DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Good Graces (PDF)
Whistling in the Dark (PDF)
Land of a Hundred Wonders (PDF)
Tomorrow River (PDF)
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| Lesley with a book club group in Mequon, Wisconsin |
'm floating on air these days, sky high with amazement at the wonderful response Whistling in the Dark, Land of a Hundred Wonders and Tomorrow River have received from reviewers and booksellers and especially—you. I can never thank you enough for your continued support and encouragement! They mean the world to me.
When I sent my debut novel out into the world three years ago, I could only keep my fingers crossed that readers would connect with the story of two little girls stumbling through a bygone era. To my continued astonishment, and gratitude, readers not only enjoyed Whistling in the Dark, they clamored for more!
So fortified by their enthusiasm, my own love of the characters, and some thought provoking issues I wanted to explore, I sat down to write Good Graces.
Admittedly, never having written a sequel, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the prospect. I couldn't have been more surprised when I fell back into the O'Malley sisters' lives as if they were standing on a street corner waiting for me to show up. I suspect it's because I grew up on the west side of Milwaukee during the 1950's in a neighborhood very similar to Vliet Street. The lingo, clothing, and mores of that time are always close. Part of me. As are the sisters, Sally and Troo, and the other characters from the block.
I'm often asked if it's tough to tell a story through the eyes of young narrator. I haven't found it so. Sure, the language of children is less developed, their perceptions are immature, but we share something vital. Emotional cores. I enjoy writing in the voice of a child because the kid in me yearns to connect with the kid in you so we can get down to the nitty-gritty of life—our feelings—without the armor of adulthood getting in the way.
Whistling in the Dark concluded with the sisters having survived a summer spent dealing with their father's sudden death, their mother's remarriage and hospitalization, and their near escape from a child predator. Good Graces picks up during the following summer and deals with the aftermath of those traumas, and presents a slew of new ones.
Yes, the "Good old days" weren't always so. We still face many of the problems today that we grappled with during the 50's. Yet back then, as now, I've found that hope for a better day, and a little humor, brightens those dark places.
I hope you enjoy reading about the further adventures of the O'Malley sisters and the denizens of Vliet Street as much as I enjoyed writing about them again. It felt good to be home.
Hugs and happy reading until then...
Lesley
P.S. If you'd like me to visit with your book club in the greater Milwaukee area or chat about Good Graces, Whistling in the Dark, Land of a Hundred Wonders, or Tomorrow River via speaker phone, please jot me a note at LesleyKagen@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
