Author Rebecca Reynolds discusses debut book ‘This Is How We Speak: Stories’

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - “This Is How We Speak: Stories” is a collection of stories by Rebecca Reynolds. He debut book was inspired by her curiosity of people and relationships, and a desire to explore some of the dark feelings that we all have, and to bring light to them.

Book Summary:

“‘This Is How We Speak’ is a collection of thirteen short stories that explore our most important relationships, and ask the question: What do we owe one another? The characters in these stories are all facing moments when their relationships are tested and when caring for someone can require sacrifice, responsibility, and acceptance. In one story, a woman who is still struggling with the memory of her father’s suicide follows her mentally ill boyfriend into the cornfields of Nebraska. She’s trying to make sense of her past and, in some way, atone for it, but she also has to confront the reality that sometimes loving someone isn’t enough to save them. In another story, a father is struggling to face his daughter after failing to rescue her from being shot and permanently disabled. He’s dealing not only with his own guilt, but with the question of whether their relationship can survive what has happened. And in another story, a woman has to decide whether she’s willing to stand by her lifelong best friend, who has Down syndrome, when circumstances begin to challenge the friendship they’ve always had. So although each story stands on its own, they’re connected by these larger themes of communication, acceptance, responsibility, and connection. I’m interested in those moments in relationships when we have to decide what it really means to love someone, when doing so asks something difficult of us.”

Reynolds’ collection of stories took 20 years to write.

“I did not know I was writing a collection for most of that time; I was only trying to write and publish stories as I was able, while raising three kids and working full-time,” Reynolds said. “About four or five years ago I finally decided it was time to do something with my stories, and I put them into a manuscript and sent it out—and amazingly, it was picked up by a wonderful publisher, Cornerstone Press. I turned 48 two days before my debut book was published. Even though my timeline as a writer may not seem ideal, I couldn’t be happier to be embarking on my writing career at this point in my life.”

Reynolds grew up in Orland, Maine. She holds an MFA from Emerson College and has published stories in “Ascent,” “The MacGuffin,” “The Boiler,” and other places. She currently works at her local public library and lives with her husband and three sons in a small town south of Boston.

For more information, visit: rebeccareynoldswriter.com

“This Is How We Speak: Stories” can be purchased everywhere books are sold.