Catherine Dougherty, author

Updates on In Polyester Pajamas, my upcoming debut novel:

• Typesetting will be completed soon, maybe even by the end of this weekend
• Front cover has been enhanced and is viewable on the Coming Soon page of this site
• Draft of back cover has been created and includes a description of the novel, along with a great recommendation (“blurb”) by Jennifer Niven, a very successful, award-winning author (Find out more about her at www.jenniferniven.com)

After typesetting is done and proofs are created, I’ll meet with my publisher (Briona Glen Publishing) to review everything before the book is released.

We’re right on schedule. Publication is anticipated this very month. We’re only weeks away now! (I think I’m about to faint!)

To follow up on my last blog post, here is the rest of Chapter 1 of In Polyester Pajamas, my debut novel due to be released this June by Briona Glen Publishing:

                                                       * * *
Just a week after graduation, Brian left for California, even though I had tried to convince him to stay.

“Jobs are tough over there,” I commented. “Wouldn’t it be better to stay at least through the summer and save up some money first? Maybe even try to land a job before you leave?”

But he wouldn’t listen. Brian was stubborn, a trait I’m afraid he inherited from me.

As for Bob, he left me right before Thanksgiving, only months after Brian did. I guess he figured there wasn’t any sense hanging around anymore since the kids were gone. And besides that and our screaming matches, I found out there were other reasons.

He came up to me one evening while I was lazing in front of the flat screen TV enjoying an episode of House Hunters. I’m a realtor, so that’s my favorite show, and Bob knows not to interrupt me while I’m watching it, so I was immediately annoyed.

“Hey, wait till the commercial,” I snapped at him in my usual bitchy way.

He reached for the remote on the coffee table in front of me and shut the show off.

Now I was really mad! But when I looked up at him to bitch some more, I saw the suitcase in his hand.

“Where are you going? What’s happening?” I was afraid to hear what I feared he’d say next.

“I’m leaving. I can’t stand your negative nature anymore. And, and….”

“And you have a girlfriend, right?” I shouted back. I was hoping he didn’t, but I already had my suspicions.

“Jean, I don’t want to hurt you, but it’s no good between us.” He looked away for a moment, then gathered up enough nerve to look at me again and said, “I’m sorry, but yeah, I do have someone else, and I want a divorce so I can marry her.”

BOOM! It was like a two-by-four hit me in the gut. All of the air shot out of me as I burst into tears. I always suspected he’d leave me, but when it really happened, when I heard him speak those words…

Bob had a sad expression on his face and started to come towards me like he wanted to comfort me, but he didn’t. Instead, he turned and walked away, suitcase still in hand. He headed to the front door, and then he was gone, just like that, without saying anything else.

That was six months ago. The divorce papers were served to me soon after, and now we’re in the middle of a bitter divorce. 

And I’m still REALLY PISSED OFF about the whole thing and want revenge. Oh, I’m sure he’ll get the divorce, eventually, but I’m not going to make it easy for him. By the time my lawyer is finished with him, he’ll be lucky if he can rub two pennies together. Then we’ll see just how happy he is with that new woman of his, who, by the way, I have since found out is a bimbo blonde and at least 10 years younger than me.

Oh yeah, revenge. I know how to play that game. And my lawyer is the best around—I made sure of that. She hates men and goes in deep for the pockets. I’ve already gotten the house and most of the furniture. Now we’re pushing for additional compensation. After all, he is an adulterer. If he wants happiness, I want money. Fair is fair.

The only problem is that none of this is making me feel any better. Despite my outer defensive mechanisms, I’m still alone and miserable.

Despite being very nervous about this, the time has finally come for me to share an excerpt from IN POLYESTER PAJAMAS, my first novel that is soon-to-be released by Briona Glen Publishing. It’s just the first few paragraphs, but you won’t have to wait long now to read the rest of it! Enjoy!

1

It wasn’t long after turning the big 5-0 when my life started to change. The birthday celebration itself was great, and it was the first time in a long time that I started believing my husband Bob and I might work things out between us. Our relationship had been rocky for quite a while, like for the entire 32 years of our marriage, but then, well, he planned this whole big party for me and invited all of the neighbors. Brian, our youngest son was there, too, and although our oldest, Robbie, couldn’t join in because he was living across the country in L.A., he did call during the evening and kidded me with a few “old lady” jokes.

I can remember walking into our dark house after work, no one appearing to be home, and I was depressed. I didn’t think Bob even cared it was my birthday, so I didn’t expect him to remember. And Brian had been so busy with upcoming finals.

But before I had even reached for the light switch inside the entryway, the lights came on suddenly and about a dozen people jumped up from behind the furniture.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” they all shouted in unison.

Everyone’s eyes were on me. Black balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling, and the house was noisy and lively for a change. The depressive mood I had been in earlier disappeared, and I was feeling happy.

