Play & Book Excerpts
Below are selected scenes from original plays as well as book excerpts.
Thanks to all who shared their work.
Click on photo or book cover to view excerpt.
Thanks to all who shared their work.
Click on photo or book cover to view excerpt.
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NEW! Excerpt from: Fixing the Fates (She Writes Press) by Diane Dewey. This memoir is "a remarkable story of family secrets and the turmoil that follows when those lies are unraveled. Dewey’s writing is vivid, honest, and transportive...her search for answers is inspiring and intriguing, and the lessons learned are powerful. Life, indeed, is unpredictable," writes Dinty W. Moore, author of Between Panic & Desire.
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NEW! Excerpt from: False Step (Lake Union Publishing) by bestselling author Victoria Helen Stone. This story is compelling, suspenseful and full of unexpected twists. It's an empowering story of a woman's grit under extraordinary circumstances. Victoria's bestselling, critically-acclaimed novel, Jane Doe, has been optioned for TV development by Sony Pictures TV and Exhibit A. Other bestselling titles: Evelyn, After and Half Past.
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NEW! Excerpt from: The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets (Graydon House) by award-winning author Molly Fader. This novel is about the ties that bind family and the power of secrets to hold us back or set us free. "Mesmerizing and soul-searching. A story that makes you believe in the power of family," says Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author.
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Excerpt from: Last Summer (Lake Union Publishing) by Wall Street Journal, Amazon Charts, and #1 Amazon Kindle bestselling author Kerry Lonsdale. Kerry's latest novel examines the impact of trauma and the lengths we go to in order to protect ourselves from difficult truths. Kerry's books are sold worldwide and have been translated into 24 languages. She is co-founder of the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
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Excerpt from: Mania Mysteries: A Grief Journal (Prose Press) by Cat Greenstreet. Cat shares her journey in this memoir - from sharing the experience of being psychotic, to stepping back and analyzing the underlying destabilizing factors that caused the event, and, finally, revealing through journal entries, essays, and poetry her movement toward recovery and greater resilience.
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Excerpt from: Sylvan Elf Chronicles: Journey for Survival - Messengers of Fate, Book 2 (Fulton Books, Inc.) by Christianne Van Keuren. This is the second book in a YA fantasy series that tells the gripping story of Kaleen, a brave elf on a journey to save her life and her land from total destruction. The time for training is over, and the toughest journey of Kaleen's life must begin.
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Excerpt from: But My Brain Had Other Ideas: A Memoir of Recovery from Brain Injury (She Writes Press) by Deb Brandon. Unlike other memoirs that focus on injury crises and acute recovery, this memoir follows Deb's story all the way through to long-term recovery, revealing her struggles - without sugarcoating or sentimentality - as well as her ultimate triumph. Deb is a textile artist whose work and interview can be found in the July issue of Sanctuary HERE.
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Excerpt from: Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale (WriteLife Publishing) by Donna O'Donnell Figurski. In her debut memoir, Donna recalls the moment she was thrust onto the path of caregiver for her best friend and the love of her life - her husband, David. Donna has said that taking on the role of caregiver was unexpected and crippling. "I felt like an ill-equipped lifeguard in a deep, rough ocean with a struggling victim."
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Excerpt from: Relative Fortunes (Lake Union Publishing) by Marlowe Benn. This novel is a riveting, historical mystery that offers a window into the lives of women in the 1920s...and the thrills, challenges and social upheavals of the Roaring '20s feel as relevant as ever. Publishers Weekly says, "The author effectively shows the casual discrimination against women at that time. Benn is off to a promising start."
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Excerpt from: Have You Seen Luis Velez? (Lake Union Publishing) by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde: Catherine's new novel is about two strangers who find that kindness is a powerful antidote to fear. Publisher's Weekly has stated, "Hyde has a sure touch with affairs of the heart." Catherine is also the author of the bestselling novel Pay It Forward and is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. Several of her books have been excerpted in Sanctuary.
