Gracie's Secret
by Lorelie Rozzano
Book Genre: Children's Ficton
Publisher: Edgewood Publishing
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Description:
Meet Grace. At nine years old she has a big secret. Grace knows first-hand that life can be difficult. Her parents aren't very happy. Their arguing is giving her a stomach ache. She spends a lot of time alone, worrying. Are her parents problems her fault? Had she done something wrong? Grace pretends everything is fine, but it's not. She feels helpless and has learned that making things up is easier than telling the truth. One big question haunts her every day. Will her family ever be happy again?
This book is perfect for a child with a difficult home life. Divorce, addiction, mental health issues and more can cause children to feel alone, anxious and afraid. Gracie's Secret addresses this by showing kids they aren't alone, and that they can feel better. With a workbook section for kids to understand their own issues and a message that talking to a safe person will help, Gracie's story can help kids cope.
Excerpt:
"Grace wished she could take Cameron and run far away. She held him close and hummed, hoping to cover the noise of their parent's yelling so he could fall asleep.
Her stomach was hurting again.
The raised voices below them were joined by a crash. She plugged her ears.
Her bedroom was so dark she thought it might swallow her up.
Grace closed her eyes, trying to stay calm as she imagined what was going downstairs. Her eyes blinked back open, not able to stay closed. She remained upright in bed for most the night."
An Interview with Lorelie Rozzano
What inspired you to write Gracie's Secret?
I got the idea to write Gracie's Secret from my granddaughter Emma and some children I knew who had lost their mother. These kids wanted to talk about it. They mentioned that people got funny and changed the subject when they tried. They heard things like 'don't worry, she's still with you.' They drew pictures of their Mom and came to my door every morning to see how the book was progressing. It was very apparent that not only were these kids eager to talk about their feelings, they needed too in order to heal.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I had fleeting thoughts of being a writer but never more than that. I couldn't imagine how one sat down and wrote a book! It wasn't until I finished Gracie's Secret that I knew I really could. After Gracie's Secret I wrote a series of books on addiction, Jagged Little Edges and Jagged Little Lies. I'm currently writing book three in this series now.
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
I was five or six and it was The Bobbsie Twins. I loved it! It opened up a whole new world for me!
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I like many genres, mystery, thriller, medical mysteries. I also like auto-biographies and books about addiction.
What is your favorite book?
I don't have one favorite book. I have many favorites. The Stand, Odd Thomas and the series, Green Eggs and Ham and Jagged Little Edges are just a few.
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
I really don't have one favorite author, but there are some I like more than others. Harlan Coben, Jeff Abbot, Lindsay Barclay, Dean Koontz, Stephen King and James Patterson would be at the top of my list.
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
I would travel back to me as a little girl. I would tell her all the things I've learned as a woman. I would let her know she was loveable and precious. But most importantly, I would tell her Gracie's Secret because then no matter what was happening around her, she would be okay.
When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
It's both. When I sit down to write I have an idea of what it will look like. However, that is often changed mid-stream. If I don't fight the process and allow the creative side of me to rule, it is so much easier!
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
I do. I love animals! I have a pug, she is three years old. Her name is Maddy. She is a comical delight. There's nothing like coming home after a hard day's work to a bouncy, tail-wagging, excited little fur baby!
What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Hmm? There's a few! I am completely addicted to Chic Boom Pop popcorn. I love frozen yogurt. A slice of lemon loaf and a tall Starbucks, now that's to die for
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
I do. One of the things that kept me from starting my first book was I didn't know what it would look like, or say. I thought writing a book, was like reading a book. You had to know what was on the pages before sitting down to write them. Well that's not true. If you want to write a book just sit down and start. Write a sentence. Then write another one. Soon you'll have a paragraph and then a page. It doesn't matter if it's the first page or last page of the book. Just keep at it and eventually, if it's meant to happen, the story will start to write itself!
About the Author:
My name is Lorelie Rozzano and I'm a recovering addict. Seventeen years ago I took the most difficult walk of my life - through the doors of a local treatment centre. I found in recovery, what I'd been looking for in alcohol and drugs. Finally, my skin fit! I'm an author, mother, wife, grandmother, foster parent, sister, family counsellor and daughter. Growing up in an alcoholic home I understand first-hand, the importance of a healthy family. I began working at the Edgewood Treatment Centre for addiction in 1998 and have had the privilege of working with both patients and their families. I'm passionate about helping others whose lives like mine, have been affected by addiction. In the past few years I've created a blog, Jagged Little Edges - living in a world of hope, and written three fiction books: Gracie's Secret, Jagged Little Edges, and Jagged Little Lies. My hope is that the honesty found in my books and and on my blog, will help those dealing with unhealthy behaviours and addiction. After all, I truly believe if I can get clean, anyone can. I'm currently working on book three in the Jagged series
Giveaway:
Gracie's Secret Ebook
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