Have you read a story with pure heart and soul? If so, you know it is a gift. That’s what our writers offer in Moments of Love: An Anthology of Stories and Poems.
Thirteen writers offer their honesty, reflections on love, and vulnerability. Take, for example, this excerpt from Karen S. Mittleman’s story “Mulch and Damages.”
As with most marriages, there are rich layers of history here. For most of our twenty-three years together, Bill has tried to please me, in a way that often feels unwelcome and even suffocating. For my part, I have assumed the leading role in our partnership—handling everything from taxes to childcare to vacation planning—often leaving Bill feeling overly “managed.”
Or this in “A Mother’s Love Remembered” by Meri Jo Caggiano:
One day when she was trying to show me how to gently dig out a space between rocks to make room for soil and a plant, a small snake emerged from the hole. I jumped up and screamed, but Mom, not blinking an eye, gently scooped up the snake and relocated it, saying, “Don’t worry. It’s just a garter snake. He’s good for the garden.”
Our writers come from diverse backgrounds, but many have in common what Flo Shore, writer and editor of our anthology, notes: Memoir is a powerful tool for healing and reflection. As memoirists, we can expose varying perspectives and drive attitude change.
Not all of our stories are memoirs, of course. In my short story, “The Bishop’s Gift,” the narrator Chloe reflects on her life during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and her attraction to a man after years of being alone.
She clearly understood that the Bishop resembled Michael with his dark hair, high cheekbones, and deep-set brown eyes, and that explained some of the attraction. She still felt young and desirous of male companionship, although if she were honest, she had to admit that there came with age a certain acceptance that she now enjoyed what youth hadn’t allowed. She had let go of the tiresome ambition to keep striving and demanding more of herself. As the years morphed one into another, it felt easier just being alone with her dog. Now she relished that first cup of coffee in the morning, reading the newspaper, the whole day hers to mold however she wanted…the absence of worry about getting the boys off to school or paying the mortgage.
After a year of writing, editing, and planning with our publisher, our book is now for sale. We are thrilled to offer this collection and the voices of women expressing themselves on issues, contemporary, groundbreaking, and traditional. (Here is more about our publishing journey.) All are members of the Women’s Writing Circle. Special thanks go to my friend and memoir author Marian Beaman for her endorsement of our book. And to Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author, for her support and endorsement.
In “Border Crossing”, a fictional story by Ginger Murphy, a librarian is touched by a mother from Ukraine. She comes into the library with her young daughter, desperate. The librarian offers solace and hope and a path to navigate crucial paperwork, to help her reunite with her husband.
“You have to help us,” Sofiya said after a moment. “My husband tried to come over from Ukraine, too. But he went to Canada first. When he tried to cross the border into the United States, Canadian police would not let him come. I don’t know why.” Brenda watched as Sofiya unzipped the front pocket of her backpack. After extracting a water bottle and several packages of Nabisco peanut butter crackers, she finally pulled out a small yellow photo album. “Here is Symon, my husband. This was taken at our birthday celebration for my mother last year.”
There is a family history in the book, too. In “Grandma Hallman” by Cecilia Leathem, we are introduced to her Czechoslovakian grandmother, Teresa.
Grandma loved growing things and seemed to be able to produce an abundance of vegetables even in the poorest of soil. I do recall that she talked to her plants, admonishing them in her thick accent, “Now you grow.” She delighted in showing them to her grandchildren.
These are just some of the tantalizing excerpts from our book. There are many more stories and wonderful poems, and beautiful images in Moments of Love that complement the writing. Please support women who work hard at their craft, and then go a step further by taking the leap into publishing.
Links to order the book are available. The book is also available for your favorite bookstore or library to order.
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All the best with it, Susan and all contributors.
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Thank you, Margaret, for your good wishes and ongoing support of our Women’s Writing Circle.
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