The Haynie Public Library hosted a book signing by author ShannaGroves, daughter of former Prague police chief Jim Bartlett. Groveswill be signing copies of her debut novel, Lip Reader.
Thebook tells the story of Sapphie Traylor, a young girl growing up inrural Oklahoma in the early 1980s. Twelve-year-old Sapphiedescribes her relatives with vivid detail— her mother who lives in afantasy world, a grandmother born deaf, a stern preacher-grandfather,and anaunt fluent in sign language but lacking in social graces. It is up toSapphieto solve the mystery of her mother’s secret life while finding thecourage toforgive and have faith.
Groves was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss at age 27 after the birth ofher first child. The book sheds light on how hearing loss affects all agesand how one family copes.
“It is becoming more common among people ages 20-50,”Groves said.“Of course, a family history of genetic hearing loss can make young people moresusceptible.”Groves has written about her hearing journey in Hearing Loss Magazine, The Kansas City Star and A Cup of Comfort for Nurses. Lip Reader isher first novel.
Read more about LipReader at http://shannagroves.blogspot.com.