Then Bob stepped forward holding onto a large birthday cake, frosted in black, with JEAN and OVER THE HILL in purple icing on it. It was adorned with many candles. He placed the cake on a nearby table, pulled out a lighter from his pants pocket, and quickly lit the candles for me to blow out before they all melted onto the cake.

When I failed to extinguish them in one breath, I glanced up at him and noticed he was smiling. I hadn’t seen that smile in a long time. And by the way he was acting, he seemed happy, too. No one there would’ve ever believed we hadn’t slept together for close to a year. Maybe, just maybe, this night would be different and we could start enjoying each other’s company again. What a birthday present that would be!

Right after the appetizers and cake were eaten, a few drinks were consumed, and all of the well wishes and recent gossip had been shared, the guests left. Before I even had a chance to thank Bob for the wonderful evening, he quickly took down the decorations and announced he was heading out, something work-related, and he’d be back late.

So much for a romantic evening, I thought. I should’ve known better.

Then Brian, who was graduating from art school in less than two weeks, sat down next to me on the couch and told me he had made the decision to leave New Hampshire. He planned on purchasing a one-way ticket to L.A. to join his brother.

“Does Dad know?” I asked.

“Yes, I mentioned it to him already. He thinks it’s a good idea.”

Figures!

“When exactly?” By my tone of voice, he could tell I wasn’t in favor of this.

“As soon as possible,” he replied sarcastically. “Besides, I can’t stand living here anymore!”

Ouch! That hurt! I didn’t have to ask him what that meant. Unfortunately, Brian had witnessed many of the screaming arguments Bob and I had had over the years.

Having done his duty helping me finish with the cleaning up, and having said what he had to say, Brian also departed to join his friends wherever they were hanging out that evening.

Now I was really alone. The depression was back. The happiness was gone.

All I can remember thinking is “Whoever said life gets easier after 50 lied.”

Those of you who have lost a mom through death can understand how Mother’s Day feels without one!

That pang of sorrow and loss, especially on Mother’s Day, is one of those “dreaded crosses” that I mention in the poem below. I wrote it soon after my mom died in the summer of 2001. 

For those of you missing your own mother, just remember that although she’s not physically here anymore, the spirit of her will always be in your heart. (Behold, not alone!)

CROSSES

The summer
was hot and dry.
So quickly the days passed by
headed toward the mourning;
losing the illusionary grasp
of time remaining.

we watched as
our mother drifted in
and out of different worlds,
under the influence of morphine
that killed the pain,
not knowing which world was real.

our mother
—a strong-willed lady
with a faith that held us together
through years of ups and downs,
now fragile and tired,
defeated by the cancer within.

died.
We stood bravely by her
encouraging her to move on.
She agreed peacefully, leaving us
to carry our own dreaded crosses.
But behold, not alone!

I can remember telling people how I wanted to write a book, but for years I hadn’t even started the first sentence of it. Instead, I concentrated on journal entries, short stories, poems, etc. Okay, maybe I wasn’t writing it yet, but I was always writing something. Someday . . . Someday . . .

Then, after a lot of procrastination, the first line came to me and I began that book, only to stop many times because it seemed like more than I could handle. The characters were good cheerleaders, though. They kept talking inside my head, urging me on. And as I continued to write about them, they became good friends that I just had to get to know better.

At some point in the process, I even began to forget about the writing part altogether. I would sit at my computer, my hands would move across the keyboard, words would appear on my screen, but it never occurred to me that I was actually doing anything other than reading along.

(There’s nothing like getting fully involved in the story during the process. Hours fly by and seem like minutes, the task of writing is forgotten, and the most important thing is to find out what happens next with the characters.)

That book that I always vowed to write is a women’s contemporary novel and took me over five years to finish. The first draft of its sequel is currently in the process and almost done. I’ve been working on that for only six months now. It just goes to show that when a person accomplishes something once, they gain enough confidence to know that they can do it again.

In Polyester Pajamas will be released by Briona Glen Publishing (they’re awesome!) and available to purchase in both e-book and trade paperback soon.

I can’t wait until you meet my two good friends, Jean and Rosie (main characters). They are both middle-aged realtors, different in almost every way, and Jean, who’s quite the negative sort, can’t even stand Rosie. But despite her feelings, something magical begins to evolve. You’ll have to wait just a little while longer to find out more.

Right now, I’m waiting for my line edits—they’re due this week. After that comes typesetting and proof. We’re getting down to the finish line, so I’m also starting to set up book signings and events. Life is getting busier and more exciting by the moment!

Many of my friends have bucket lists, either written down or in their heads, of things that they want to do before they die.

But what about a literary bucket list? I was surprised to find out that many people already have one of those also.

That’s why I decided this week to create my own literary bucket list—a list of the books that I still want to read this year (a lifetime list would be too long). Of course, I’ll keep adding titles to it along the way since my reading average is about 50 books/year.

