On Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m., Lee Woodruff will be at the Darien Community Association to discuss her new novel “Those We Love.”
In her blog, Woodruff describes her book as a story of “generations in a family, the seasons of a marriage, and whether or not a relationship can survive secrets.” Woodruff is best known for her non-fiction, in particular “In An Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing” that she wrote with her husband, ABC anchorman Bob Woodruff. That book chronicles the harrowing period in their life when he was critically wounded while on assignment in Iraq and their struggle to overcome the odds.
In “Those We Love”, her first work of fiction, Woodruff draws on her own experience in exploring the ways a close-knit family is broken and made whole again after a pivotal moment results in tragedy.
In “Those We Love,” a young mother of three, Maura Corrigan, happily married to her college sweetheart, lives in a peaceful Chicago suburb with her parents nearby. Her world is secure. On a warm June day, she walks with her nine-year-old son, James, as he rides his bike to school.
Suddenly, he darts out into the street and is hit by Alex, a seventeen-year-old neighbor. What unfolds in the wake of the accident is an intricate web of relationships, secrets and betrayals that ultimately create a story of resilience.
“I wanted to examine the process of life coming unglued and then look at all the strengths and the wonderful qualities that lie within us to do the right thing for the ones we love most,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff presently works at CBS’s This Morning with hosts Charlie Rose, Gayle King, and Erica Hill. Previously, she was a contributing editor at ABC’s Good Morning America. In addition, she has written numerous personal articles about her family and parenting that have run in magazines like Health, Redbook, Country Living, Parade and Family Fun.
A testament to strength and grace during life’s many challenges, Woodruff is a popular inspirational and motivational speaker who conveys a message of love, healing, and an understanding that we’re all fighting our own battle.
Co-sponsored by Barrett Bookstore and the Darien Community Association, tickets will be available at Barrett Bookstore or the DCA.
Tickets are available from the DCA and Barrett Bookstore. Admission for DCA members $5; general admission is $10. Woodruff will sign copies of “Those We Love” after her presentation.
More info: Barrett Bookstore, 655-2712 or the DCA, 655-9050.
