This heartwarming and powerful Mother's day Ladies of Covington novel will be in bookstores by early April

When a woman and child, fleeing from an abusive ex-husband and father, appear at Amelia's door and introduce themselves as her deceased husband, Thomas' daughter and granddaughter, Amelia's reaction is stunned disbelief, denial, and outright rejection. Rebuffing Hannah and Grace's wise council, Amelia dismisses the possibility of a familty of her own and buries herself in the pain of betrayal and humiliation. Can Amelia rise above her grief and anger? How do they all cope when the abusive ex-spouse appears in Covington? Will Amelia find herself alone again on Mother's Day?

I thought that writer’s block meant that one’s ideas dried up, and a writer would sit and stare at blank paper. Therefore, when I kept having ideas for novels, and although I started four different novels, I wrote about 50 pages of each and lost interest in all of them. This surprised and upset me. I’ve written steadily for the last thirteen years, and there I was, the passion for my work diminished, feeling discouraged and deeply concerned, frightened even.

With two novels for 2007 being edited for publication and another ladies’ novel for 2008 finished, I felt disoriented and alone. So, it is with great pleasure that I tell you that I am happily at work, now, on a ladies novel in which, along with many other events, the ladies travel to and visit Egypt.

I have been fascinated with ancient Egypt all of my adult life. This interest began with a book by Sigmund Freud called Moses and Monotheism. Don’t ask me how this book came into my hands; I don’t remember. I do remember that my children were babies, and they are in over fifty now. In this book, Freud suggests that Moses may have gotten his idea of one God from the iconoclastic, 18th dynasty Pharaoh, Akhenaton, who attempted unsuccessfully to discard the many gods of Egypt for the worship of one god. I went on to read about the discovery of Tel El Amarna, Akhenaton’s capitol city and of course his beautiful wife, Nefertiti. Years later, I watched with awe, as many of you did, the enormous international effort involved in cutting, block by block, and moving the magnificent temple of Rameses at Abu Simbel from its original location near the river to a site inland, where it was reconstructed. This was necessary in order to save it from being swallowed beneath the waters of Lake Nasser, when the Aswan Dam was constructed. As I have never visited Egypt, I thought it was high time that the ladies did. I am happy to say that I am now happily engaged in writing a novel that sparks my interest and enthusiasm. What a terrific way to start the New Year.

Have you ever asked yourself, where is my home? Have you ever, as an adult, tried to go home again? Was it a satisfying experience, or had you let too many years go by and too many changes had transpired?

My immigrant grandparents left the ship to NY in St. Thomas. The year was 1887. The island was part of the Danish West Indies, and ships stopped to refuel at the busy port island of St. Thomas.

When I grew up, the population of the island was 8,000 and St. Thomas was magnificent and unspoiled -- paradise. I loved the island deeply, never tired of its immense beauty. But like so many of us in the early ’50s, I married young and my husband’s work took me away.

I returned and lived on the islands from 1964-1973. There were some changes, but not so great that I could not integrate back into my old life there. I became the Director of Beautification for the V.I. Government. I hosted my own half-hour TV talk show. I had good friends and a great life. In 1972, tourists were shot and killed on a golf course on St Croix and rumors of kidnappings and murder threats were rampant on the islands. Frankly, I panicked, and we moved to Florida.

In 1987, my present husband and I returned to the island, intending to stay. I don’t think I have ever known such depression. So much had changed. I cried often. My island, as I had known it, was gone, as was the life I had known and loved. All my friends and most of my family were gone. Strangers walked the streets and sat behind the desks in Government offices. The island was beautiful. The medical facilities were at an all time low. Crime was rampant. Drugs infested the island.

I no longer belonged. It was crushing, and we left again. In 1995, I returned briefly and again was miserable and left.

I have not been back and will not go again. But, my heart aches for the beauty of the place, the weather, the color of the water and sky, the flowers and fruit, the food that I cannot replace in the US. As I grow older, I long to go back, and know that I cannot! It makes me sad, but that’s just how it is.

I share this photo of Magens Bay with you: a mile- long beach and crystal clear water.

email: jmedlicott@mindspring.com

web: http://www.joanmedlicott.com