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Excerpt from: One Summer in Paris (HQN) by USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan: This touching story charts an unlikely friendship that develops between a newly single forty-something woman, embarking solo on the holiday of a lifetime to Paris, and the rebellious Parisian teenage neighbor she takes under her wing. Sarah is an award-winning author of over 50 novels.
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Excerpt from: Food for Thought (Post Hill Press) by New York Times bestselling author Cristina Ferrare: With her simple, creative recipes, you can explore everything from the importance of a nutritious breakfast to the surprising ways that the shape of food can give us clues about the part of our body it will nourish. Cristina teaches how eating the foods you love can keep you healthy, vital and strong.
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Excerpt from: The Last Resort (Graydon House) by Marissa Stapley, journalist and international bestselling author of three novels, including the acclaimed Things to Do When It’s Raining: The Harmony Resort promises hope for struggling marriages. As a deadly tropical storm descends on the coast, trapping the hosts and the guests on the resort, secrets are revealed, loyalties are tested and not one single person - or their marriage - will remain unchanged by what follows.
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Excerpt from: Only Ever Her (Lake Union Publishing) by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, co-founder of the popular women's fiction site SheReads.com: The story starts with the anticipation of an upcoming wedding. The problem? The bride-to-be vanishes...and the list of suspects in her disappearance grows. The story weaves a gripping suspenseful tale that takes readers to dark places but ultimately leaves them with a sense of hope.
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Excerpt from: Becoming an Autism Success Story (Future Horizons) by award-winning author Anita Lesko, BSN, RN, CRNA: Diagnosed with autism at age 50, Anita always knew something was different, but she never let that stop her. Through the framework of her impressive life, Anita proves that you can do anything you set your mind to, and she teaches you how to do it yourself. Anita is also the author of The Complete Guide to Autism & Healthcare (Future Horizons), also excerpted in Sanctuary in 2018.
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Excerpt from: The Woman in the Lake (Graydon House) by award-winning author and historian Nicola Cornick: This novel weaves a spellbinding tale that is part history/part mystery. Nicola also works as a guide and historian for the National Trust at the beautiful seventeenth century hunting lodge, Ashdown House. She gives talks on various aspects of her historical research and is a former Wiltshire Libraries Writer in Residence and trustee of the Wantage Literary Festival. Her books have been translated into 26 languages.
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Excerpt from: The Victory Garden (Lake Union Publishing) by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen: This novel explores what happens when a young woman abandons everything she knows for love and country and experiences the challenges and self-discovery that come along with it. When unexpected tragedy strikes, can the protagonist discover what she's truly capable of? Rhys's novels have won numerous awards and her novel In The Tuscan Child was excerpted in Sanctuary last year..
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Excerpt from: The Inbetween Days (Graydon House) by novelist Eva Woods:This is an emotional, life-affirming novel with a twist. In addition to writing novels, she teaches creative writing and has written for Glamour, You magazine, the Guardian, the Dublin Herald, and more. Eva's novel Something Like Happy was excerpted in Sanctuary in 2017. Eva also writes crime fiction as Claire McGowen.
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Excerpt from: Just After Midnight (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde: This story illustrates how trusting one's own instincts is the key to a successful future. Catherine is also the author of the bestselling novel Pay It Forward and is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. Her novels Allie and Bea and The Wake Up have also been excerpted in Sanctuary. Catherine shared some of her incredible photographs in a previous issue.
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Excerpt from: The Best of Us (MIRA), by New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr: This novel is part of the Sullivan's Crossing series and tells the story of two women who have been avoiding love, but find that it may not be a bad thing after all. Robyn is the author of 11 #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Also excerpted from this series in Sanctuary: The Family Gathering.
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Excerpts: 2018
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Excerpt from: The Christmas Sisters (HQN Books), by USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan: This is Sarah's second multi-generational women’s fiction novel. Will it be a perfect McBride Christmas...or will it unravel? Will these sisters find that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything, including buried secrets? Find out if these sisters can find their way to a Merry Christmas.
