Longing to Belong - Paperback

by Judi Bergen (Author)

A must read Longing to Belong by Judi Bergen is beautifully written in a style reminiscent of Faith Sullivan's Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse. Turtle Creek, Iowa comes to life through the eyes of Amanda MacGregor, a young woman struggling to fit in with others in town. Her life is haunted by a family tragedy and secrets held by her father's maiden sister who runs their household. Bergen's characters drive the story within the milieu of small town life. Sue Grove, English & French emeritus faculty, Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota.Longing to Belong, Judi Bergen's debut novel, is an authentic, compelling story that draws the reader into the hidden layers of a family's tragedy shrouded in secrecy. Recommended read for those who want to know the characters inner lives and how they affect the trajectory of their actions. Kathleen Vellengaauthor of Strangers in Our Midst and In the Midst of Bounty.

Author Biography

Judi Bergen has a master's degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin. She has worked as a therapist in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings for over forty years. For the ten years before she retired, Judi also worked with Hospice patients and their families. Writing has always been an important part of Judi's life. Her short stories have been published in literary journals. Her 2005 essay about a hospice patient was published in a rural life magazine and placed in the top five in the National Writers Association that year. Longing to Belong is her debut novel. She lives with her husband in Austin, Minnesota, where they have enjoyed raising their three children.