Annie O'Connell, the director of a local art gallery, hasn't had time to work on her own paintings since her father's death-no, since her father's illness. Her oldest daughter going away to college was supposed to free up more of her time for painting, but she still hasn't picked up a paintbrush-or allowed herself to grieve her losses.
Annie's numbness begins to unravel fast when she realizes that she has been inattentive not just to her painting, but to her marriage as well. Hoping to fix things with Howie by bonding during their yearly family vacation, she and the kids are blindsided when they discover that Howie has been having an affair.
On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Annie chooses to focus on the one thing that is entirely up to her: her painting. Turning her once-meticulous living room into a raging art studio, she begins to taste a freedom she never knew existed.
Navigating the ups and downs of grief, marriage, parenthood, and artistic expression, I Hear Sirens offers an honest and sometimes humorous look at the courage, love, and patience required to embrace life in all its complexities.
About the Author: Marcia Gerardi is an author, painter, and photographer. She has written three novels, numerous short stories, and a lifetime of poetry. Her paintings and photography can be found in private collections and have also been exhibited in many solo and group shows, in locations such as the Museum of Modern Art.
Gerardi's studio is located in Nyack, New York; she and her husband live in nearby Mahwah, New Jersey. You can see more of Gerardi's work at www.marciagerardi.com.
