Book excerpt: "...in these compelling stories of loss lies the possibility of renewal, both for the characters and for ourselves." Kimberly Meyer, The Book of Wanderings Dorie, a divorced middle-aged woman, has given up on life. Living in a large, too-quiet house in Houston, Texas, she has shut herself off from the world, preferring to be alone with her books and her thoughts. When Dorie unexpectedly receives an invitation to her ex-husband's wedding, it is more than she can bear. She retreats to the only place she finds any solace-the sea. Meanwhile, Clementine, a young artist overwhelmed by grief, makes a journey in search of her lost boy. Teetering on the edge of madness, she wanders up and down the Texas Gulf Coast, trapped in a space between reality and dreams. On a moonlit winter night, she emerges from the waves, staggering along the shore near the remnants of her shattered life. Soon after moving into her little yellow house by the sea, Dorie discovers Clementine's journal and begins obsessively devouring each word. Her curiosity leads her into a journey of self-discovery, connecting her to the raw beauty of Bolivar Peninsula and the eccentric, generous locals who call it home. Fate has brought both women to this small rural community. When their paths finally collide, will they drag each other into despair or begin to transform into who they were meant to be? A story of human resilience, Shiny Bits in Between explores the journey of transformation through connection with self, community, and the landscape we call home. What does it truly mean to move forward after a life-changing tragedy? Is happiness forever lost, or are the shiny bits in between enough?