Off Season: A Novel of Healing
by E.S. Ruete
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Dottie
woke up wondering where she was and why she was so cold. The first thing she
noticed was that she must be outside – she was lying on cold ground and snow
was hitting her in unusual places. That’s when she noticed the second thing.
Her skirt was pulled up past her waist and her panties were gone. Damn those
bastards. It started to come back to her.
Dottie is now on an
odyssey; a journey not of her choosing; a journey of healing, integration, and
reconciliation that will involve her partner, her friends, her enemies, her
church, her whole community. And her rapists. As she fights her way through
social stereotypes about rape and rape victims, she also finds the strength to
overcome society’s messages of who she should be and lays claim her true self.
But the memories, the loss, the anger – and the fears – never go away. No woman
chooses to be raped. I asked Dottie why she chose to tell me a story of rape.
She said that millions of women, hundreds every day, have stories of rape that
never get told. She told her story because she could. Because she had to.
Because maybe people would hear in a work of fiction a Truth that they could
not hear in any other way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Mostly what Dottie remembered is that they kept giving her
choices. Blood or vaginal exam first. Left or right arm for the blood draw.
Keep her clothes or change into the comfortable, impersonal sweats the SACC
counselor had brought. Should they call her church. She tried to appreciate
what they were trying to do. But I’m so tired, she thought, and still a little
cold and god my headache is getting worse. And all these decisions don’t help.
Didn’t I hear something on NPR about decision fatigue? Or something like that.
She remembered a book from her youth. The Captain. The new
skipper of an ocean-going tugboat couldn’t handle all the arbitrary decisions,
so he just alternated “yes” and “no” answers. It seemed to work for him. She
tried it.
“Do you want soup?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want coffee?”
“No.”
“Do you want us to call someone at your church?”
“Yes.” Damn!! Did I just say that? I love those judgmental
bitches, but they’re the last people I need to see right now.
She wasn’t doing much better when Mandy showed up and said
all the wrong things. How could this happen? Why weren’t you more careful? Are
you sure you weren’t at some level asking for it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
E.S “Ned” Ruete
is an author, speaker, group facilitator, women’s rights activist, LGBTQIPA+
ally, lay preacher, guitar picker, and business analyst. He is the author of
Seeking God: Finding God’s both/and in an either/or world and Lead Your Group
to Success: A Meeting Leader’s Primer.
Now retired,
Ned lives in Niantic, Connecticut with his second wife. He continues to offer
pro bono group facilitation and facilitation training to schools, churches,
community groups and not-for-profit organizations. He has led strategic
planning retreats for United Action Connecticut (UACT), Fiddleheads Food Co-op,
and ReNew London. He is actively involved in LGBTQIPA+ advocacy and annually
attends and presents sessions at the True Colors Conference. He is a member of
the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) formerly served on the
Association Coordinating Team (ACT, the IAF Board of Directors). He was
associate editor of Group Facilitation: A Research and Applications Journal and
has contributed articles to Group Facilitation, The Facilitator, and other
publications on group facilitation and management consulting.
Off Season is
Mr. Ruete’s first fiction work
See his
consulting products at MakingSpaceConsulting.com
( http://www.makingspaceconsulting.com/default.html)
and his books
at MakingSpaceConsulting.com/Publish: (The book is $0.99 during the tour) http://www.makingspaceconsulting.com/Publish.html
https://twitter.com/edwardruete
https://www.facebook.com/esrueteauthor
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XCZN2LM/ref=x_gr_w_glide_ku
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
One randomly chosen winner via
rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!
April 30: Rogue's Angels
April 30: Fabulous and Brunette
May 1: Edgar's Books
May 2: Sharing Links and Wisdom
May 2: A Chick Who Reads
May 4: The Reading Addict
May 4: BooksChatter
May 7: Reviews by Crystal
May 8: Uplifting Reads
My Review
I have to admit Off Season: A Novel of Healing was a hard book to get through. It deals with heavy issues but yet it has to be told. It is one I could relate to. One that I wished was around 25 years ago. Dottie is one strong woman and I admire her courage.
Off Season: A Novel of Healing is a fabulous book that I give 5 plus stars and highly recommend it!
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting my tour and reviewing my book.
ReplyDeleteReaders, how old were you when you discovered a love for reading?
I enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the tour and I appreciate the book description, excerpt and the great giveaway as well. Love the tours, I get to find books and share with my sisters and now my twin daughters who all love to read. We have found some amazing books for everyone. So, thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, thanks for the awesome tour. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you have any ideas for your next book? Bernie Wallace BWallace1980@hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the tour. The book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read your book.
ReplyDeleteThanks 4 the giveaway and congrats on the tour again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting your review on Amazon. My 5 star rating is intact!
ReplyDelete