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Excerpt from: How to Be Perfect like Me (Central Recovery Press), by humorist Dana Bowman: This is a story that offers comic relief and encouragement to moms dealing with tremendous pressures to be perfect. For moms who struggle with alcoholism, parenting can prove to be especially challenging. Parents from all backgrounds will appreciate Bowman's playful sarcasm and unbridled observations. This book is a follow-up to Dana's award-winning memoir, Bottled.
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Excerpt from: Season of Wonder (HQN Books), by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne: This novel follows the romance between a single mother with a dark secret and a police officer who just might be able to find a place in her guarded heart. It's a story about confronting long-buried secrets and making peace with the past. RaeAnne's books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews.
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Excerpt from: The Hawkweed Legacy (Hachette Books), by screenwriter and author Irena Brignull: This is a sequel to her critically acclaimed YA debut, The Hawkweed Prophecy. This is a fantasy novel which deftly explores friendships and the entanglements of love, and it also examines the dark side of sacrifice and betrayal. Irena is also well-known for writing the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated, animated movie, The Boxtrolls, for which she was nominated for Best Screenplay at the Annie Wards (2014) and other acclaimed films.
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Excerpt from: I Am Not a Tractor! How Florida Farmworkers Took on the Fast Food Giants and Won (ILR Press), by Susan L. Marquis: Susan is dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and is RAND’s vice president for Innovation. In her newest book, Susan unveils how, even without new legislation, regulation, or government participation, Florida farmworkers dramatically improved their work conditions. She is also the author of Unconventional Warfare: Rebuilding U.S. Special Operations Forces (1997).
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Excerpt from: The Phantom Tree (Graydon House), by international bestselling author Nicola Cornick: Cornick offers a provocative alternate history of rivals, secrets and danger, set in a time when a woman's destiny was determined by the politics of men and luck of birth. The novel is "filled with romance, drama, mystery and intrigue" (Historical Novel Society). Cornick is the author of over 40 novels which have been translated into 26 languages.
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Excerpt from: Grief Is... (CreateSpace) by Lonnie Terralavoro: When Lonnie's mother lost her battle with cancer, she embarked on a journey of growth and discovery. She realized the depth of her grief was an accurate representation of the depth of her love, and in the end, that love was an absolute blessing! Join the author as she shares poignant quotes, poetry and beautiful images in the hopes of helping you "heal and deal" through your own journey with grief.
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Excerpt from: Beautiful Exiles (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Meg Waite Clayton: This novel is the riveting story of the romance of headstrong and accomplished journalist Martha Gellhorn and world-renowned author Ernest Hemingway. The Booklist Starred Review says that Clayton's "take on their boozy, love/hate relationship is packed with details of the war...a dramatic backdrop for her fictional tale of two vivid personalities and world-altering writers."
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Excerpt from: Stegosaurus Would Not Make a Good Pirate (Picture Window Books), by Thomas Kingsley Troupe (author) and Step Calvert (illustrator): This children's book is part of a four book series which blends lighthearted text, humorous art and facts about dinosaurs. Troupe is an award-winning author who has written more than 30 children's books and Calvert is an award-winning illustrator and elementary school art teacher.
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Excerpt from: Heaven Adjacent (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde: This is a novel about realizing life is too short to put off happiness and that the people we celebrate each day with should make us the most joyful of all. As the story's main character beings to accept a new reality free of material wealth, she discovers that she is rich in something that can’t be replaced: family. Catherine is also the author of the bestselling novel Pay It Forward and is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. Her novels Allie and Bea and The Wake Up have also been excerpted in Sanctuary.
