Just Ordinary Beginnings...

How do eight women ever agree on anything? They do when they are on a mission to tell the truth about motherhood! Eight women from several northern Connecticut towns have created a collection of sixteen funny, sad, shocking and heartfelt true stories that span from pregnancy to school days to the dreaded teenage years. 
"Whenever women get together, we always talk about our kids," says Bonnie Quinlan, one of the authors. "But these stories go beyond the usual chit-chat." In fact, the authors have published these stories without identifying who wrote each story, in order to protect the "innocent and not-so-innocent," says Caren Garvan, another of the authors. 
The book took over three years to complete. "Everyone is busy with families, work, homes, aging parents - you name it," says author Linda Spevacek. "We took our time to work on the quality of the writing, as well. We formed a writer's circle, got lots of editing help, and tested the impact of the stories at local book clubs. In fact, it was one reader who begged: 'You have to finish this book because I just want to curl up in bed with it,' who ultimately propelled us into the final stages of publishing a real book."
Then, a final, haunting story literally washed up at the feet of one of the authors on the beach sand of Cape Cod last summer. "My eyes were closed as I relaxed in the sun," says Robin Cournoyer, another author. Suddenly, she heard the voices of the men playing bocce in the surf rise loudly in excitement, "Hey, watch out, it's glass. Wait, there's something in there!" A bottle containing a message from a mother to her daughter had been delivered literally to the feet of one of the authors. "That was clearly a message to us as well," Cournoyer says. "We had to get this book done!" The story Message in a Bottle became a poignant epilogue to the book as it was going to press. 
The eight local authors are: Robin Cournoyer, Caren Garvan, Lael Jacobs, Jeanne Lebens, Bonnie Quinlan, Celia Rose, Linda Spevacek, and Maureen Wolf. 
The public is invited to a special reading/signing event with the authors of Just Ordinary Moms on Thursday May 9 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby, CT. A portion of all sales goes to charities for women and children.