Wade Rouse, the award-winning memoirist who writes under the pen name, Viola Shipman, discussed his new novel, The Heirloom Garden. The book follows two women, separated by a generation but equally scarred by war, who find hope, meaning and friendship through a garden of flowers. Wade discusses his grandmothers who influenced his writing of five novels, the personal grieving he’s gone through and how those experiences have influenced him as a gardener and as a writer. Also discussed are his humorous memoirs, and he gives readers a glimpse into his upcoming writing plans.

Discussed in this segment:

Written as Viola Shipman:

The Heirloom Garden

The Summer Cottage

The Recipe Box

The Hope Chest

The Charm Bracelet

Written as Wade Rouse:

America’s Boy: A Southern Boy’s Triumph Over Husky Jeans, Beauty Queens, and Broken Dreams

Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler: A Memoir

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life

It’s All Relative: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine: A Memoir

• Viola Shipman’s Website: https://www.violashipman.com • Wade Rouse’s Website: https://www.waderouse.com

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