How We Healed: a novel

This book was such a terrific read. I loved that it was told from so many different perspectives, really felt immersed in the lives of all the characters. I appreciated the friendships that developed between Drunetta, Raycie, and Rose; they were so great for each other and really pulled me in to the story being told. Would be great to see spin-off’s to tell more about the lives of each of the friends and children we met. – Amazon Review

BEST BOOK AWARD FINALIST for American Book Fest

“An often vivid family saga, centered on a satisfyingly complex matriarch.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This book did an excellent job of teaching essential life lessons.” – OnlineBookClub.org Review

There is nothing ordinary about the journey we take in life, or the people in it.
A tale of starting over and an unforgettable odyssey of healing.

How We Healed follows Drunetta Brown, an oppressed black housewife desperate to escape her drunkard husband and small-town southern life. After fleeing with her youngest children to New York City in 1957, she finds unlikely friendship with Sister Rose, a church secretary, and Miss “Raycie” Rayceen, a boisterous bar singer. These women prove to be the right friends at the right time as they help Drunetta navigate her journey of self-discovery.

With a determination uncharacteristic of her time, Drunetta ultimately learns what’s worth sacrificing—and, more importantly, what isn’t—to secure her place in a changing world.

The book was well written and sucked me in at the very beginning. The stage was set and the show began and didn’t stop until the end. I enjoyed the different characters and learning about each of them. The story was engaging, emotional and beautiful. Great job!! -Amazon Review

About the Author

Melody Fowler is a free-spirit born and raised in Vancouver, BC. She worked for prominent Vancouver law firms, a psychiatrist, and retired after decades working for a Crown Corporation. She is also a recognized painter and a poet. Her art has been showcased in local galleries and she published a book of poetry, “Life Lyrics” in 2011. She now lives outside Vancouver, with her husband Arric, where their backyard, affectionately known as the “Fowler Vineyard”, continues to produce amazing wines and jellies.

She has a wide range of poetic influences – Charlie Bukowski, Maya Angelou, Khalil Gibran, Alice Walker, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, Natasha Carrizosa and fellow Canadian Shane Koyczan.

A novel she has co-written with her husband Arric Fowler, “How We Healed,” released August 24, 2022.