This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pamela McConnell will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
This true story is about a girl who is born up north; into a conservative, fundamentalist/evangelical family—but then becomes a Liberal Buddhist.
Her family moves back to their roots in the Appalachian south, where Pam is molested by her grandfather. She later owns her sexuality by becoming promiscuous; beginning a pattern of serial dating, marrying, and divorcing.
She is first married at 18 to another 18-year-old, who gives her a beautiful son—but he is a redneck and they have nothing else in common. Her second husband is a talented musician but turns out to like sex with men. Her third husband speaks five languages and is a Pakistani, but he beats her up. Her fourth husband is a chef who makes delicious meals but turns out to be a felon and a crackhead. Finally, the love of her life neglects to tell Pam for seven years that he is married.
In the meantime, Pam completes two degrees and works as a counselor, and then 20 years as a hospice social worker. She begins her hospice career in Southern California, where she has moved to get away from the DEEP South. That is where she converts to Buddhism. From that point, she begins to look inward for the answers to her questions about life’s meaning.
Pam leaves the country after two failed relationships, some years apart. She spends a year teaching English in South Korea and goes from there to Pakistan with her third husband. In between, her dad dies and Pam reconnects and bonds with her mom, backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. When she leaves the love of her life, she goes on Pilgrimage to India and Nepal. The meaning of her life is coming into focus.
At the end of the book, Pam goes on a trek in the Himalayas, on the Annapurna Circuit. Just over the three-mile high pass is a magical Pure Land in Muktinath, with a Buddhist temple that is dedicated to the female Buddha Vajrayogini. With a new perspective, Pam has the realization that her Enlightenment is ensured; she WILL become a Buddha someday.
Read an Excerpt
After the divorce, mom said, “Don’t EVER bring another boyfriend or husband home.”
I didn’t go home for two years, although I wrote snail mail letters each month to answer mom’s letters. During this time Saint had married a 16 year old and had a son, Aaron. He and Clay would grow up to be close.
Saint’s reaction to my divorce was to remind me of a Bible story about ‘The woman at the well’:
“Do you remember they used to stone adulterers in THE BIBLE? I think that might be a good idea today.”
I asked, “What did Jesus say to the men that wanted to stone the adulteress?”
Saint was silent.
I answered my own question, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
He seemed to be saying that maybe I should be stoned, since I was dating again and having sex after divorce. However, that did not stop HIM from dating again after HIS divorce a year or so later. It was DIFFERENT for him. His wife had left him.
I told mom: “If I have to act like Saint to be a Christian, I’d rather go to hell.”
She was aghast; but Pam, The Sinner, didn’t give a hoot. Because Saint was the “injured party” he was allowed to bring his next girlfriend/wife home. Mom coddled Saint and his now two kids, cooking for and babysitting them several times per week.
In contrast, she had told me: “Don’t expect me to babysit for you.”
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