Description |
My Honors Creative Thesis is a manuscript of a novel I completed in Professor Gills Honors Novel Writing Workshop. Dandelions Among the Wheat is 74,782 words, 239 pages. It addresses the complex issues of alcoholism and abuse in families through humor and heartfelt truth, offering raw and relatable insight into an all too common societal problem. Dandelions Among the Wheat is the story of Pipsy, a twice-married, 30-year-old mother of two, who confronts the haunting secrets of her childhood past, believing that she can reconcile lost relationships and rid herself of the shame she's felt for the actions of her alcoholic father. Pipsy returns to her home town in Concord, MA for her stepsister's wedding where she attempts to confront her stepsiblings about the childhood events leading up to their estrangement. Her search for answers leads her on an unexpected journey back to her family's island in Maine where events spiral out of her control and she is forced to confront the truth. Research for this project has included attending group therapy meetings and studying literature about adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) in order to more accurately capture the struggles Pipsy faces. I strongly believe Pipsy's story is one worth telling. Its relatable tale will prove meaningful to anyone struggling with family dysfunctions. It was with the dedication of Michael Gills and my novel writing peers that I was able to complete this project and I am grateful for their Full Hog support. |