Every Waking Moment

July 15, 2013
Fledgling documentary filmmaker Devin Hillis finds simple stories fascinating. When he arranges to film the residents of Desert Gardens Retirement Home, he thinks he has hit the mother lode. Unfortunately, investors are not as enamored with his concept of focusing on “old people sitting in a nursing home” and Devin’s inheritance is dwindling. Time, and the patience of his partner Jonah Verwer, is running out. When Desert Gardens’ director, Miriam Howard, is forced into her own retirement, she remains drawn to the lives of the residents and staff, especially a young janitor named Treha. Treha has a gift for connecting with residents that the new retirement home director does not particularly appreciate. As Devin and Miriam join forces to help Treha understand her own mysterious past, the story uncovered has momentous effects on all involved. Against the somber landscape of the physical and mental deterioration that often accompanies aging, Christy Award–winning novelist Fabry (Almost Heaven) crafts a character-driven tale of dignity and compassion for those who seem to have lost importance to society and, for some, even to their own families. This thought-provoking read challenges the prevailing cultural calculations of the value of a person’s life. Agent: Creative Trust Literary Group.

September 1, 2013
Devin Hillis makes documentaries about the elderly. The shorter ones are played at funerals as tributes to the deceased. Devin's prize project, however, is a major documentary featuring the residents at Desert Gardens, an assisted-living facility. The problem is, Devin doesn't have the heart to collect his fees from bereaved family members, and his big project isn't finished, so basically, he has almost no income. With his landlord threatening eviction, and his partner wanting out, Devin still believes in his documentary. As Devin continues to film at Desert Gardens, he notices Treha Langsam, an unremarkable-looking woman deeply engaged in conversations with the residents, most of whom seem hopelessly uncommunicative. Treha, the product of foster homes, is a whisperer, and somehow has been blessed with the ability to communicate with those with dementia and Alzheimer's. Writing in his trademark lyrical style, Fabry (Borders of the Heart, 2012), spins a poignant tale about our society's invisible seniors and the woman and man who see their potential.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)