A Letter in the Wall: A Novel

In 1971, Joan Dumann fears her former business partner wants her dead, but her anxiety is less about dying than it is about feeling disrespected and invalidated. She revisits her past and is met with resistance when she attempts to push against the norms for women of her time. This story is a fictionalized imagining of who she was and what motivated her, examining the internal and external factors that influence one woman's journey toward independence and empowerment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: SparkPress

In 1971, Joan Dumann is plagued by the fear that her former business partner intends to have her killed. However, her concern extends beyond mere mortality; it is rooted in the profound sense of disrespected and invalidated that she feels. As she embarks on the task of composing a letter to articulate her predicament, Joan delves into the depths of her past.

Born into a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family in 1915, Joan experienced a childhood marked by privilege and opportunity. Yet, within her, churned a tumultuous sea of thoughts and unfulfilled desires, a battle that often led to self-destructive tendencies. Determined to forge her own identity against the prevailing norms for women of her time, Joan encountered resistance. Yet, she could also be her own worst enemy, often alienating those who cared deeply for her. Joan's character is a complex tapestry, characterized by a blend of manipulativeness, vulnerability, naivete, and cunning. Like many individuals, she is a multifaceted being, often misunderstood.

The inspiration for this story stems from a letter that was discovered hidden in the wall of a Pennsylvania home more than half a century after Joan's passing. This letter serves as a fictionalized imagining of Joan's life and the forces that shaped her journey toward independence and empowerment. Spanning several decades and pivotal events, from the 1918 influenza pandemic to Prohibition, the Great Depression, and Vietnam, A Letter in the Wall explores the intricate interplay of internal and external factors that shaped Joan's path.

This captivating novel will resonate with fans of Benilde Littles' Who Does She Think She Is?, Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, and Leslye Waltons' The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. Joan Dumann's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-discovery, offering a profound exploration of the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781684631339