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Breaking Anaphora

Memoir

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Synopsis

Rachel has written Breaking Anaphora as a creative memoir understanding the inherent power in entertaining while informing. The impetus for writing her memoir stems from a desire to share her journey of transformation. 

Genre: Creative non-fiction memoir with hints of magical realism.

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Word count: 86,770.

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Tagline: Can a pesky ghost help heal a mother/daughter relationship in dire straits? Can vicious cycles of abuse ever truly be broken?

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Audience: BREAKING ANAPHORA is for anyone who believes in ghosts, breaking cycles, and the healing power of self-love but also appreciates a bit of Aussie rock music, na na na na na na na na thunder!

With just enough cash for bond, Rachel leaves her alcoholic mother and kowtowed father behind in country town Wauchope for the steel city of Newcastle. She moves into decrepit Havelock Hostel with fifty fringe dwellers and a framed picture of The Lady Of Shallot upon her bedroom wall.


When the elusive ghost of Havelock Hostel appears and touches Rachel on the head, she is paralysed with fear. But she leaves behind a golden lock of hair, a clue. When TAFE teacher and mentor, Stellar, senses Rachel’s depression, she hands her a business card for a therapist she describes as the best in the business who will know exactly what she needs.
Rachel breaks it off with abusive boyfriend, Dregg, but fears he will return. She phones best-friend Gretchen for help to only be let down, once again. A phonebook in the phone booth opens to a page with a golden lock of hair. A sign. She reads over the card from Stellar and makes the call.

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Therapist Leona exposes Rachel’s drinking, smoking, depression, and midday sleep-ins as becoming just like her mother, a confronting realisation. Rachel attempts the affirmation from Leona: ‘They were doing the best they could with what they knew and believed’ with lordly landlady Maria. After fifty recitals she doubts it will ever work. And her ghost The Lady Of Havelock, urges her to write her new life story.
 

With Leona’s counsel Rachel feels the courage to confront her mother on the neglect and abuse. When she attempts to tell her how she really feels, her mother reveals her childhood sexual assault. This has a significant impact on Rachel allowing her to finally understand her mother.


Years later, Leona highlights the anaphora in Rachel’s life, the repetition: principal Pringle as a repeat of her critical mother; the work-place bully as so-called best-friend Gretchen in disguise; and her unhappiness with her partner a mirror of the dreaded Dregg.
When Rachel’s mother is suicidal, she heads north to help. Her mother takes on some of her daughter’s suggestions and her mental health improves - as does their relationship. 


Rachel quits her teaching job to fully commit to the inner-work and have a break from demanding and critical Principal Pringle. She’s on a mission to break anaphora. The sabbatical by North ‘Heaven’ Beach introduces a flirtatious chef, affirmation reps, and the Indigenous Spirit of Dragon Rock all showing her the way to experience life unbridled. The ultimate goal – to attract people who love and support her.
Six months later, Rachel’s mother suffers a severe stroke from which she won’t recover. On her mother’s deathbed, she recites the mantra: ‘She was doing the best she could with what she knew and believed’. Early the next morning her mother visits her in spirit where unconditional love and forgiveness transpires between them.


Rachel is hopeful she will forge a close relationship with her father offering to move in and help. When he rejects the idea, Rachel is gutted but accepts that this is the best he can do with what he knows and believes. With a little help from Archangel Michael, she moves on. She confides in new love interest, Dusty, the truth about Leona enjoying a new found zeal for life. She is confident she won’t pay forward what was done to her.


BREAKING ANAPHORA is for anyone who believes in ghosts, breaking cycles, and the healing power of self-love but also appreciates a bit of Aussie rock music, na na na na na na na na thunder!
 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present. This land was never ceded.

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