The Story Behind Raising the Dead by Jayne Lisbeth

 

 

 

 

The Story Behind Raising the Dead

By Jane Lisbeth

The story behind all my books focuses on the evolution and distillation of women’s lives through their loves and friendships. This is the engine that steers the ship of words I sail on. 

There are several backstories to Raising the Dead. First is my lifelong obsession with cemeteries. Their peacefulness has always beckoned me, their silent beauty. The many stories under, and on, tombstones, goads my imagination. My favorite hobby is creating gravestone rubbing prints, combining my love of history and art. I discover stories under and above each tombstone with names and dates carved in stone. I imagined a book to be written by spirits romping through cemeteries, preserving their family histories to those listening.  

I am a lifelong diarist. Over the years I revealed and discovered myself, friends and lovers. Now, my journals are a useful research tool. They are the zeitgeist of each era I have lived and learned through. All these times contribute to Raising the Dead, which is set in the early 1970s. 

In Raising the Dead my main protagonist, “Emeline,” is much like many adrift young women I have known. Emeline is bereft after the deaths of her parents. She has moved from her beloved childhood home on the California Delta, across the country to Virginia with her new husband. She meets “Felicity,” an older woman who becomes her dearest friend and mentor. The mystery of Raising the Dead arises with the sudden disappearance of Felicity, who Emeline has come to rely on. Emeline is heart-broken. She is determined to discover the whereabouts of her dearest friend and “other mother,” Felicity. Through the help of new friends Emeline makes, both living and dead, the mystery of Felicity is unraveled

The story behind the Raising the Dead evolves from a dear friend and mentor in my life who departed this world too early. She encouraged my writing and mentored me in every step of my own journey. Raising the Dead is a tribute to this remarkable woman. Her life is woven from the yarn which becomes the tapestry of my novel. Combining all these aspects of my backstory, Raising the Dead is a tale of friendships, history, a love of cemeteries and spirits. The final message of Raising the Dead is the importance of enduring love. 

Adding to this mix is my love of antiques and their restoration. My many years living in California are also a driving force, as well as my love of birds, wildlife, nature and the fauna of life.  

Readers and reviewers of Raising the Dead all agree they “could not put the book down.” The ending of my novel does not disappoint. Raising the Dead is a heart-warming tale of the haunting journey of a young woman maturing into womanhood.

 

 

 

Jayne Lisbeth’s second novel, Raising the Dead,  is a coming of age book which delves into the importance of friendship between women and men, strangers and spirits. 

Raising the Dead, bookmarked in the year 1979, is the exploration of a young bride’s struggle towards maturity and overcoming the depths of grief.  Ms. Lisbeth’s beautiful, poetic prose weaves history, love, friendship, reading,  culinary arts, crafts and the beauty of nature into the development of Emeline, the protagonist of this remarkable work. 

Synopsis: 

 Emeline, a new bride, has been  transported from her beloved home in the California Delta by her husband with their move to his mother’s home city, Charles Town, in Virginia.  Marooned in grief after the deaths of her beloved parents. a mysterious elderly woman, Felicity, befriends her. Through Felicity Emeline learns to love reading, cooking. She also becomes confident enough to reach out to others and form new friendships. Felicity teaches Emeline the craft of chair caning, which becomes a lucrative enterprise which further assists Emeline in her search for independence and maturity. When Emeline is most dependent on Felicity her friend mysteriously disappears. With the assistance of her new-found friends Emeline searches and discovers for her lost friend. Through the love of  friendship, her husband and her friends assist Emeline in her search for Felicity, Emeline’s mentor and “other mother,”  Emeline discovers a frightening spiritual reality which uplifts her in unimaginable ways. Through friendship she learns the value of love and the enduring spirit of those who have touched her life, even if they are no longer among the living.

Raising the Dead is a mystery to be unearthed by the reader in these poetic pages.  Loveable and quirky characters, both living and dead, entrance and entertain. Reviewers of Raising the Dead  “can’t put this book down” until they discover how and where Emeline finds her dear friend. Emeline’s  friendships, the development of her relationship with her husband and her search for Felicity help this young bride to move into her future. Emeline is a beloved heroine worthy of the most sophisticated and avid readers.

Raising the Dead is available at Amazon.

 

 

Jayne Lisbeth was born in NYC and continued her life’s journey from Long Island, to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, California and Tampa, all places featured prominently in her writing.  Her first book, a memoir, Writing In Wet Cement has been published internationally by London based publisher, Austin Macauley. Jayne’s second book, Raising the Dead, a work of historical fiction, mystery, friendship and the supernatural, was published in 2023, also by Austin Macauley.  Ms. Lisbeth publishes monthly “Food for Thought” blogs on her website, Jaynelisbeth.com. Her “Food for Thought” blogs are based on her reflections of  life, friendship, love, and topical subjects of interest. Ms. Lisbeth’s non-fiction, poetry, and short stories have been published from Vermont to California to Tampa, Florida where she has received awards at the local level. She has been published locally in Pages of Our Life, volumes I and II which is currently part of the USF, Tampa, Geriartic Studies Programs. Ms. Lisbeth’s short stories have been published in the LEC Phoenix Anthologies, 2015-2023. Jayne’s interests include writing, reading, exploring, traveling, calligraphy, gravestone rubbing, entertaining and cooking.  Jayne’s author’s website is Jaynelisbeth.com. Ms. Lisbeth and her artist husband, Tim Gibbons, are the owners and founders of Funky As A Monkey Art Studio, providing art in public places and launching new and emerging artists in exhibiting their art.

Author Links  

Website | Amazon Website | Publisher’s Website | Facebook | Instagram