Completed Novel Manuscripts
Kissed by a Midwife
A pregnant widow finds salvation through midwifery in late 19th c. western Massachusetts until she is threatened by repercussions from the Comstock Act, a domineering town physician, and a major health crisis. Her daughter comes of age and her path forward is inspired by the aftermath of a coastal storm but she struggles with a disability, the guilty weight of a brash love affair, and the implications of an epidemic. Mother and daughter both learn to overcome societal limitations and discover a satisfying blend of family and career.
Kissed by a Midwife is a family-centered historical women’s novel, set in the fictional town of Twin Bridges, Massachusetts. At a time when men dominate medicine and threats loom through repercussions of the Comstock Act and epidemics, Ada Pattison and her daughter Marigold struggle to find independence and maintain their dedication to family and legacy in the face of misogyny, disease, and disability. Scars persist, marking time and grief, but acceptance and healing follow.
Under Her Skin
The Imagined Life of Dr. Virginia Apgar
Every baby faces their first milestone at one minute after birth when they are given an Apgar score—the standard that has helped to save the lives of at-risk newborns since the mid-twentieth century and is still used throughout the world. Yet so little is known and written about the woman who created it—Dr. Virginia Apgar. Under Her Skin is the compelling, reimagined story of a real 20th century medical pioneer who disrupts the female stereotype and leaves a legacy of healing, friendship, and lasting medical discoveries.
Excerpts from Under Her Skin received several awards through Mount Holyoke College including the Clio Melpomene Prize and the Naomi Kitay Scholarship.