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Excerpt from: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni: This is a novel Dugoni holds close to his heart. It's inspired by his mother's unyielding support for his mentally disabled brother. The story is told through the voice of the title character through a series of flashbacks about Sam's upbringing as well as interwoven events that unfold decades later. This is a powerful story about family, friendship, and the importance of standing up for oneself and those you love in the face of adversity.
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Excerpt from: Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook (PESI Publishing & Media), by Dr. Laura Markham: This is a guide which provides parents with strategies and tips to control their emotions while responding to the needs of their children with patience and love. It offers tips on using games and exercises to increase laughter and play, while decreasing tantrums and fights. It offers discipline strategies that teach kids self-management and emotional intelligence and helps parents to strengthen bonds with their children so that children want to cooperate.
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Excerpt from: Lessons from the Praire (Hachette Books), by Melissa Francis: Melissa shares behind-the-scenes stories from the set of Little House on the Prairie (she played Cassandra Cooper Ingalls for this popular TV series that ran from the late 70s through the early 80s) and lessons learned from the show's dynamic creator, Michael Landon. With novel insights on hard work and making mistakes, she shares inspirational and practical life lessons. This is a humorous and candid self-help book which reveals how she handles motherhood with a full-time career and other issues most women face.
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Excerpt from: Savory Home Cooking: From Our Sicilian Home to Yours (Self-published), by Jayne Baratta-DuBraski: This cookbook teaches you how to make delicious meals with fresh, easy-to-find ingredients - whether from your local market or straight from the garden. To either a novice or seasoned cook, these recipes are easy to follow and eliminate the need to search for gourmet ingredients in specialty stores. Jayne shares her favorite family recipes and her personal tips for organizing a kitchen and planning meals.
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Excerpt from: The Complete Guide to Autism & Healthcare (Future Horizons), by Anita Lesko, RN, CRNA: This guide is an in-depth reference book which informs medical professionals and caregivers of strategies and supports to improve health care for individuals on the autism spectrum. Anita combines her professional expertise as an accomplished nurse anesthetist with her personal experience as an autistic adult to offer those on healthcare teams an inside glimpse of strategies and supports that really work.
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Excerpt from: Before I Let You Go (Graydon House), by USA TODAY bestselling author Kelly Rimmer: This a novel which explores addiction, motherhood, the failures of the justice system, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. Publisher's Weekly says, "Rimmer's timely novel captures the unbreakable bond between two sisters and humanizes the difficult intersection of the opioid epidemic and the justice system."
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Excerpt from: The Family Gathering (Mira Books), by New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr: This is a moving tale about the power of love, familial bonds and finding a place to call home. This is the latest installment in her fan-favorite Sullivan's Crossing series. Robyn's novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Also excerpted in Sanctuary: The Summer that Made Us and The Life She Wants.
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Excerpt from: The Tuscan Child (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen: This is a riveting multi-generational novel about love, war and family secrets. The story explores betrayal, family relationships and finding one's place in the world. Rhys's novels have won numerous awards and her novel In Farleigh Field is also excerpted in Sanctuary.
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Excerpt from: The Wake Up (Lake Union Publishing), by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde: This novel explores the revolutionary power of empathy. Hyde shows how easy it is to get shut off from other people, and how this is exactly what we have to fight against. Hyde is also the author of the bestselling novel Pay It Forward and is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. Her novel Allie and Bea was also excerpted in Sanctuary.
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Excerpt from: The Kickass Single Mom (TarcherPerigee), by Emma Johnson: This is an essential guide for women who are seeking real-world advice and inspiration from those who have found success and happiness on their own. Emma is the creator of the immensely popular blog, WealthySingleMommy.com and the podcast, "Like a Mother," where she explores issues facing professional single moms like herself.
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Excerpt from: Now that You Mention It (HQN Books), by Kristan Higgins: Injured in more ways than one, Nora feels her carefully built life cracking at the edges. Nora needs to find a way to tackle old pain and make room for a promising future. Kristan is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and two-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Her book On Second Thought was also excerpted in Sanctuary in January 2017.
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