Former Things

Book excerpt: On the surface, the relationship breakdown between Emily Preston and her adult daughter, Nicole, seems rooted in a denied request for money. But at the core of their estrangement is a family secret revealed in the heartbreaking, stunningly detailed narrative of Former Things. After learning that she has been left out of her father's will, Nicole abandons her mother, leaving her to grieve for 20 years. At age 70, Emily sells her home and moves to a retirement community where she meets Evan Pierce, a young man who convinces her to search for Nicole to restore the relationship. Emily then rents an RV for the summer, and she and Evan embark on a thousand-mile journey to look for Nicole. On the last leg of their trip, a tragedy occurs -- one that finally brings mother and daughter face to face. Gail Lowe is a staff reporter for the Wakefield Daily Item and Melrose Weekly News in Massachusetts where she writes a column called Reflections from the Lowe Zone. She is also the owner of WordPower, a boutique company offering public relations, marketing and promotional services to the travel and tourism industry. In 2003, she founded Red Rock Writers, a creative writing collaborative. She also teaches writing at colleges in the Greater Boston area. Ms. Lowe lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Tony Giannetto. Publisher's Web site: http: //www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/FormerThings.html