Mental Pause - Softcover

O'Connell, Anne Louise

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0984927220 ISBN 13: 9780984927227

Publisher: Anne O'Connell, 2013

Synopsis

Abbie Slocum, a forty-something, average, middle of the road, housewife and mother of teenage twin boys, tries desperately to keep her outwardly idyllic life together while spiraling into a dark pit of menopausal insanity. Her mind races with suicidal, murderous thoughts so outside of her normal character that it frightens her. The only person she can share the graphic images from her hormonally addled mind with is her best friend, Rachel, recently separated, and the mysterious and titillating Joan, a new friend from Rachel's singles support group. Women have survived this female passage of life since the beginning of time! Why was Abbie having so much trouble handling it? As the battle to maintain her sanity rages on, Abbie, Rachel and Joan stumble into unfortunate, borderline comical, circumstances that lead to wild nights, experimenting with drugs and two suspicious deaths. Abbie's cop husband, Conrad, tries desperately to understand what's happening to his normally sweet wife. While vying for promotion, his family gets embroiled in a media frenzy that swirls around a murder trial in which Abbie is the primary suspect. Abbie takes the reader on an old jalopy ride of uncharacteristic outbursts and wild escapism that leads to tragedy and finally, into court where she just might have to plead 'temporary insanity'.

About this title

About the Author:

Author, developmental book editor and indie publisher, Anne Louise O'Connell, was a long-time expat, recently returning to Canada afterenjoying the sun and sand of Florida, Dubai and Thailand over a span of23 years. Anne worked in the PR field for 17 years and then decided itwas time to just write. Since 2007, Anne has been writing books whilefreelance writing, editing, author mentoring and social mediaconsulting, along with conducting writing retreats and workshops. In2013, she began facilitating the annual Paradise Writers' Retreat.

While living the expat life, she contributed regularly to the Wall St.Journal Expat Blog, Global Living Magazine and Expat Focus. She has apassion for travel and that adventurous spirit has taken her all overthe world. Anne grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has a bachelor ofpublic relations from Mount St. Vincent University. She is the author of @Home in Dubai... Getting Connected Online and on the Ground; 10 Steps to a Successful PR Campaign - a Do-it-Yourself Guide for Authors; MentalPause, her first novel, a 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awardwinner; and her latest novel, Deep Deceit, which launched March 8, 2015and is the first in the Susan Morris Expat Mystery series. She has alsocontributed short stories to the Phuket Island Writers' anthologies andrecently published a collection of travel and expat life stories calledSwimming with the Elephants and Other Adventures.

Connect with Anne:
Website: annelouiseoconnell.com
Blog: anne-writingjustbecause.blogspot.com
Twitter: @annethewriter
Facebook: facebook.com/annethewriter

Review:

"Astonishingly honest, this novel will take you on a wild ride with its unforgettable protagonist. A book like 'Mental Pause' is long overdue." Zvezdana Rashkovich, author, Dubai Wives "This novel zips along at a cracking pace and is full of fun. I loved it." Jo Parfitt, author and publisher "Love, hot flashes, empty nest, shifting identity, friendship and surprising twists! Anne O'Connell has written a fun debut novel about one menopausal woman's desire to let her hair down, and the trouble that results." Linda A. Janssen, author, The Emotionally Resilient Expat

About this edition

• Publisher: Anne O'Connell
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0984927220
• ISBN 13: 9780984927227
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228