Current work-in-progress

It’s 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Frances’ mother has announced she is boarding a train in Montreal, and intends to stay at her daughter’s house for a proper visit. This could mean a week, or even months. Frances isn’t ready for a visit from her mother, not one like this. They haven’t spent that much time together since the children were born. A lot has changed since then, and Frances knows that nothing escapes her mother’s notice. There’s a great deal she doesn’t want her to see.

This is the story of two women wanting to restore their relationship, but uncertain how to see eye-to-eye on the past. And as Alice sees the true state of her daughter’s marriage and uncovers a shocking secret, will she be able to persuade Frances to fight for her right to happiness? Will Frances forgive her mother for her unconventional life choices, and find the courage to make some of her own?

Although this will be written as a sequel to The Lady Photographer, The Lady Wife will be designed to be read also as a stand-alone novel.

Anna Shannon thanks the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for their generous support of this project.