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"I've got CFIDS," she explained. "Epstein-Barr. And I really hate it." "I've got HIV+AIDS," he said softly. "And I really hate it." The two medical syndromes looked at each other. So starts out this beautifully written novel about Grace McHeath whose life is turned upside down when famous fashion designer Henry "Honri" Smith comes to the lake on her property to die. Faced with the task of unburdening himself with his prior life, he gratefully accepts Grace's terse invitation to stay in her studio until his disease wins its battle. Coming out of her own personal shell of isolation, Grace weaves a tale to help ease the pain of his suffering. The guided meditation takes Grace, Henry, and Henry's faithful nurse, Myrtle on a road trip to Conyers, but not before taking a detour to Graceland where Henry dances to Jailhouse Rock. As she tells her story with detailed meticulousness, Grace discovers an awakening within her soul. Through Henry's suffering, she uncovers her own limiting truths. On a scale of one to five Kleenex boxes, Ms. MacDonald's wonderful book scores a seven. |
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Reviews and Accolades ". virtually leaves the reader in awe. Ms. MacDonald writes with such passion, awareness and biting reality, it becomes a humbling experience to read such eloquent prose. She expresses with raw clarity the mindset and physical suffering of the terminally ill through superbly portrayed characters that evoke empathy and compassion. A powerful, outstanding book." "Ali MacDonald has written a heartrending story...a serious, thoughtful work of fiction..." -Mat Rapacz , Little Falls Evening Times "Consider watching the world as it passes by your front window. Safe behind the glass, you catch glimpses of other people's realities, and you superficially connect with lives that may never intersect with your own. From your distant vantage point, you can view vignettes of life that have beginnings and endings but no past or future... like viewing segments of a movie; sometimes you witness enough to make sense of what you've seen. Sometimes you are even profoundly affected by the experience. Dancing with the King at Conyers, a recently published novel by St. Johnsville author Ali MacDonald, is like that. From the first paragraphs of the story when Grace McHeath looks out her kitchen window and sees migraine-induced, 'long gray lines of rain reaching from sky to ground' and watches the car of Henry 'Honri' Smith drive up her driveway, to the last pages when an ambulance takes the HIV-AIDS-stricken visitor away, you are struck by the transitory nature of the experience." |
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About the Author ALI MACDONALD has lived a diverse life, starting out with a stint in the Air Force when she was eighteen. This experience led to her eventual writing of a collection of Air Force Women short stories. Since that time, Ms. MacDonald has been the recipient of numerous creative writing, and poetry awards along with several grants. She has initiated writing workshops at the local elementary level along with teaching a senior memory workshop. In between her works of poetry and short stories, Ms. MacDonald writes occasionally for the local newspapers. |
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