BOOKS
Sins of the Parents
Young Marlene Tulloch was born into a world of loss; her mother died just ten days after giving birth due to complications, leaving her to be raised by her cruel grandmother, Estrella. As the third child of Anne and George Tulloch, Marlene was never the son her father desperately wanted, and by the age of two, he had left, leaving her to navigate life without either parent. Despite the abuse and hardships she faced, including a difficult early childhood, Marlene's spirit was buoyed by the kindness of friends and strangers.
At age twelve, she moved in with her older sister Gloria, which marked a turning point in her life. Through perseverance, she overcame the obstacles in her path, eventually becoming a teacher, getting married, and raising four boys of her own. Now, as she confronts her own mortality, Marlene retreats into the memories of her childhood, reflecting on a life marked by struggle but also by incredible strength and resilience. Through the haze of pain, her journey unfolds—a testament to the enduring human spirit.
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Let Go
Seventeen-year-old Madison Brooks grew up in a single-parent household with her mother, Joyce, an aspiring dancer who faced immense challenges after falling in love with CDR Vernal Moody. Joyce met Vernal while volunteering at New York Medical Center in 1988, and their relationship blossomed until he was deployed to Iraq during the Gulf War. Initially reported dead after a tragic accident, Joyce, devastated and pregnant, gave birth to Madison Joy Brooks in August 1991, raising her alone after Vernal's presumed death.
In 2009, as Joyce succumbs to cancer, she uncovers the shocking truth that Vernal is alive. However, their reunion comes too late; she dies before introducing Madison to her father. In her final moments, Joyce expresses a dying wish for Madison to spend a year with Vernal to forge a relationship.
When they finally meet, Madison is confronted by the sudden presence of a father she never knew, feeling both anger and betrayal. As they navigate their complex emotions and the shadow of Joyce’s absence, the question looms: can time and forgiveness bridge the divide between them, or will Madison continue to see Vernal as a Lazarus who should have remained buried in her past?
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Ode to Lillet Rose
This anthology is dedicated to my mother and also to persons who succeed when challenged. The poems are eclectic, inquisitive, daring and sensitive. They are conversational and evokes passion in the reader.