Marti Leimbach

06/01/06 - Marti Leimbach

Bracknell Library’s Afternoon Reading Group enjoyed a double treat to start the New Year – not only were they given a sneak preview of the forthcoming novel ‘Daniel isn’t talking’ but its author, Marti Leimbach came along too!

American author Marti Leimbach has written several novels including the international bestseller, Dying Young which was made into a film with Julia Roberts.

‘Daniel isn’t talking’ is a powerful novel which explores the effects of autism on a young family. It is a passionate and darkly humorous novel that explores a mother’s determination to help her child.

Marti gave us a fascinating insight into how she came to write the book, which draws significantly on her own experiences. The book raises lots of issues related to autism and we really valued the opportunity to put our questions directly to the author.

‘Daniel isn’t talking’ is published in March. Marti hopes that the book will raise awareness about autism and related issues.

Synopsis

Melanie Marsh is an American living in London married to Stephen, the perfect Englishman, who knew the minute he saw her that she was to be his future. But when their youngest child is diagnosed with autism their marriage starts to unravel at great speed. Stephen runs back into the arms of his previous girlfriend while Melanie does everything in her power to help her son and keep her family together. And then one day Melanie hears about a man named Andy O'Connor, who calls himself a "play therapist" and has a client list so long she can barely get him on the phone. Some say he's a maverick and a con artist of the first degree, but when he walks into the house and starts playing with her child, Melanie knows she's found the key to her son's success, and possibly to her own happiness. "Daniel Isn't Talking" is a passionate and darkly humorous novel that explores a mother's determination to help her child. A love story for grown ups, it somehow extends its wisdom far beyond the parameters of disability and into the substance of human nature itself. A tense, moving novel that will make you laugh at loud even as it breaks your heart.