Elliott I. Committed Suicide and Had a Sister Dorothy . . .
The impetus for Telling Sonny, which was released by Adelaide Books in December 2018, came from a scribbled note from my mother after my father died in 2000: “Elliott I. committed suicide and had a sister Dorothy.” (My father was Elliott Francis; his father was Elliott Irving.) I found it such an odd juxtaposition of facts that I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I wrote a poem, “My Father’s Side of the Family,” using that sentence as the first two lines, but it kept rattling around in my head until I finally decided I had to go in search of Elliott I. myself.
Telling Sonny is the story of a son who became an afterthought, told by a mother who had once loved the vaudeville show, available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Q7mc9u .
There are so many stories in these photos. So it wasn’t until after your dad died that you found out that your grandfather had committed suicide? That must’ve come as a great shock.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He died before I was born, and he’s always been pretty much a cipher.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so eager to start this story, Liz. What a sad and heart-catching introduction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so happy to hear it! I hope you enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a fabulous book–I’m eager to read it, will order it soon. You sound like a deeply caring person–we need more like you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words, Rhen! I hope you enjoy Telling Sonny.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you are writing your family stories! Your grandchildren will thank you one day! Even the sad stories are important to tell!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! (Although I do embroider the truth, and in some instances make it up out of whole cloth.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to read it, every family has some secrets hidden in old photographs, anecdotes. Thanks for sharing it, seems a riveting tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tanya! I hope you do read it.
LikeLike