Background for Higher Powers: a Contemporary Novel:

The idea for this novel first took place in … oops. Too embarrassing. It has been a while, but it has been a labor of love. It’s been enjoyable to create, watch, and observe the characters develop.

I will acknowledge that daughter of mine who has inspired me the most: Christine Marie Arena (mother of three, wife to Richard, Director of Richmond Catholic Theatre). It was our second-born who imparted to me that when it comes to a character, I’d better know their favorite color, favorite ice cream flavor, their parent’s names, their tendencies, their loves, and dislikes. Her suggestion of developing the character wholly and completely impressed upon me a new level of novel writing. She is a woman of many talents, and I am grateful that she inspired me so powerfully.

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ABOUT

Higher Powers is a contemporary novel set in 1999, along the river Lilly. It features three lottery winners—seemingly unlikely to meet—and it explores the myths, mysteries and inconsistencies of the aura of playing and winning the Lottery. It’s also a character study on many levels and it explores those higher powers in most everyone’s lives.

Higher Powers features two individuals: Helen Wade and Joe Sullivan, as well as one dysfunctional family: the Causeys. The hero/heroine is Helen and much of the story is wrapped around her. Joe might be an Everyman character, with foibles, vulnerabilities and some fairly good traits. The Causeys feature four members who don’t particularly like each other.