin planning
for the next day, there was always an end in sight. The school year completed,
students moved on. Come fall, he could start over with fresh, young faces. (A
point of clarity, here: he devoted many hours during the summer prepping for
the next year. But the prepping didn’t involve students.)
When I worked as a non-profit program manager, as soon as
one grant was written, the next appeared on my desk. The same was true of
reports, or the multiple ongoing responsibilities I faced. Projects might seem
to be finished, but frequently they just folded into new projects, which
required ongoing attention. No end of the year for me.
No surprise, then, when I retired and began to write
seriously, I looked forward to writing memoir pieces, essays, and short stories,
most of which could be completed in a reasonably short period of time. And then
on to something new. I find that type of writing rewarding and satisfying.
Unlike the drawerful of unfinished novels many writers have,
I have files and folders of short pieces in various stages of development and stacks
of ideas for others.
You might be wondering what pushed me to step out of my
comfort zone and write a novel. For me the answer is simple. My daughter and
her husband adopted four nieces and nephews who had suffered abuse from their
birth mother. As I watched these children, ages 8 to 16, struggle to make sense
of a life without abuse, to try to catch up, to believe they were worthy of love,
I knew I had to write about them.
Although I had background training, which, along with
research, could have supported a non-fiction book on abuse, I decided a fiction
book might be more effective—easier to read, less factual and pedantic.
Although Twenty-Nine Sneezes is not the
story of my adoptive grandchildren’s struggles specifically, it mirrors what
they and other abused children have suffered.
Approaching the story as fiction also made it easier for me
to step back from the personal pain I felt as adoptive grandmother to these
kids. Emily, the abused child shares protagonist status with her grandmother,
Marissa. I tell people Marissa is not me, but the skillful Grandmother I wish I
could have been.
A key mission of the book is to raise the awareness of the
general population that when the door closes on abuse, it is just the beginning
of the journey for the victim and the family of the victim. Both need ongoing
support and understanding.
If you have a book club and would like me to discuss Twenty-Nine Sneezes: A Journey of Healing, please
contact me at: follow.yourheart@sbcglobal.net.
The book is available in paperback and kindle at amazon.com.
It can also be purchased at Volumes of Pleasure Book Shoppe in Los Osos,
Coalesce in Morro Bay, or the Book Nook in Santa Maria.
At the age of
78, Judythe declares herself “too old to die young, which she considers a
benefit to her writing.
Comments
Thanks for the plug. Lida, I'm glad you enjoyed the column. Hope you enjoy the book, too.
Judy