キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？ しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？ 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな？』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう？もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 06.02.2008
Today I’m interviewing Tina Ann Forkner about her debut novel, Ruby Among Us!
Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art–but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty, can shield her thoughts from the mother she can barely recall. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide the past as Lucy is eager to find it.
From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search of a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.
What she finds is as enigmatic and stirring as it is startling in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.
And now, here’s me and Tina!
If your heroine, Lucy, were a type of flower, what would she be and why?
What an interesting question, especially since garden images are a big part of the scenery in Ruby Among Us. Maybe Lucy would be a Shasta Daisy. The original Shasta Daisy was developed by Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, California which just happens to be nearby the fictional town of La Rosaleda where much of the story occurs. Burbank took such care to cultivate only the brightest, whitest daisy to be used as a garden plant. In some ways, this reminds me of what Lucy’s grandmother, Kitty, tries to do with Lucy as she nurtures and tries to shield her from the world.
How about Lucy's grandmother, Kitty? If she were a flower, what would she be and why?
Kitty is definitely an heirloom Rose. I say heirloom because she is really stuck in a bygone era, which keeps her enslaved by her secrets. She is also sturdy and strong, ready to protect Lucy from harm and she is definitely the most resilient character in Ruby Among Us. And just as a rose has thorns one must get past to enjoy the fragility of the blooms, so does Kitty. Finally, when someone works their way into Kitty’s heart, they see she really is fragile and beautiful inside, like a real rose.
What's your favorite scene from the book?
I have to say that one of my favorite scenes is in Chapter Two (on page 16) when a young Lucy is playing paper dolls with her mother, Ruby. My editor really liked that scene and seemed very touched by the tenderness of that memory for Lucy.
All of my favorite scenes are of Ruby and Lucy together when Ruby was alive and Lucy was very young. That single mom/daughter relationship is so very real to me since I have been down that road with my own daughter before I met my husband, Albert.
Finish this sentence: Writing a novel is like ...
Composing a song or painting a picture. It’s art.
Confession time: What's your favorite chocolate? And if you don't like chocolate, why? (just kidding--if you don't like chocolate, what's your dessert/snack/junk food of choice?)
Who can NOT like chocolate? Hmmm. I love dark chocolate. I love DeBrand truffles the best and I’ve heard they are fat free. The person who said that might have been kidding, but I decided to take them at their word.
I so WISH they were fat-free!
You're off the hotseat! Any parting words?
Thank you for having me and supporting Ruby Among Us. As you know, releasing a first novel is both exciting and scary! Thanks for making it fun and helping to get the word out to readers. Readers can visit me at www.tinaannforkner.com. Come on over!
Camy here: Thanks for being here, Tina!
Today I’m interviewing Tina Ann Forkner about her debut novel, Ruby Among Us!Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art–but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty, can shield her thoughts from the mother she can barely recall. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide the past as Lucy is eager to find it.
From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search of a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.
What she finds is as enigmatic and stirring as it is startling in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.
And now, here’s me and Tina!If your heroine, Lucy, were a type of flower, what would she be and why?
What an interesting question, especially since garden images are a big part of the scenery in Ruby Among Us. Maybe Lucy would be a Shasta Daisy. The original Shasta Daisy was developed by Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, California which just happens to be nearby the fictional town of La Rosaleda where much of the story occurs. Burbank took such care to cultivate only the brightest, whitest daisy to be used as a garden plant. In some ways, this reminds me of what Lucy’s grandmother, Kitty, tries to do with Lucy as she nurtures and tries to shield her from the world.
How about Lucy's grandmother, Kitty? If she were a flower, what would she be and why?
Kitty is definitely an heirloom Rose. I say heirloom because she is really stuck in a bygone era, which keeps her enslaved by her secrets. She is also sturdy and strong, ready to protect Lucy from harm and she is definitely the most resilient character in Ruby Among Us. And just as a rose has thorns one must get past to enjoy the fragility of the blooms, so does Kitty. Finally, when someone works their way into Kitty’s heart, they see she really is fragile and beautiful inside, like a real rose.
What's your favorite scene from the book?
I have to say that one of my favorite scenes is in Chapter Two (on page 16) when a young Lucy is playing paper dolls with her mother, Ruby. My editor really liked that scene and seemed very touched by the tenderness of that memory for Lucy.
All of my favorite scenes are of Ruby and Lucy together when Ruby was alive and Lucy was very young. That single mom/daughter relationship is so very real to me since I have been down that road with my own daughter before I met my husband, Albert.
Finish this sentence: Writing a novel is like ...
Composing a song or painting a picture. It’s art.
Confession time: What's your favorite chocolate? And if you don't like chocolate, why? (just kidding--if you don't like chocolate, what's your dessert/snack/junk food of choice?)
Who can NOT like chocolate? Hmmm. I love dark chocolate. I love DeBrand truffles the best and I’ve heard they are fat free. The person who said that might have been kidding, but I decided to take them at their word.
I so WISH they were fat-free!
You're off the hotseat! Any parting words?
Thank you for having me and supporting Ruby Among Us. As you know, releasing a first novel is both exciting and scary! Thanks for making it fun and helping to get the word out to readers. Readers can visit me at www.tinaannforkner.com. Come on over!
Camy here: Thanks for being here, Tina!