The Memory of Us: A Novel (35 page)
Read The Memory of Us: A Novel Online
Authors: Camille Di Maio
Book Club Questions
- How might Helen, looking back over the years, identify with the life cycle of the caterpillar that Kyle finds for Charles in chapter one?
- Lucille is the voice of reason as Julianne struggles with Kyle’s impending ordination to the priesthood. Would you have given Julianne similar counsel or encouraged her to pursue him?
- Julianne loves that Kyle takes her to the ruins of Saint Dwynwen on their honeymoon. What is the most romantic thing you have ever done that required thought over cost?
- Was Julianne’s abandonment of baby Lily the ultimate sacrifice of a mother or the self-serving action of a distraught woman?
- Julianne has witnessed the last rites at the deathbed of Mr. McCarthy, and later as Helen at the side of Mrs. Campbell. How has her character evolved between the two events?
- Why does Julianne choose nursing as a career, and how does that decision shape her life?
- Before Helen goes to Charcross to work for Father McCarthy, she stops in Liverpool and observes her parents. Should she have revealed to them who she was? Or did she spare them from further grief and shock?
- How might Kyle’s and Julianne’s lives have played out if he had never left for the war?
- How does the author weave the concepts of heaven, purgatory, and hell into the story?
- What scene or character most resonated with you personally?
Acknowledgments
I have always thought of writing as a solitary event. But I’ve never been so happy to be wrong. Many people have been a part of this journey.
To my agent, Jill Marsal. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for encouraging me to be better. Your first phone call was one of the best days of my life!
To my editors, Danielle Marshall, Catherine Knepper, and David Downing. Danielle—thank you for believing in this book so ardently and for your unwavering advocacy! Catherine—your comments made me smile and you helped take this book to another level. David—I appreciated your insights that gave the final polish to the story.
To everyone at Lake Union Publishing, I am grateful for all of your hard work and support on my behalf—Gabriella Dumpit, Tara Parsons, and the many others who make up an extraordinary team.
I am blessed to have wonderful friends who suffered through my early drafts. A few of them made some specific suggestions that I took to heart or offered just the right word of encouragement at a moment when it was needed: Elmie Guidry, Sarah Remmert, Julie Alexander, Jennifer Salamon, Myra Garza, Fr. Ed Hauf, Melody Escobar, Patty King, John Michael Ruiz, Sarah Weaver, Kathy Cucolo, Amy Castillo, Magda Pretorius, Leslie Sawaya, Magda De Salme, Jim and Kristen Peterson, Carol Taylor, Melanie Stovall, Beverly Lamoureux, Melissa Stack, Melissa Wittman, Tracy Remmert, Cece Smith, Carolyn Taylor, Yvonne Russell, Megan Homan, Judy Kennedy, Jennifer Eichelbaum, Bianca Sanders, Julie Williams, Joe and Laura Ilsley, the whole Solis family, Julie Reyna, Julie Di Maio, Inge Di Maio, Jessica Bernstein, Francine Chapa, Cindy Comfort, Anne Wright, David and Ann Dreggors, Norma Alvarez, and Marie Cook. And to Erin Chipman—my original Anglophile friend and sharer of banana splits.
To Amanda Tidmore, Lorraine Zavala, Lianna Patterson, Francine Wong, Julie Hardin, and Ashley Zimmerman: thank you for helping with real estate tasks so that I could write. And to everyone at Keller Williams Legacy for being so enthusiastic!
To Aunt Cheryl, for being my role model in strength, humility, and generosity. Thanks for making so many dreams come true. And to Uncle Travy, who inspired more than anyone knows.
I am here because of all the great writing that has captivated me ever since I could read. Thank you to my writer friends—your work and your own journeys are very inspiring to me: Stephanie Cowell, Leila Meacham, Eileen Palma, Jeanette Schneider, Melissa Romo, Les Edgerton, Melissa Roske, and Ann Sullivan. And to the members of SARA, WRW, WFWA, and the other LU authors, who are all continual supports for the craft and lifestyle of writing. I look forward to reading your future books!
To my brother and sister, Paul and Catherine Remmert. They make a cameo appearance in chapter ten. I couldn’t write about siblings and not think of how blessed I am that they were given to me. They are the best! Paul is the genius behind my book trailer.
I won the offspring jackpot with Claire, Gina, Mary Teresa, and Vincent. You have been patient and helpful for much of your lives while I wrote this book. My prayer is that you will discover your own vocations and develop the individual gifts that you were given. You have had a front-row seat to what it means to achieve a goal—through frustration, elation, rejection, and celebration. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for you. You are all amazing and I
love
being your mom.
To Sir Paul McCartney: thank you for your innovative music. My story of a priest and his housekeeper was greatly inspired by your lyrics.
And, most especially, I am grateful for the faith that was given to me. The metanoia of the past few years means more to me than anything else that could ever happen. All things are truly possible with God, and I am living proof. Thank you to Mary, Therese, and Philomena for your intercessions.
I know, I know. If this were an Oscar speech, they would have cued the music by now.
Author Bio
Photo © 2015 Gina Di Maio
Camille Di Maio has always dreamed of being a writer and has had pieces published in various regional and parenting magazines. When she’s not delaying sleep in favor of reading “just one more chapter” of a great book, she and her husband homeschool their four children and run a real estate office in San Antonio, Texas. Camille also regularly faces her fear of flying to indulge her passion for travel. She is inspired by the concept of “sucking the marrow out of life” and, to that end, trains in tae kwon do, buys too many baked goods at farmers’ markets, and unashamedly belts out Broadway show tunes when the moment strikes.
The Memory of Us
is her debut novel.
