‘Geographies of the Heart’ Summie’s first ‘sisters’ novel

“Geographies of the Heart,” a novel about family and reconciliation, is the latest publication from Farragut author Caitlin Hamilton Summie. Summie said the novel, which took three years to complete, was inspired by three of the stories in her first publication, “To Lay to Rest Our Ghosts,” an award-winning collection of short stories published in 2017.Since she already had enough for another book, “I decided I would finish the story,” Summie added.

Geographies of the Heart,” published by Fomite and released Tuesday, Jan. 18, is a tender fictional story centering around two sisters, Sarah and Glennie McMillan, who grew up in a multi-generational family. While Sarah’s devotion is to her family, younger sister Glennie is devoted to her career. However, as they age, their different priorities force them to renavigate their family geography. Both women had different expectations of their roles within their family, creating a tumultuous relationship between the sisters, she noted.“Family is the first geography,” Summie said. “It shapes our hearts where we first take root.”

“Sarah shoulders both caregiving and loss largely alone and grows bitter about Glennie’s absences, until one decision forces them all to decide what family means – and who is family,” a press release stated, adding the book “examines the pull of tradition, the power of legacies, the importance of forgiveness and the fertile but fragile ground that is family.”

The novel’s plot, while not about Summie’s family specifically, was inspired by her own love of family.

“I grew up in a multi-generational family,” Summie said.

By reading the book, she said, “I hope kids see dreams do come true and reconciliation can be possible.

“I’m proud of it,” Summie added. “I stuck with it.”

The book can be purchased at Amazon and any local bookstore. For more information, e-mail rick@caitlinhamiltonmarketing.com

Background

Summie, who attends Concord United Methodist Church, and her husband, Rick Summie, run a marketing firm, Caitlin Hamilton Marketing and Publicity, LLC., which publicizes new authors.

She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree with distinction from Colorado State University and her short stories have been published in Beloit Fiction Journal, Wisconsin Review, Puerto del Sol, JMWW, Mud Season Review , Belmont Story Review, Hypertext Magazine and other publications. “To Lay to Rest Our Ghosts” won the 4th Annual Phillip H. McMath Book Award, Silver in the Forward INDIES Book of the Year Award for Short Stories and was Pulpwood Queen Book Club Bonus Book.