Deborah J. Brasket’s moving novel When Things Go Missing, may cause you to reflect on your life in ways that you didn’t expect, as you follow her characters in this very human tale of a family. 

Throughout the book, each family member will be challenged to take stock of their own lives in response to an unexpected change in their family dynamic when their always reliable mother chooses to disappear. While they all love each other, they do have very real issues, and there are times when it’s best to let people resolve things on their own, yet only the people involved can make that decision. 

As a parent, a sibling, a child, a friend, perhaps we’ve all had those moments when we’ve felt the push/pull of wanting to take a break from it all, but how many of us would do it, and what would happen to those we would have to leave behind, even though we love them dearly, while also loving ourselves? Are we helping, are we hurting, by staying or leaving? What happens next?

This book tells this family’s story with compassion, love, humor, and caring, and shows you how people can find a way to find a way, with love and a strong will. I highly recommend it. 

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‘some things are best mended by a break.’

– edith wharton

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In ‘real life’ Deborah is a very interesting person –

She spent six years sailing around the world with her husband and children before returning to California where she earned her MA in English. She taught literature courses to college students, organized a union for adjunct instructors, and fought for affordable housing as the leader of a nonprofit in Santa Barbara County.

Now she lives with her husband among the rolling hills and vineyards of California’s central coast where she writes the kinds of novels she loves to read. “When Things Go Missing” is her debut novel.

She writes about art, literature, and the creative process on her author website/blog at “Deborah J. Brasket, Author – Writing from the Edge of the Wild,” where she also shares her poetry and short stories.

“When Things Go Missing” is available for sale in the following places:

Amazon,  Amazon UK, Amazon AUS, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, along with all major retailers

Deborah’s blog can be found here: deborahjbasket.com

when you realize just bit too late…

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image credit gary larson, the far side

‘during the gloaming mother nature holds her breath.

she lowers her eyes and there is a eerie stillness

much like that in a moment of silent prayer. 

night slides over her as her day is done.

everything about her is now secret,

hidden in the darkness just begun’

-helen osbourne

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dexter, michigan, usa – november 2025

Vallvidrera, near Barcelona, has a curling club. Each season, the members of the club go to the local reservoir and toss a stone in to see if the ice is strong enough to play. Since the water never freezes, they go for brunch instead and raise the toast, ‘We shall play one day’.

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‘i never knew people made a club for me!’

-clay aiken, american singer

wild turkey crossing – use caution

i had no idea they were coffee drinkers.

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the u.s. mint has officially made their last penny, it’s history.

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well,

maybe the way to go is up?

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‘it may be that when we no longer know…

which way to go we have begun our real journey.

the mind that is not baffled is not employed.

the impeded stream is the one that sings.’

*wendell berry

*Wendell Berry is an American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer.

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Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA – 2025