Bøker av Pat LaMarche

American Roulette tells the story of eight people who happen to meet at the Liberty Mall food court on what they all believed would be a typical Friday in April. What follows is all too familiar, as the suspense builds.

One unremarkable Friday in April, a stream of ordinary people makes its way to Liberty Mall in Anywhere, USA, to shop, work, keep appointments, or catch a movie. A typical day in an average town. American Roulette tells the story of eight of those people. Emma Franz is a store security guard with a secret. Earl Bricker, a retired factory worker, loves his country, his wife, and his good-old-boy network. Roger Elliot, mid-twenties and miserable, has more than a few axes to grind. High school senior Caitlin Browning, having triumphed over personal challenges, hopes for a quiet evening with her boyfriend. Reverend Chris Dietrich has a special surprise for his weekly Bible study group. Leah McCall, TV personality and teacher, drops by the food court to visit with her best friend. Will Humphreys' part-time job at the mall offers him little relief from the relentless bullying that plagues his existence. At 5:17 PM, one of these characters' actions will change the lives of all the others. Later that night, professional crisis consultant Steven Bradley arrives to help the community deal with the aftermath. An eclectic group of authors spent six months collaborating on American Roulette, a blockbuster novel full of tension, dread, and anguish. Each author created one of the eight key characters-complete with a supporting cast-who find themselves sharing a common destiny. Readers have but a single day to get to know each of the protagonists before time and circumstances seal their fate.

The second (and paperback version) of a four part series of chapter books for elementary school children and their grownups, Priscilla and the Snow Fort traces the steps of five young people and their beloved Priscilla. Personal stories unfold. Characters expand. And the troubling reality of loving folks experiencing homelessness become clear. This adorable book takes the reader on a gentle journey through some pretty tough real life terrain.

A kinder gentler way to learn about homelessness.The first book of a series, this is an enchanting tale written by accomplished author Pat LaMarche and delightfully illustrated by Bonnie Tweedy Shaw. We are introduced to a gaggle of children from varied backgrounds, who befriend and are befriended by their mentor Priscilla, who holds court from her park bench. Priscilla the Princess dispenses Royal Titles, pretend tea, and lessons on park flora and fauna, kindness and manners. As the story unfolds the characters and the reader explore thoughts and feelings about homelessness, as well. It is an excellent book, full of fun, mystery, suspense, and lessons about today's world.

America... how could you let this happen?As a career journalist and candidate for vice president of the United States, Pat LaMarche lived in homeless shelters and situations across the nation while campaigning. Her intent was to highlight the plight of folks she cared most about in our society: veterans, babies, kids and their parents, the elderly and the tempest-tossed (to quote Emma Lazarus from the Statue of Liberty). All those folks - she thought - were left out of the discussion during the 2004 election cycle. The book followed in 2005.Fast forward 15 years - Pat has since worked running homeless shelters, fought with the system, crisscrossed the nation multiple times, and directed the kindness of others to help those she identified as needy.This newly expanded book more than doubled the size of the original as Pat shares her experiences from the front lines. Mass sheltering, housing regulations, climate change caused homelessness, epic disasters affecting babies, toddlers, school kids, the working poor, veterans, and the elderly are chronicled - including Hurricane Katrina (where she was stationed as a journalist) and more recently Paradise, California, the site of the deadliest wildfires in California history which rendered 27,000 people homeless in a day. She also examines the coming eviction tsunami.As a bonus, the original 2005 book is also included.