Avril's Phoenix

Book excerpt: A normal life can be extraordinary. Avril Bale has a beautiful life with her precious young daughter, a second baby on the way and a caring husband. She has it all, which makes her completely ill-prepared for the tragic loss that completely rocks the foundation of her security, her sense of fairness, and her faith. Each new day, Avril navigates the muddy waters of karma, balance, and belief as she progresses in her suburban pilgrimage towards a path of self-discovery and a new recognition of reality. Slowly, Avril learns to triumph over fear even as she is constantly looking over her shoulder for the next shoe to drop. And through it all, she tirelessly struggles to find a way for hope to fit into life's new equation. In addition to her internal conflicts and personal guilt, Avril must deal with family and friends who don’t know how to handle her tragedy. Avril’s interactions with those around her are alternately heart wrenching, upsetting, and sometimes perversely comedic. And with each fresh day, she comes closer to recovery and claiming her new normal. Follow Avril as she tackles each new challenge with perseverance and humor in a world full of tough questions waiting for understanding. Avril’s Phoenix probes why bad things happen to good people. And beyond exploration, Avril begins to find answers. It is an uplifting, emotional voyage of a woman’s navigation through life following a heartbreak thought impossible to overcome.