Here’s my list so far:

1. Peyton Place by Grace Metalius – I’ve just started this book—a 1956 paperback version, pages yellowed, bought in a used bookstore for $2. I can’t believe that it has taken me so long to read this particular novel. So far I have mixed feelings about what I think of it.
2. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – I’ve read many Steinbeck novels (loved them all), but not this one yet. It’s about time, don’t you think?
3. John Steinbeck Working Days-The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath edited by Robert DeMott (NF) – Found this recently in a bookstore and will read it along with Grapes of Wrath. It’ll be interesting to know more about what Steinbeck was thinking when he wrote the novel.
4. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (NF) – This one was recommended by a friend who enjoyed it while she was in Paris. She said that I would enjoy it also since Hemingway references his writing life and the writing process in it.
5. As We Are Now by May Sarton – The author made her homestead for a while in Nelson, NH and is now buried there (died in 1995). She wrote 50+ books, as well as many poems. This particular novel is about an old woman trying to keep alive in a nursing home. It sounded very interesting to me, so I bought it recently at another used bookstore.
6. Here, There and Otherwhere by Phyl Manning (NF) – This is a collection of the author’s experiences traveling and working in some “extraordinary places.” I am currently reading and enjoying it. (Published by Briona Glen Publishing)
7. Arctic Circle by Phyl Manning – Another book by Phyl recently released by Briona Glen Publishing. I just received it in the mail today from Amazon. It’s a historical fiction filled with lots of adventure. Sounds like a great read!
8. The SweetGum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo – This is the second novel in a series about the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. FYI – I enjoy knitting novels of all kinds. (I also enjoy knitting.)
9. A Born Maniac, or Puddle’s Progress by Ruth Doan MacDougall – This is the 4th sequel to The Cheerleader series by this NH author. I’ve read and enjoyed all of the others in the series.
10. Finding Sara by Nancy DeMarco – This is available now as an e-book and will be available any day now in trade paperback. I read the first few chapters at Amazon since I don’t have an e-reader yet and now I’m waiting for the print version to purchase. The chapters that I did read grabbed my interest right from the start. This is another great Briona Glen Publishing book.
11. The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler – Anne Tyler is my all-time favorite fiction author. I just love all of her novels, along with all of the quirky characters in them. I am thrilled that there is a new one out and I have to get it!
12. Following Atticus, Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and An Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan (NF) – Everyone that I know that has read this book so far has enjoyed it. It is about the adventures of the author and his small dog as they hike through the NH mountains.
13. Fortune’s Rock by Anita Shreve – This will be the third novel that I will have read by this author who has also become a favorite of mine.
14. On a Wing and a Dare by Linda Ulleseit – This Briona Glen Publishing title has not been released yet, but will be available in the very near future. It’s a YA fiction novel and I’m looking forward to reading it.
15. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James – Okay, I had include this one since I keep hearing about it. This “sizzler” is actually a trilogy and has peaked my interest. I’m curious to find out what all the hype is about. It’s not usually what I tend to read, but, hey, why not check it out?

Okay, that’s the list for now. Any suggestions as to what else to add?

Current Briona Glen Publishing authors: Dale T. Phillips, Donald Michael Platt, Deborah Monk, Ann Everett, Phyl Manning, Nancy DeMarco, Linda Ulleseit and Catherine Dougherty (me!). I’ve purchased and read all of the trade paperback books that they’ve released so far and have enjoyed every one of them.

Do you remember going to school with kids that always wore the same clothing every day? Did you ever wonder why they didn’t change those clothes?

Back when I was in school, it never occurred to me that maybe they didn’t own any other clothing. Maybe those worn out shoes that they were wearing, the ones with holes in the soles, were the only pair that they owned.

Reading the newly released autobiography Ora’s Boy by James Novak had quite an impact on me and caused many emotions to stir. He was one of those kids that didn’t have much—no extra clothing, no money to his name, no happy family life.

The author grew up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, the same area where I grew up in and where I still live. He is older than I am, somewhere between my age and my parents ages, and maybe my mother even knew him. His name was different when he was a child.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are at all familiar with the Lakes Region. He references many landmarks and several people’s names.

It is a very emotional story, it will stir up many of your own feelings, but it will also prove that there can still be hope despite the odds. To find out more about the author and where you can purchase his book, visit his website at www.jamesjnovak.com.

When I was in the real estate business, there was a realtor about the same age as the author that told me about his own life growing up in the area. It was a tough life for him also. He was poor and came from a broken family. He shared with me a picture of himself when was about six years old—a disheveled and sad looking boy. It broke my heart just imagining the conditions of his life then.

It also spurred me to write the following poem:

A Child’s Survival

Oftentimes, I travel to far-off distant lands
Inside myself, to a world where I can be
Free of loneliness and poverty
Where there’s no lack of attention, no reason for tears
No promises are broken, no childhood fears
Within this heaven-realm, there are no hungry nights
No drunken father, no family fights
Where God becomes real, love is more than a word
And I am assured that all my prayers have been heard
I have to say that I prefer this view
Of a place where wishes can actually come true
Inside of me, in not-so-far-off distant lands