A story of love and loss, lies and truth. The Measure of Life, Women's Fiction by Judith Works Book Tour with Guest Post & Giveaway

 

THE MEASURE OF LIFE

Judith Works

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GENRE:  Women's Fiction

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BLURB:

 

A story of love and loss, lies and truth, begins in Rome when Nicole shares a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor. The meeting sets off a chain of events that upends the course of her life. While Rome also brings deep friendships and immersion into a sumptuous food scene there is no escape from acknowledging the consequences of her actions. In search of forgiveness and healing, she moves to an island near her childhood home in Seattle only to find the way to reunite the remnants of her family and discover her true path is to return to Rome and face the past.

 

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EXCERPT

 Deirdre knocked on the front door right on time. No one in Rome ever showed up on the appointed minute for a social occasion. I opened the door in my violet silk dress and bare feet. “Hang on, I can’t find my shoes and I need to finish my makeup.”

 

“Oh my gosh—I should have said it’s casual. Are you sure about the dress? Remember it’s Vashon.”

 

“I’m dressed now. I haven’t had a chance to go out for months.” I ran upstairs to finish.

 

Deirdre said, “Uh, a bit much for here,” when I returned wearing open-toed platform heels complementing the purple dress. After a pause, she added, “Oh, don’t worry, it’s fine and we’re late anyway.” I could tell she was flustered about something. When we parked in front of the gallery, I could see people holding glasses of wine while they looked at the photos. All looked comfortable in jeans and sweaters like Deirdre. I could feel my face was beginning to match my dress. People paused conversations to welcome Deirdre and her unknown and strangely dressed guest: me. Some stared briefly. Not unkind looks, but more of astonishment their friend had found such an alien.

 

A woman rescued me by saying, “Hi. I’m Meg.”

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Guest Post

A day in the life of a character – the protagonist of The Measure of Life

 

Nicole’s days vary depending on which phase of her life she is navigating.

My protagonist is 25 when she arrives in Rome from Seattle as a trailing spouse with two children and an older husband whose job requires his frequent absence from the family. Her days are filled with trying to get settled, learning about how to cook Italian food, and find her way around the chaotic Eternal City. She soon finds that there’s no such thing as multi-tasking. Not speaking Italian compounds her difficulties. She needs Italian lessons and arranges to meet an instructor to swap English and Italian conversation. Her days change dramatically when she falls in love with him. Now there are meetings that don’t involve Italian grammar, and nights filled with dreams to add to her repetitive chores of childcare and grocery shopping.

Nicole’s next phase is a fall into an isolated life with an infant, a jealous younger daughter, and an increasingly distant aging husband. She often finds solace in a friendship with a neighbor and meets an elderly man in an antique shop. Both help guide her into a meaningful life. Her days are now full as she takes cooking lessons and begins to write about Italian food and lead tours for her expat acquaintances, eventually becoming an advisor to this community. In the evenings, she plots her future return to hometown Seattle and a return to university to prepare for a career when the children are grown.

Nicole’s days change dramatically again when she returns to the Pacific Northwest. Her days now are tangled with unexpected money woes, the complications of living in an old house on an island not in Seattle as she wanted, over-filled with school and work, and the strain of bringing her family together after a rift.

She walks a labyrinth to gain peace and control over her life.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After I earned a law degree in midlife, I had the chance to leave the Forest Service in Oregon and run away to the Circus (Maximus). In reality my husband and I moved to Rome where I worked for the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization for four years as a legal advisor to the director of human resources. I could see the Circus that had hosted chariot races during the Roman Empire from my office window.

 

My husband and I reluctantly returned to the US after four years. But we pined for the land of pasta, vino, art, and sunny piazzas. Then the gods smiled and offered a chance to return to Rome with the UN World Food Program. Six more years or food and frolic in the Eternal City passed much too quickly. The indelible experiences living in Italy and working for the UN were the genesis of my memoir Coins in the Fountain.

 

Social Media Links

 

Website: https://judithworks.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judith.works.5

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worksjudith

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BlueSky: http://www.bluesky.com/WorksJudith

 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-measure-of-life-judith-works/1146224295?ean=9781509257799

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-measure-of-life-1

 

Google: https://play.google.com/store/search?c=books%q=9781509257805

 

Itunes: https://apple.com/us/book/the-measure-of-life/id6673911691

 

 

Books a Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509257799

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

Judith Light will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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