Denise Pattiz Bogard
In the tradition of a Jodi Picoult or Anna Quindlen novel, Bogard’s After Elise centers on a comfortable suburban St. Louis family whose lives are upended by the unexpected. And it involves a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God error many drivers believe will never happen to them as they take just a quick peek at a cellphone text or answer a call. . . Bogard has ended up with a page-turner that deals with grief, yes, but also includes humor, especially in the form of a tenacious grandmother.
Jane Henderson, book editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“The stuff of terrific fiction is mishap — the altering of everything you thought you could believe in — over the course of one brutal instant. In this shattering novel, a generous impulse gone terribly wrong sends two families spiraling down into despair and facing a steep climb back to higher ground. Denise Bogard has written her heart out on this story.”
“The forlorn streets of North St. Louis serve as backdrop for this compelling and well-rendered tale of damaged people learning to trust each other and, with luck, escape the bonds of their darkly troubled pasts. With heartbreaking honesty, The Middle Step inhabits the lives of young women whose stories are too often marginalized.”
David Haynes, The Full Matilda
Photo credit Robert Bogard
Denise loves to hear from her readers and is always interested in attending Book Clubs (in person or by skype) and other presentation opportunities. Contact her using the form or social media links below.
