Momentary Lapse

Book Description

For Lydia Pisani, life is not easy.  By nature an insecure woman, Lydia never really minded that her husband Vic was overbearing and a little demanding.  But when he is killed in an auto accident while commuting to work, and leaves her with sole responsibility of their two children, she knows she has to step up to the plate.  Raising any two small children in this day and age is challenging at best; add into the mix her children – and every day becomes a lesson in self-control.  

Angela is seven years old going on twenty-five.  When she zaps one of her “Get real, Mom” looks in Lydia’s direction, Lydia has to wonder if Angela should rightfully be the mother, and Lydia the child.  And then there’s three-year-old Markie.  Talk about a one-child tornado.  He rips through a room leaving an undeniable path of devastation. 

Angela undergoes a tonsillectomy and Lydia brings her home to recover, hoping for a day of mother-daughter bonding.  Unfortunately, Angela sleeps on the couch all afternoon.  When it’s time to go pick Markie up from daycare, Lydia is faced with a decision:  wake up the patient to drag her along, or leave her sleeping peacefully while she runs out to get Markie.  What turns out to be her momentary lapse in judgment, changes the fabric of her life for a long time to come.

Author's notes:

I loved writing this book.  It was truly a book of my heart.  I found a story that was meaningful to me, and hoped that someone else will find it meaningful too. 

Lydia is so human, with all her flaws and bad decisions.  But I hope readers can relate to the mistakes she makes unintentionally, and sympathize during her journey to recover from those errors.  I was going after a small understandable mistake that turns into a nightmare of unexpected consequences.  I enjoyed writing about Angela and Markie, although I have to say, if they were my kids, they'd either spend 24/7 grounded in their rooms, or I'd have to succumb to those parental discipline techniques of years gone by.  

And good old Officer Bob -- he's a hottie.  Quiet, but strong.  With his steel blue, stunning eyes, my husband actually accused me of having a secret fantasy world about policeman!

It took me about 14 months to write this book, and my agent tried to find a publishing home for it for two solid years!  It made the rounds of the major publishing houses and was rejected soundly.  The fact that it's written in first person Point of View, and is a little short, by mainstream fiction standards, I'm sure did not work in our favor.  I'm thrilled that Publishamerica has published my second book, and gave this story the chance to be told!

Tally:  Momentary Lapse was rejected by twelve agents.  The thirteenth one agreed to represent me.  It was then rejected by twelve publishers, before the thirteenth one, Publishamerica, offered me a publishing contract.

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My friend Judy sure knows how to enjoy a vacation... :)

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