Author(s): Lolly Winston

Fiction

36- year- old Sophie Stanton has just lost her young husband to cancer. But instead of the five stages of grief, Sophie finds there are fourteen: Denial, Oreos, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Ashes, Lust, Waitressing, Mentoring, Dating, Baking, Acceptance, Goodwill and Thanksgiving. In an age where women are expected to be high- achievers, Sophie desperately wants to be a good widow - a graceful, composed Jackie Kennedy kind of widow. Alas, Sophie is more of a Jack Daniels kind. Guzzling cartons of ice-cream for breakfast, breaking down in the frozen food aisle of her local supermarket, showing up to work in her bathrobe and bunny slippers - soon she's not only lost her husband, but her job and her waistline. With nowhere to go but up, Sophie leaves California for Oregon and after several false starts opens her own fabulous bakery. But instead of the way it's depicted in the movies, where instant success, wonderful new friends and the ideal love-interest are guaranteed, Sophie finds herself caught up in the madcap adventures of her eccentric mother-in-law and Crystal, a teenager with even less of a grip on life than Sophie. Published in America as 'Good Grief'.