Veda: A Novel
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If Vedaβs mama hadnβt pounded religion into her βthe way she pounded the dirt out of Papaβs overalls,β she probably wouldnβt have married Raymond in the first place. Itβs the Great Depression and jobs are scarce, but it seems to Veda that Raymond uses religion as an excuse for why he canβt find work. He canβt work on the Sabbath, he canβt work around crude or vulgar men, and he will not join a union.
After years of financial hardship, four babies, and what Raymond calls βVedaβs accident,β Veda defies her church and files for divorce. The mysterious loss of her second husband is devastating, and in order to raise her kids, she does things she is not proud of. Over the years she has blamed the church, Raymond, fate, and herself for her troubles, but it is Charlieβs recklessness that swallows up every bit of pride she has left.
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Ellen Gardner was born in Oregon where her father followed crops looking for work and her mother did whatever she could to keep food on the table. She married young and while raising her own family, worked at a variety of jobs in insurance, banking, and government, as well as taking care of the paperwork end of her husbandβs contracting business. After her children were grown, and she was remarried, she seized the opportunity for a college education. Indulging her love for liberal arts, she discovered a passion for writing. Now retired she splits her time between writing and her other passion, photography. She lives in Southern Oregon with her husband and his cat from a previous marriage.
Tamara Marston has been an actor, singer, and director for more than thirty years. A career performer and musician, she has toured nationally with several groups and appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and A&Eβs Goodtime CafΓ©. Dividing her time between acting and singing gigs, choral conducting, music and stage directing, jingle and voice-over work, private and public teaching, and family, Tami feels very fortunate to make her living working in the arts.
