Marilyn initially fights her husband’s cancer diagnosis, and over time, comes to terms with the inevitable. Left alone with her sons, debts, an unsellable house and a troubled business, she holds onto a faded clipping from a magazine of Greek bougainvillea tumbling over a wall overlooking the sea: for her, an image representing peace, happiness and triumph over fear and uncertainty. The challenges Marilyn faces become the tools to excavate the past’s hold, and what begins to shine through this emerging freedom is the reality that our thoughts and actions create the life we experience. Ultimately, life takes Marilyn and her new love to a new home on an island in the Aegean. Happiness, Marilyn discovers, is distilling the complexity of life to the simple pursuit of our fullest potential, wherever we might find it.
Marilyn Harding: "The challenge for any creative is to hone their work to a respectful and marketable finish. And it takes courage to entrust another with that task. Bryony, from the beginning, opened the doors wide to easy communication. Her skill and level of attention to detail in editing my manuscript was impeccable. Not only did she sort out punctuation and grammar, but checked quotes and references and gave reasoning for suggested corrections. She was encouraging when I was hesitant and was a wonderful sounding board for what should and shouldn’t be included from the perspective of flow as well as marketability. I trusted her completely and welcomed her suggestions. Throughout, I was comfortable that no question I had was too small to ask. I found the whole experience enriching and know that I go forward as a better and more confident writer (certainly I will be more careful of affect and effect). I have already hired Bryony for another book, tucked away—I guess waiting for the right person to bring it to light. Bryony is that right person."