Monday, June 22, 2009

Book help!

I'm working on a tough section of my new book--it's about betrayal. Not between Steve and I (thank God) at least not in the way you think of with married couples cheating on each other. But I'm writing about watching it happen close-up, and how much it scares me, and the things I try to do to keep tempting demons at bay.

One of the things I do when I'm scared is I read. I love memoirs because I learn from these glimpses into other people's lives--things to try, things to avoid. In some cases (especially stories about normal folks, living relatively normal lives) it's like test driving strategies, seeing how they fit.

I've read a ton of books about marriage, more than I could ever list here. A fair number of these dealt with betrayal (the most recent being Isabel Gilles' HAPPENS EVERY DAY). Now, as I close out my chapter, I'm longing for a story of a couple who survived--the story of a husband and wife who stayed married, who pieced things back together and are back working toward their happily ever after.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

11 comments:

Joan Ball said...

Did the Clinton's write a book?

heidikins said...

Please send on the suggestions, I'd love a good "we worked it out" story.

xox

Susan McKinney de Ortega said...

I´m seeking an agent for my memoir, Fast Break South. It´s the story of a girl from a sports-dominated household (me, of course. My father coached in the NBA. He has two championship rings and a Coach of the Year award). I fled the states (and that macho culture) for Mexico and fell in love with a poor Mexican teenager. Will she stay or will she go, informs the rest of the memoir, but I will tell you, and ONLY YOU (ha!) that we have been married for 15 years and have two lovely bilingual teenaged girls.
Life still has its challenges, but we are still in it together.

I appreciate your question, and will look for your book, and future books. Suerte!
Susan

Sarakastic said...

Sorry can't help in that department mostly because after watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 I'm horrified by all things relationshipy.

hckygrl said...

Trish, I have two suggestions. I'll email them to you.

Chad Estes said...

Hi Trish,

I'd suggest Paul Young's story (author of The Shack). He did an incredible interview with Drew Marshall on April 26th of 2008. Very touching story of redemption in the face of betrayal.
http://www.drewmarshall.ca/listen2008.html#080426

Kristine said...

Trish,
You might want to talk with Wallace & Linda Mitchell. Wallace is pastor at Broadlands Community Church in Virginia. You can read in his blurb on the church's web site a little about his story, including how he and Linda survived a 2 1/2 year separation years ago. http://www.broadlandscommunitychurch.com/pastor_

Anonymous said...

"Not between Steve and ME" not "I" If you would say "me" without the words before "and",then don't say "I"
"Are you going to the concert with Steve and me?" You wouldn't say are you going to the concert with I.

LEstes65 said...

Well, if you want public couples, I'm at a loss. But I know quite a few.

Melissa Maris said...

I'm reading a book right now called The Good Marriage: How and Why Love Lasts. It profiles different couples who have been successfully married for 9-50 years - I think there might be a case of infidelity in it...I'm a little fuzzy, but I THINK there is one. It's an interesting read, nonetheless.

Rachaelita said...

"How People Grow" by the christian psychologist Henry Cloud has some case studies and I'm pretty sure one of them covers infidelity between a pastor and his wife and how they overcame it.

Its a great book!