Ambitious young journalist Violet Maris secures a coveted residency at a prestigious artists' and writers' colony in 1980s Provincetown, armed with a file of stories written by a dear, older gay friend. Her intention: to write a captivating exposé based on these narratives. However, Violet's promising start at the colony takes a dark turn when tragedy strikes— her friend, the true author of the stories, succumbs to AIDS. This loss plunges Violet into turmoil, compounded by the weight of the terrible secret she carries. Compelled to confess, she confides in a member of the colony's board with whom she has become romantically involved. The revelation of her deception leads to Violet's expulsion from the program, leaving her grappling with disgrace and searching for a path toward redemption and reconciliation— with herself and those she has inadvertently hurt.

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About the Author

DIANE WALD is a poet and novelist who grew up in New Jersey, but lived most of her life in Massachusetts. She has an MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked as a library assistant, periodical circulation manager, English professor, academic dean, and in-house writer for a national animal welfare organization. Her novella “Gillyflower” was published in 2019 and won first place awards from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and American Book Fest, among other accolades. “My Famous Brain,” her second novel, won first place in Visionary Fiction from the New York City Big Books Awards, first place in Visionary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, and Speculative Fiction from the Firebird Book Awards, and was a bronze winner in the Foreword INDIES Awards. Diane has also published more than 250 poems in literary magazines. She is the recipient of a two-year fellowship in poetry from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and has been awarded the Grolier Poetry Prize, The Denny Award, The Open Voice Award, and the Anne Halley Award. She also received a state grant from the Massachusetts Council on the Arts. She has published four print chapbooks and won the Green Lake Chapbook Award. Her latest work, “The Bayrose Files,” winner of the Novella award from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, is out May 2025 from Regal House Publishing. Learn more at www.dianewald.org.

Connect with Diane Wald: Facebook: @sleeperina | Twitter: @sleeperina | Instagram: @dianewaldwriter