Another Rebecca
by Tracey Scott-Townsend
When past torment threatens what little semblance
of a family Rebecca Grey has, how are any of them
going to keep a grip on reality?
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-908600-43-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-908600-44-8
March 2015 will see the release of ‘Another Rebecca’, the second title from author
Tracey Scott-Townsend which follows the interweaving lives of a teenage girl
and her parents as they struggle to reconcile past tragedy with the present
moment. Once again, Townsend returns to explore familial relationships with a
powerful, bright light, illuminating those dark corners that many of us would
rather remain undisturbed. Nevertheless, her command of character persists as
she expertly knits together the separate strands of her narrative.
Struggling to emerge from the shadows of
someone else’s grief, Rebecca Grey has a hard time living her own life. Between
caring for her alcoholic mother and battling mental health issues, there is
little room left for trivial teenage dilemmas. But as the evidence begins to
add up, and the truths of the past are revealed in all their startling detail,
Rebecca must find her own path or risk losing herself for good.
In her own unique style, Scott Townsend
manages to capture a snap shot of a single family in crisis, while exploring
those themes that touch all our lives.
Three lives tied together
Family, tragedy and overwhelming guilt… You’ve read it all before, but not like this. The same story, three
ways, each more emotive than the last.
Excerpt
Chapter Four: Rebecca
Rodin’s ‘The Kiss’ sits on a plinth in the corner of Dr
Parrish’s office. I saw the
real thing when I went to The Tate with my art class. The original is much
bigger and is made from marble, unlike this small bronze copy.
Dr. Parrish is telling mum about the tablets I have to take when I go
home, and she’s at least pretending
to listen. I catch her eye and we both try not to be the one to smile first.
She looks away but her lips are already curving upward at the corners.
Part of me is scared about leaving. There were no responsibilities in
here.
In the car park, I watch Mum carefully as she puts
my bag in the boot of the car. She doesn’t look like she’s had a drink today.
I’m tired out by the time I get myself strapped into
the seat beside her.
“All right babe?”
She traces a finger over my cheekbone. “You’re so pale. You have
violet hollows under your eyes, Rebecca Jane, but to me you are still the most
beautiful girl in the world.”
She gives me a sad smile. When she says things
like that I wouldn’t change her for anything. Sometimes her dark
brown eyes remind me of the seals at the sanctuary where I had my Saturday job.
I used to stare at those seals’ eyes for ages. But if
Mum catches you looking into hers she puts on that gormless expression she’s good at faking.
I can’t relax in the car, haven’t been able to since
that time we had a crash. The sound of the other car hitting us when Mum wasn’t paying attention
felt like it cracked my skull open. It didn’t count as drink driving on Mum’s part because
nothing showed up on the breathalyser but you could smell it if you were cooped
up in that small space with her. The worst thing about it was, she couldn’t stop laughing
afterwards.
People’ve asked me why I insisted on going back to live
with her when I could’ve stayed with the Marten family. I was happy
there, it’s true. But I guess
the simple answer is: she’s where I belong. I can’t just pretend she’s not. And I’m afraid she’ll end up dying of
some stupid accident if I don’t stay with her. I sneak a look at her face while
she’s driving, tongue
tucked into her cheek and her eyes narrowed, fastened on the road. At least she’s more careful these
days.
About the Author
Tracey spends her writing time in her
much-loved shed. It’s a world of her own making, like her stories. She says that stepping
inside and closing the door behind her induces a feeling like the one you get
in the hushed atmosphere of a church.
She is the mother of four children, three
of whom have now left home: one of them particularly far away. Still, she’s sure that Australia will provide as much
inspiration for her writing as Iceland has done, (another place she was
introduced to by her son). She’s really hoping to witness a full show of the Northern Lights next time
she is there.
Closer to home, Tracey enjoys travelling in
the bus-with-a-woodstove with her husband and their Labrador, Riley. They are
always on the lookout for a scenic layby in which to sleep. Last year they
spent time all over the British Isles, including the Outer Hebrides, which will
be the setting for a future novel. In a few years they plan to set off on the
road (by way of the sea) for an extended period of time: after all, writing can
be done anywhere.
Contact Information
To learn more about Tracey Scott-Townsend,
why not visit her corner of the internet, or contact her via the information
below:
Website: http://www.traceyscotttownsend.com
Twitter: @authortrace
