Robins In A Peach Tree, An Original Novel

By D. Marie Braggs

Robins In A Peach Tree

{PLEASE REFER TO SUMMARY FOR SYNOPSIS]

Flashes of sadness and dismay, with moments of gaiety and laughter that outweigh the flashes, are incorporated with little profanity or lewd scenarios.  Sub-stories are doused in drama and humor, like the last night this family spends in their Yankee home before moving to the South after the death of the head of their household; the night a young man tells his older brother, as they sit on a park bench, that his wife has died; a mother`s agony as she watches her son laying in a pool of blood following a drive-by; and her elation when he recovers.

Affirmative changes are sought and achieved through their faith in God.  Imbroglios are webbed throughout on various issues. Revelations as to how this extended family copes are especially explored and challenged.

Robins In A Peach Tree is an inclusive story of family-friend bonding unfolding, and molding, amidst different love stories and entanglements.  This love story purports to be a tasteful collage that attempts to convey positive views, family values and moral consciousness in a "lean back" fashion.

Closet Secrets of Harmel Sage
This short story commences with an introduction to the Bodifils, an affluent family from southern New England.  Their roots are in Harmel Sage, a community built substantially by the ingenuity, sweat and financing of an immediate or distant relative. 

Harmel Sage is booming.  Residents are whole and happy.  Uniquely, they maintain noble values of prioritizing family matters over their professions, ventures and quests.  Neighbors are genuinely friendly.  They look out for one another and the children that play in adjacent, front and back yards.  Nadelle Bodifil has lived here all her life. 

As the story progresses, Nadelle awakes from a coma after six months of sleep. She is disoriented and can only remember bits and pieces of her past and the strangers who visit. She recalls that her loving husband of thirty-five years has been murdered in front of her.  Her sister, Preida, and other relatives, comfort her through the grueling transition she faces. 

Atop her memory loss, Nadelle has to disentangle flashes in her mind.  Some of the flashes are from her past.  Others are premonitions of things to come.  Still others are accompanied by voices of loved ones who made confessions and declarations they thought were safely stored away in a secret closet.  That secret closet is Nadelle`s mind.  While surely they prayed Nadelle would awake, the narrators partly believed the closet would never be unlocked.  They have to wonder and worry whether she will remember what they told her. 

Nadelle is not the only oppressed Bodifil.  Preida has marital problems that escalate to her husband trying to kill her.  Lois, their half-sister, comes to her rescue.  Their three brothers, Nate, Badiah and Elliott, have secrets of their own, too.  

The Bodifils bear and share sorrow.  Faith in, and love for, God and family keep them grounded and graced.  As an inspirationalist, I hope readers are encouraged by the Bodifils who demonstrate throughout this short story the importance of both immeasurables.

Let It Rain [In Initial Stage]
Let It Rain continues familiarity with the Bodifil family of southern New England.  In this story, we meet estranged siblings of Nathaniel, the patriarch of Closet Secrets of Harmel Sage.

All of the secrets in this saga are not of Harmel Sage, but find their way when the siblings reunite after decades.  Let It Rain reveals some of them and portrays differences in how the hopefuls deal with knowledge that their secrets have been, or might be, exposed.


D. Marie Braggs
darlenebraggs@aol.com
Doraville, GA (native of New Haven, CT)

(i)   Gospel Poetry Book, Poetic Praises [Completed / Published in cooperation with Gil Publications, 2008].  Samples may be viewed at:  http://www.amazon.com/Licorice-Lyrics-Poetry-Poetic-Praises/dp/0980218500

(ii) Rewrite of published novel, Robins in a Peach Tree [Completed / Unpublished (Original novel was published in cooperation with PublishAmerica 2005; all rights are retained and contract terminated by me by request so I can proceed with rewrite under this new title, as well as alternate promotion)]

(iii)  Short Story, Closet Secrets of Harmel Sage [Completed; Unpublished ( 36 pages, 8,700 words)]

(iv)  Short Story, Let It Rain (Sequel to Closet Secrets of Harmel Sage) [In Initial Stage]

(v) Album of original lyrics and arrangements of inspirational songs, A Cake Unturned [Completed / Unpublished]

Synopsis (or Description) of Projects:

Poetic Praises
LICORICE LYRICS is an inclusive term given to poetic works birthed from my personal experiences, exposures, perceptions and revelations.  The works are diverse in theme and length, and unique in translation and universality.  For more details and excerpts, please visit: http://www.amazon.com/Licorice-Lyrics-Poetry-Poetic-Praises/dp/0980218500/

 

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