Local author Jamie Norton will be at Brandon Public Library on Dec. 11 to discuss his debut novel, The Second Act Comeback.

Norton grew up in West Rutland and has written for various daily and weekly newspapers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and upstate New York. He specializes in contemporary, real-world fiction that focuses on the dynamics of relationships between family members, friends, and co-workers, and battles with personal demons.

The Second Act Comeback is a heart-wrenching but hopeful coming-of-age story interwoven with an emotional but redemptive adult contemporary story that follows Mickey Patrick, a former theater star who finds out his wife Beth is six weeks pregnant—but they haven't been intimate in six months. It's the latest bump in a relationship that has never been smooth. When they first got together a decade ago, Beth's temper hit too close to home for Mickey, who grew in an abusive home. To avoid her wrath, Mickey fell into a destructive pattern of lying and omitting "minor" details, and it all backfired in explosive fashion when the truth came out.

Now, with the tables turned and Beth caught in a huge lie, Mickey learns he and his wife have bigger problems than he imagined. And it's not just that the baby isn't his. It's the troubling fact that they're both miserable, they're both drawn to other people, and they're both afraid to admit what they really want. Then, during a whirlwind weekend surrounded by friends and family, Mickey rediscovers a version of himself he thought he'd lost forever, and he begins to wonder whether his broken marriage is even worth fixing at all.

Norton will discuss his inspirations for the novel, perform a brief reading, and hold a Q&A session. Signed copies of The Second Act Comeback will be available, and he will also be happy to sign copies for any readers who have already purchased the novel. The event begins at 6 p.m.

The novel is published by Valenza Publishing out of Glens Falls, NY. For more information about the author, go to www.jamiescreamsintothevoid.com, and to learn more about the publisher, visit www.valenzapublishing.com.

Event Info

Dec 13, 10 AM to Dec 14, 2024

Dec 13, 2024, 6 to 8 PM

Dec 17, 2024, 5 to 7 PM