I’ve been thinking a lot about life and death this week. A very dear friend of mine is saying good-bye to her mother after a devastating stroke. The pain in my friend’s face as she is hugging her non-responsive mother for what may be the last time is exquisitely beautiful in a raw and primitive way. Anyway who reads my books knows that I write about death a lot. Wait For Me focused on reincarnation, Because of Dylan explored the death of an old friend, Lost and Found in Laurel Ridge zeroed in on the guilt and eventual acceptance of the death of a loved one. I’ve always found death and the way we deal with it a compelling topic. I suppose working around it for so many years has made me somewhat pragmatic, understanding that it is inevitable; it’s also incredibly unifying. We all will die despite our economic standing, how many books we’ve sold, or the credentials behind our names. Most of my patients who have been facing death are quite accepting towards the end. Whether it is because they are tired of being in pain or looking forward to the possibility of seeing those who have gone on before them, I’m not sure. I just know that the majority of my patients have expressed to me that they are ready to see what waits for them beyond this world. Where the difference comes is in the way those left behind handle the loss. Each time one of my friends loses a parent (I’m unfortunately at that age now) or even worse, a spouse or child, I’m riveted by their responses. It’s so unique and beautiful and awful….why are some people made stronger while others never recover? Why are some people angry while others are accepting? Why do some people want to talk about it while others are supremely uncomfortable with the topic? I don’t know the answer to any of my questions. I have no jewels of wisdom to pass along. Maybe that’s why I write so much about death. I doubt that I’ll ever figure it all out but there is comfort in the exploration.
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Semi-comfortable yet?
I love my husband. I just wanted to put that out there before I go any further. He’s a timeless jock with a heart of gold and shows his love through his actions. When I was a young, very poor, woman, in my first apartment and facing a Christmas without any means to celebrate, he surprised me with a Christmas tree and box of lights and ornaments. I knew that night that I would marry him. How could any woman pass up somebody that kind? He’s quite a guy. He is not, however, the smoothest talker in the world. He often says things that make my eyebrows jerk together. Tonight, as I tried my protect myself against the Midwestern winter winds by turning on our fireplace, he asked me one of those very unsmooth questions. “Are you semi-comfortable yet?” He was warm and wanted to turn the fireplace off. Was I semi-comfortable? Is that the best it’s going to get for me? Not “comfortable” just “semi-comfortable.” I could have been irritated at his question, but I just filed it away in the dialogue folder in my brain. You see, I am surrounded by an odd assortment of people who say odd things often. If you’re a fan of my books, you know that my male characters are often not sophisticated or smooth and sometimes trip over their own words. In Lost and Found in Laurel Ridge, when Trey calls Erin “boo” and she says “What have I told you about that?”—–that comes right out of my own life. In Wait for Me, when Kevin’s dad says “I-talian” with a long “i”—yep, that’s my dad talking. I don’t have to go searching for inspiration; these people I love are feeding me the words constantly. Semi-comfortable yet? I will find a place for that question in one of my future books. Now, excuse me while I put on a second layer of socks.
Lost and Found in Laurel Ridge
My newest book, Lost and Found in Laurel Ridge, is now available on Amazon.com. I always knew that I wanted to write a book set in Appalachia because this is where my family tree is rooted. Many years ago I started researching my family history and was pleased to find that my ancestors settled this country. Mainly immigrants from the British Isles, my ancestors left their respective countries (England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales) behind to try for a better life. They fought in the American Revolution and settled Kentucky, Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Tennessee. When I wrote this new book all I had to do was shake my family tree for characters. One of my ancestors really did have his lunacy papers signed by John Hancock. That is quite a claim to fame! The character of Miss Bird is based on my own great-grandmother. She passed away when I was just two years old, so I took literary liberties, but I wanted to honor her by writing about a strong female who spoke her mind, met challenges head-on, and believed in love and loyalty above all else. The main male character, Jack, is a conglomeration of many of my male relatives who have the Appalachian spirit in their blood. They are blunt, big talkers, moody, and eschew anything popular and in-style. My dad recently told me that I’m an “attractive, middle-aged woman.” He meant it as a compliment. When I developed Jack, I had him, my brothers, my uncles, my cousins, and even my sons in mind. I have frequently described them all as missing a portion of their frontal lobe. They can be charming and charismatic and often draw people to them with their energy but their tendency to speak their minds at any costs mandates that you develop a thick skin. I wanted my main character of Erin to come to Laurel Ridge fragile and timid. I wanted her to be hurt and angered by Jack’s manner. Her personal growth includes learning what makes a man like Jack tick, which is not dissimilar to my own journey with my family. I hope you enjoy Lost and Found in Laurel Ridge.
Sandy Huth 