THE MIDNIGHT GARDEN By Elaine Roth
The story opens with Hope, who is still struggling after the death of her husband two years ago. Living in the insular community of Kingsette, Rhode Island where she grew up, she feels like everyone wants to share their opinions about what she should do and the decisions she should make. And any misstep is instant fodder for the town gossips. But when Hope meets Will, a screenwriter who’s had to move back from Los Angeles to save his family’s inn from ruin, she recognizes a kindred spirit, because he’s navigating a loss of his own. As she falls for Will, she’s also drawn to to an eccentric recluse named Maeve, who makes healing teas and says she can communicate with those who have passed away. Her family is skeptical, but Hope, yearning for closure, sees in Maeve the opportunity to find some light in her life, and in Will, maybe even a way to move forward and love again.
Elaine shared, “While Hope’s and my stories are very different, it was an incredible experience to write this book because I had to look at my grief and young widowhood through a different lens. My setting is a small town because I wanted Hope to have the experience of the village—and show what that means, both the good and the bad. There can be a community of strong support when things are hard, but grief can make people uncomfortable. I wanted to explore the ways some might handle that discomfort—by rushing Hope to be ‘better’ or pitying her and treating her like a victim—and what she really might need to find peace again.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elaine Roth is a writer, parent, young widow, and comprehensively certified Pilates instructor. Her written work has appeared on Refinery29, Well+Good, Insider, HuffPost, and Scary Mommy, among others. At the tender age of fourteen, Elaine had the chance to model in YM magazine. She was paired with a seventeen-year-old male model for a photo shoot about kissing. The article was titled “Kissing A-Z,” and she was the photo underneath “O, orthodontics.” In true fourteen-year-old-girl fashion, Elaine told all her friends about her modeling debut. Months later, the issue was published. The caption accompanying the photo was “Brace yourself, metal mouth. Don’t lose your kissing cool.” Life has been throwing her curveballs ever since. She’s grateful for the chance to share her writing with others and for the chance to make a little light out of things that are often too dark. She and her children live in Morris County, New Jersey.
Website: www.elaineroth.com
Instagram @theelaineroth
