Kara makes a decision to end her days on Earth. Writing a note to her family and dog, she be-lieves this is the finale. A quick trip to the bridge overlooking the riverbanks and her cares will be over. But life has other plans for Kara and so she must begin anew. Her ebullient best friend Amanda blithely courts dangers of her own. Her daughter Darla believes she is a prophetess who controls the fish in the aquarium. Son Bucky, tender and sarcastic, is reaching a brooding pu-berty, while husband Kyle begins to wonder how he ever could have wed so mercurial a woman. In some way, each depends on the strength of this central female figure. Second Chance is a comedy dark around the edges, about snatching triumph from the jaws of humiliation. Its close-knit, offbeat characters ring with the wit, poet-ry and wiles of everyday existence. They move from heartbreak to joy while barely noticing. Their collective journey to redemption begins with the impulsive jump of a desperate wife and mother and ends with an unexpected trip to the mountains, taking in along the way everything from arson and the Angel of Death to sailboats and Scrabble.

SECOND CHANCE A Novel by Johnny Payne

Johnny Payne is also the author of the novels Kentuckiana and North of Patagonia. He has just completed Silver Dagger, a novel set in 18th century Ireland, the first in an Irish tril-ogy. He serves as Assistant Dean for Special Projects at UTEP and is the founder of the Bilingual MFA in Creative Writing. Payne has written opera libretti for professional and university stages. With the notable chef Marilau, he is currently co-au-thoring a cookbook on traditional Mexican cooking. He lives with his wife Juana and their sons in El Paso.

ISBN189 pagesTrade Paperbackwww.stanleypublishing.com

SECOND CHANCE

A Novel ByJohnny Payne