Jamie’s
Children
By
Susan
Moore Jordan
“It’s more than music: it’s light. It’s love. It’s life.”
Laura and Niall Logan,
children of a brilliant musician, have gifts of their own. Laura, first-born,
child prodigy violinist suffers from emotional problems that haunt her well
into adulthood. Niall, talented singer-song writer, is demonized by bouts of
bipolar disorder. Supported by the people they love and the power of music,
they seek to overcome these daunting challenges as they strive to claim their
own place in the spotlight.
Book Extract
Deep into
practicing
the Brahms concerto, feeling herself one with the music, Laura was annoyed when
the buzzer in her apartment sounded and she almost ignored it. Her
concentration broken, she went to the intercom and asked rather crisply: “Who
is it?”
“It’s Niall.”
“Niall! Come on up!” She was thrilled
to hear his voice. She hadn’t seen him since Bonnie had gone to Hunter Mountain
and brought him back to the city. Bonnie had talked with her and with Meredith
and Jamie, explaining Niall wasn’t ready to see them yet. Not at Thanksgiving.
Not even at Christmas.
Another month had passed and still
nothing. She knew her parents were very worried, but they were all relieved he
was with Bonnie. She’d keep him safe. That was the operative word these days:
they all wanted Niall safe. Bonnie
assured them he hadn’t been drinking, but he was struggling with depression.
And now, finally, he was at her door.
They hugged long and hard when he
came in, and she saw tears in his eyes.
“What can I get you? Coffee? Tea?”
“I’m good. God, you look fantastic.
I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’ve been here,” she said, sitting on the
sofa and patting the seat next to her. She looked carefully at him. He looked
thin and she saw the strain in his face. He had let his hair grow and it was
down to his shoulders; she smiled and touched it. “I like it. Long hair suits
you, Roger.”
She was rewarded with a slight smile.
“Thanks, Ruth. It’s just easier not to bother getting it cut. It seems I’m all
about what’s easier these days.” He looked over at the violin lying on a chair.
“You were practicing. I’m sorry I interrupted you.”
“I’d rather see you any day than
practice. I do that all the time.”
He smiled again. “Yes, I know … I
guess some things never change.” He sighed and shifted uncomfortably. “Laura, I
need your help.”
“Anything. You know that.”
“When I ran away last summer … I’ve
been doing a lot of thinking … well … maybe Mom was right,” he said. “I’ve kind
of been in this black hole and I can’t seem to dig myself out of it. God knows
I’ve tried.”
“Bonnie has talked to us, Niall. You
must know that.” She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.
He settled back and relaxed. “Yes, I
wanted her to. I hated to admit it, but there’s something wrong with me. I’ve
barely left Bonnie’s apartment since I got back. I know Monty’s won’t take me
back, and … I don’t want to work. I go to a meeting every couple of weeks. I
play guitar a little sometimes. I don’t know why Bonnie doesn’t throw me out.”
“Tell me what I can do.” She took his
hand in hers. He looked at their hands and smiled at her again.
“My sweet big sister. You used to do
that all the time.”
“Hold your hand? It’s what big sisters
do.”
His face twisted as he fought back
tears. “I think I have to see somebody. A shrink. My head is messed up.”
“Oh, Niall, I’ll take care of it. I’m grateful
you came to me.” She thought for a moment. “Let me call Ardith. Since she’s
been my therapist she may not think she should see you, but she can recommend
somebody.”
She gently wiped the tears that
spilled over and ran down his face. “It’s okay, Niall. I’m more than happy to
do this, and I’m so glad you want help.”
“I can’t keep living like this, I
know that. I’ll pay you back somehow. I promise.”
“Don’t even think about it. Just get
better,” she held him and rocked him as if he were a child. He was her sweet
baby brother and she would always love him and take care of him.
Where can I purchase
this fabulous book?
Goodreads Giveaway 15th July
About the author
When Susan Moore Jordan was a high school student in
the mid nineteen-fifties in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a close friend went through a
shattering event just as she was preparing to audition for the high school’s
annual musical. Decades later Jordan used that experience of tragedy to triumph
to write her first novel, How I Grew Up,
in 2013. Two additional novels followed:
Eli’s Heart in 2014 and You Are My Song in 2015, completing “The
Carousel Trilogy.” Her fourth novel, Jamie’s Children, was just released
(July, 2016). All of her novels are drawn from her life experiences as a voice
teacher and stage director and are inspired by real people she has encountered.
After attending the College-Conservatory of Music,
University of Cincinnati, Jordan moved from Cincinnati to the Pocono Mountains
in Pennsylvania in 1971 with her late husband, a tenor, and their three young
children, and established a private voice studio in 1979. She continues to
teach and students have gone on to prestigious programs and careers in musical
theater, opera, and education.
Jordan began directing musical theater productions for
high schools and community organizations in 1984 and directed over eighty
productions. She retired from directing in 2015 and wrote about her adventures
in “More Fog, Please”: Thirty-One Years
Directing Community and High School Musicals, released in November, 2015. All
of Jordan’s books are available on Amazon in paperback. The novels are also
available on Kindle.
