Synopsis

When who you believe yourself to be for your entire adulthood is changed by a single event, what do you do? How do you identify yourself now that a role you have been playing is no more? This is a story of how friendship helps us define the next steps in life well into our golden years!

My family was forever changed when the rock of our clan was stricken with Alzheimer's Disease. My dad slowly and painfully slipped away from knowing any of us and I watched my mom faithfully spend time with him everyday. Through her time being at the nursing home with my dad she made friends with several other women who also had spouses with Alzheimer's. They formed a strong bond through tears, laughter and support with one another. Their friendship continued on long after they had all said their final good-bye to their mates.

They called themselves The Last Wives Club!

Outline

*    Chapter 1 - Now that the four friends are widows they decide to take a trip together to help ease the loneliness of living alone.

*    Chapter 2 - As the women board a train bound for the west coast they begin to sort out their personality differences.

*    Chapter 3 - The first stop over of their trip; the friends decide on a trail ride.  As a couple of them find out it isn't so easy to ride a horse or even to get off of one.

*    Chapter 4 - While making friends aboard the train they meet two charming brothers who are travelling alone.

*    Chapter 5 - Arriving in Sandpoint, ID where they plan on staying for a few days, they stretch their legs with a hike on a trail in the nearby mountains.  From this vantage point they discover all the untouched natural beauty where this little city sits.

*    Chapter 6 - Checking into the B
B where they would stay a couple of them chose to relax while the other two explore the Inn.

*     Chapter 7 - It's a beautiful day as the ladies decide to explore the town. 

*    Chapter 8 -  A surprise awaits them as the brothers too had made the stopover and join up with them as they check out the activities.

*     Chapter 9 -  The women are wined and dined by their new companions.

*    Chapter 10 - Relaxing with their hosts of the B
B the women share how they first met their spouses.

*    Chapter 11 - The friends enjoy a spa day together and a little casino fun.

*     Chapter 12 - You are never too old to have a crush as one of the ladies discovers when she goes on a date.

*     Chapter 13 - Saying good-bye to their new friends the women board the train once more to their final destination.

*      Chapter 14 - Claude and Lester introduce the ladies to some interesting fellow travelers on their way to Seattle.

*     Chapter 15 - One never knows the fun and treasures that will be found at Seattle's famous fish market as the women soon find out. 

*      Chapter 16 - Rita convinces Marge to go on a double date and Kitty and Marvel have a stay in picnic.

*     Chapter 17 - The friends explore the large Seattle zoo and encounter extreme embarrassment trying to find their way back to the hotel.

*     Chapter 18 - Unaware of being set up Rita and Marvel are taken in by the charms of the two brothers; revealing more than they should.

*     Chapter 19 - While taking in the beauty at the Washington Arboretum the friends split up to visit different gardens.  Kitty finds herself reminiscing; something she rarely let herself do.

*     Chapter 20 - The ever constant togetherness takes its toll as the women have a blow up.

*     Chapter 21 - The friends take a time out with one another for a little while as they each sort through how to move on.

*     Chapter 22 - After a day apart the friends reconnect feeling refreshed.  Meanwhile a local con game is underway.

*     Chapter 23 - After running into a couple they met on the train the ladies all take a nostalgic step back proving you are never too old to swing.

*    Chapter 24 - While the goods arrive for the brothers the women are delighting in shopping and sight-seeing.

*     Chapter 25 - Lester and Claude take all the women out for a celebratory dinner.  Kitty remains suspicious and Marge finally confronts Rita about her feelings for Claude.

*     Chapter 26 - On their last morning in Seattle, Claude treats Rita to breakfast and has a surprise for her.  As they board the train headed back home the friends recount their adventure.

*     Chapter 27 - Marvel ponders her life going forward while the brothers seal their business dealings.

*    Chapter 28 - Revisiting Sandpoint and their friends; the women share pictures and stories of their trip.

*     Chapter 29 - Suspicions mount as the women encounter questions regarding the brothers from fellow passengers.

*    Chapter 30 - Home sweet home!  After their adventure the friends are happy to be back home.  On his journey back to the Midwest, Claude realizes his true feelings for Rita.

*    Chapter 31 - Appearances can be misleading and not everyone is who they say they are.  Suddenly the friends find themselves in the middle of a plot of deception.

*    Chapter 32 -  Back home, Rita tries to understand everything that has happened.

*     Chapter 33 - When one's heart is hurting friends and a project are good medicine.  The ladies all go to Rita's to assemble their photos of their trip.  Meanwhile Rita receives plans from Terry on how to proceed; she agrees to meet Claude for dinner.

*    Chapter 34 - The set up. 

*    Chapter 35 - With the support of her companions Rita begins to heal from her hurt and embarrassment.  It's time for them to plan their next adventure!

Audience

Adult women, especially in the 40 and older age group, will be drawn to this story.  I have sent drafts of my manuscript to unsolicited women who see this story as not just of a light, fun read but a story that can open conversations about life issues that are being dealt with on a daily basis. 

Alzheimer's, dementia and other ailments that inflict the senior population is growing due to the age of the baby boomer generation.   Experts estimate 5 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease and recently has been identified as the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer in older adults.

All women experience often embarrassing situations from hot flashes to bladder leakage.  These are topics that women are finally opening up and commiserating about.  Sharing experiences and being able to laugh about them ease women's trepidation of these natural functions of aging.

Promotion

The characters are everyday people that my readers will identify with.   Many who read it will be those that are the caregivers of loved ones so I see promoting it through readings at support groups, churches, senior living activities and also through outreach to women with flyers, book signings and social media.  

Through my professional life I have made many contacts in many different arenas and have great opportunities to reach out to share my book.  Many of the people I encounter are facing similar dilemma's with parents suffering from incurable illnesses or conditions and can relate well to the subject matter of my story.

Competition

Girlfriends

 by Tamara Traeder and Carmen Renee Berry -  it is similar in the complexities of  women friendships but the strength of that bond even through our differences.  Different in how that friendship comes about and how it plays out in life.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells -it's different because these women don' have a history together because they meet and bond over a life situation that occurs in the latter years of our life journey.  Facing how does one redefine one's role in life.

At Home in Covington by Joan Medlicot - this book is different in that it takes on a modern tone with the online predator predicament however it shares the conflict of being in close quarters living with a friend.   The power of true friendship shines through.

The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith - this book is similar in the bond of women friendship rediscovering their roles in life.  With the similar witty and heart winning female characters.  It is different in circumstances of the friends coming together to support one another.