The Widows’ Wine Club
‘I don’t want to be a dried-up old widow woman!’ I remember sobbing in my husband’s arms.
‘You won’t be, my darling.’ Peter was certain there had been ‘a god-awful cock-up’ – to quote – and we would hear in the morning that the consultant had got it all wrong.
But we didn’t. The consultant had got it right, though his timing was out. Three months later I was a widow, trying to work out how to live the rest of my life as a single woman. It was odd. That is my main memory of that time, possibly because of the ‘something to see you through the next few days’ my GP had prescribed. I felt detached from the process, floating above it, watching myself as I did bizarre things like arranging a funeral and even going to it. Then, when my grown-up children had all gone home to get on with their lives, I came down to earth. Crash! Fortunately, friends were there to pick me up – or I’d still be in the floor.
I wrote about it because that’s how I process experience, but not, I thought, to be published. I was a children’s author and this wasn’t for children. Then, ten years later, when Covid struck, and I was stuck at home I found what I’d written earlier and thought ‘Mmm . . . what if?’ and wrote a bit more, and kept on writing, drawing on real life and my imagination, which is how I create stories.
Three women were soon living in my head and on the page. Sweary down-to-earth Viv, buttoned-up churchy Janet and glamorous, philosophical Zelda, all newly bereaved, are heading for the same bereavement support group. Next, they are fleeing from it, horror struck by the group’s dreariness. Now they are bonding over a bottle of wine, uniting in their determination to enjoy life and find happiness, each in their own way. Challenges lie ahead, and this is when they are at their best. Problem-solving is their forte. Down but not out, in their sixties but not past it, they sometimes have spats, but when troubles arise for one, the other two are there for her, racing to the rescue.
I hope you enjoy meeting Viv, Janet and Zelda, and are gripped by their stories. People have praised my ‘sparkling’ style but style is nothing without content. I shed a few tears writing The Widows’ Wine Club, but also had huge fun. I hope you have fun reading it, and want to keep turning the pages.
Cheers!
Julia Jarman
You can start reading Julia’s brand new book The Widow’s Wine Club here: https://mybook.to/widowswineclubsocial