“POSITIVELY DELIGHTFUL AND HUMOROUS.”
Sassafras: A Novel
Newly widowed Champs Noland hates Egret’s Pond, the retirement community he nicknamed Regret’s Pond.
Tired of empty condolences, “What to Expect When You’re Grieving” pamphlets, and casseroles delivered by do-gooding widows, he flees to his ramshackle summer cabin on the Sassafras River bringing the golden urn containing Pat’s ashes with him.
His plan?
To spend his days idly fishing on his rusty old boat, Tetanus, and drinking beer. Alone.
But troubled waters await him.
Not only is Pat dead, but his daughter Laura has redecorated his beloved cabin with plans to rent it out as a “hair-being-bee.” His boat is gone, his beer fridge is filled with watermelon-flavored Perrier, and his plans for solitude are shattered by interfering neighbors, a notorious chicken-farming arsonist, and the arrival of his demanding adult children.
When he’s confronted with a shocking secret, Champs must decide if he’s going to dwell in the past and continue to hide behind his gruff exterior, or let go of the golden urn and embrace the uncertainty of living—and loving—again.
By turns poignant, humorous, and uplifting, Sassafras is a richly drawn story of the transformational power of loss, friendship, and family.
“Beautifully told through humor and sarcasm, that you’re never too old to change (for the better) and to forgive, even when you don’t want to.”
“Charming, heartening, laugh-out-loud funny!”
“The character development of this novel was one of its strongest points, along with the humor. If you want an easy, funny, charming read for this fall, look no further.”
“Trish Heald is an excellent storyteller with a true knack for developing real-life and memorable characters.”
“The author has captured Champs’ voice with honesty and grit and I smiled many times and laughed out loud quite a few at his perception of life.”
“The twists and turns in this narrative make you want to keep flipping the pages, and you grow more and more attached to the characters with each chapter. By the end, you have truly gone on a wild ride with each and every one of them.”
“This is a heart-warming, feel-good story, and the setting of the Sassafras River adds perfectly to the charm of the novel.”
“Sassafras has all the elements of a good family drama . . . But what I loved most about this book is how the whole family drama was unraveled in a satirical unhinged way.”
“This was a beautifully written book. Very touching, full of some crazy family issues as [Champs] holds on to his wife in an urn. I was connected to Champs on a deep level.”
