Piece By Piece
Laura Bradford
Kensington Pub
July 28th, 2020
Piece By Piece by Laura Bradford is a heartfelt tale where readers will be thankful that the tissue shortage has ended. It is a story of losing loved ones unexpectedly. It is about loss, grief, anger, survivor’s guilt, but also how the good memories can help someone learn to cope.
The story opens with a suburban stay-at-home mom, Dani Parker, taking her mother’s suggestion by having a “me time” day. Her mom goes on an outing with Dani’s husband and three children. But the unthinkable happens, a car crash that leaves no survivors. She spirals deeper and deeper into survivor’s grief, wishing the accident claimed her life as well. She feels guilty and depressed for being alive.
Not knowing how she will get through the next day, Dani accepts her childhood friend’s offer to come stay in a cottage her family owns. Bradford skillfully shows how friendship is an important tool in healing. Lydia, her Amish friend, delivers food to Dani, and was there to listen and also give Dani some space to mourn. Lydia’s kindness, understanding, and humor give Dani the support she needs especially after Dani discovers that Lydia is going through her own set of guilt, grief and questions, along with the rest of Lydia’s family including her brother and three-year-old daughter Nettie.
This story has wonderful characters and readers will take a journey with all of them, going through the same emotions. People will have tears in their eyes throughout the novel. This is definitely another winner by Bradford.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Laura Bradford: I heard this quote, “friends are Angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.” In life, tragedies show people who step up and don’t disappear when darkness comes.
EC: How would you describe Dani’s handling of the tragedy?
LB: In one moment her life changes drastically. She was the type of mom that was there for her children and had them actively involved in doing a million things at a time. After her family dies, she questions whether she was the perfect mom, and beat herself up over it.
EC: Guilt and grief play a large role?
LB: In some moments, grief is so powerful it makes someone wonder if they can keep going. They question if they can put one foot in front of the other. She feels so overwhelmed. Her Amish friends came to help her stand up so she could take steps to heal on her own. Lydia and her family showed Dani it was OK to slow her life down. Both Dani and Lydia second guessed themselves as moms. All the characters had their own form of grief. Sometimes people need someone to reach out a hand whether it is physical or a metaphor to give those grieving something to hang on to before that person can climb on their own.
EC: How would you define Lydia?
LB: Being Amish she believes that everything happens according to “Gods will.” She was a calming hand for Dani. It is interesting how Dani can comfort Lydia’s child and brother through grief, but cannot seem to do it for herself. She also thinks it is ridiculous that Lydia blames herself even though Dani cannot give herself the pass she gives Lydia.
EC: What about Lydia’s brother, Caleb?
LB: He along with Lydia and her daughter Nettie helped Dani overcome her grief and to grow. But he also felt helpless at times to watch those he cared about go through their own sadness. I knew he was not going to be a romantic person for Dani because it was way too soon and there is no way I wanted to go in that direction.
EC: How would you describe Nettie?
LB: She had the innocence of childhood. She was also a good reminder to Dani of her own children. There was a scene in the barn when Dani was alone with Nettie. Her motherly protective instinct took over by giving Nettie hope. Yet, she was unable to turn around that hope for herself.
EC: The Amish culture looks on everything as “Gods will?”
LB: There are certain things that cannot be changed. Yet, the Amish still struggle with the “why” things happen. The Amish might look different, work differently, and their lifestyle is different, but at the core they are just like anyone else having in their lives joy and grief. If they put it on God what happens enables the Amish to get past the “why,” especially when it is something that cannot be explained.
EC: Why did you make Lydia and Dani pen pals?
LB: I thought of my private Facebook page. Some of my readers met each other through the connection of my books. Now they are best friends and share their lives. Besides, the Amish are into letter writing so why not make them pen pals.
EC: Will you be writing anymore Amish mysteries?
LB: At this time, A Killer Carol is the final book in the series, but that could always change one day.
EC: What about your next books?
LB: I am writing a brand-new cozy mystery series for Penguin that will be out next summer. Also, out next summer is another women’s fiction Amish story, Her New Story. A journalist is assigned to cover Amish country after blowing a story. She is in search of finding something that would make a big splash.
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