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In This Issue:
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Darcy
and Clare grew up as best friends, sharing trials and triumphs
from preschool through college graduation. Now they’re sharing
an apartment in Boise, Idaho, where Clare just landed a great
job and Darcy is pursuing a teaching certificate. There’s only
one problem: Blaine, Clare’s boyfriend. His chauvinistic,
know-it-all ways set Darcy’s teeth on edge. Darcy vows not to
let Blaine ruin her lifelong friendship with Clare, but when
Blaine insists on moving in, Darcy suddenly finds herself alone.The estranged friends forge ahead on seemingly separate paths. Engaged to Blaine, Clare becomes trapped in ugly family politics and vicious treatment from her fiancé. Darcy finds a temporary home with Karlene, an accident victim seeking live-in help, but a twisted plot soon threatens their safety. Clare’s wedding briefly reunites her with Darcy, yet the friends have never been farther apart. And when Clare finds herself in mortal peril and finally calls on Darcy to help, it might be too late. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What should you do if you suspect someone you know is being abused? 2. What are the signs of abuse? 3. What steps can a woman take to avoid becoming an abuse victim? 4. Where can an abuse victim turn for help? 5. What qualities are important in a friend or in being a friend? TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1. What was the name of the hospital that Darcy took Clare to? 2. Where did Darcy run most mornings? 3. How old are Darcy's twin brother and sister? 4. Which famous tourist town did Darcy and David pass through on their trip north? 5. Where does the art appreciation and service group Clare joins meet? Trivia Answers: 1. St. Luke's 2. Boise High School track 3. Thirteen 4. Sun Valley 5. Cathedral of the Madeline |
1.
What caused you to begin writing this book?During the years I was a newspaper reporter, I became aware of the large number of women who are in abusive relationships. Two of my brothers found themselves in situations where they needed to help a sister-in-law escape such a relationship, then while working as a librarian I befriended a woman who always had ugly bruises on her arms or face, sometimes a black eye, once a shattered cheekbone, and another time a broken arm. I began leaving books dealing with abuse where she couldn't miss seeing them. Legal separation and a restraining order resulted in a months-long hospitalization for her and no charges filed against her husband. Eventually she began confiding in me and when she got the courage to disappear, she called me at work from a pay phone in another state to let me know she was okay, had changed her name, and that I wouldn't hear from her again. A friend of one of my daughters lost a baby because of a beating. I gave a Relief Society lesson once on dealing with abuse and from there spoke to a number of groups on the topic. Each time, one or more women would confide in me afterward concerning their own abusive situations. At almost every General Conference at least one General Authority makes it clear that spousal abuse is not to be tolerated and that men who abuse their wives are not worthy of holding the priesthood. Somehow it all came together, and I knew it was a topic I would one day write about. 2. What do you hope people come away with after reading your book? I hope more people will understand how important it is to be a friend. Abusers tend to isolate their victims from family and friends, and it's important to never stop being a friend. If someone even suspects a friend is being abused, she should persist in keeping some kind of contact with that friend. 3. Are any experiences in the book based on real life? Were any characters based on real people? The characters are all imaginary, but some of the incidents are based on real events that were told to me by real women who experienced them. I changed these events to fit the story and to avoid identifying real victims. 4. What kind of research did you do for this book, and how long did it take? Research for this book took place over more than thirty years. In addition to the women who shared their stories, I spoke with several police officers, two social workers, and an LDS bishop. I also did a lot of online research. I chose to set the story in Boise, Idaho, a city I know fairly well and which works well for the distances needed for some scenes, but I discovered there were details I needed to be more exact, so I called on an online friend, Ida Nelson, who lives in a Boise suburb. Her help was invaluable. I also set part of the story at the May Ranch; Paul and Sharon, who really do run that delightful reunion ranch, kindly agreed to my setting a book in their wonderful small valley. 5. What is the next project you are working on? My next project is an historical novel set in New Mexico during the 1880s. It highlights that period of time when the West was being settled, the country was recovering from the Civil War, and social changes were occurring rapidly due to the expanding railroad system and more efficient communication, along with different ways of looking at race, religion, and women's rights. |
Ingredients:1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 lg. pkg. cream cheese 1 envelope Knox gelatin 1/4 cup warm water 1/2 cup diced celery 1/2 cup diced green onions 1 can lump crab 1/4 tsp curry powder Directions: Melt together the soup and cream cheese over medium heat. When melted, add the gelatin dissolved in the warm water. Stir well and let cool. Add diced celery and green onions. Stir. Add crab and curry powder. Stir. Pour into mold and chill. Serve with crackers. Number of servings: 15 - 30 |
