1. SECOND CHANCE A Novel by Johnny Payne
Kara makes a decision to end her days on Earth. SECOND
Writing a note to her family and dog, she be- CHANCE
lieves this is the finale. A quick trip to the bridge
overlooking the riverbanks and her cares will be
over. But life has other plans for Kara and so
she must begin anew. Her ebullient best friend
Amanda blithely courts dangers of her own. Her
daughter Darla believes she is a prophetess who
controls the fish in the aquarium. Son Bucky,
tender and sarcastic, is reaching a brooding pu-
berty, while husband Kyle begins to wonder how
he ever could have wed so mercurial a woman.
In some way, each depends on the strength of
this central female figure. Second Chance is a
comedy dark around the edges, about snatching
triumph from the jaws of humiliation. Its close-
knit, offbeat characters ring with the wit, poet-
ry and wiles of everyday existence. They move
from heartbreak to joy while barely noticing.
Their collective journey to redemption begins
with the impulsive jump of a desperate wife and
mother and ends with an unexpected trip to the
mountains, taking in along the way everything A Novel By
from arson and the Angel of Death to sailboats Johnny Payne
and Scrabble.
Johnny Payne is also the author of the novels Kentuckiana
and North of Patagonia. He has just completed Silver Dagger,
a novel set in 18th century Ireland, the first in an Irish tril-
ogy. He serves as Assistant Dean for Special Projects at UTEP
and is the founder of the Bilingual MFA in Creative Writing.
Payne has written opera libretti for professional and university
stages. With the notable chef Marilau, he is currently co-au-
thoring a cookbook on traditional Mexican cooking. He lives
with his wife Juana and their sons in El Paso.
ISBN
189 pages
Trade Paperback
www.stanleypublishing.com