Authorpreneur Dashboard – Anna Land
PARKED A Novel
Literature & Fiction
Can growing up without love stop someone from finding love? On a freezing night in December 1975, in a trailer park on the outskirts of the small, southern town of Randolph, the life of six-year-old Teenie Outler is forever changed in a moment of blind rage. Left alone with Jubalee, her cold, resentful grandmother, Teenie Outler searches for love in this touching, realistic, heartbreaking and funny Coming of Age novel. Set in the 1970’s and 80’s, Teenie’s trailer park world is brimming with sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. Resilient and determined, Teenie takes what comfort she can from others while freely giving back what little she has to offer on her way to discover sometimes it’s not blood that makes us family—it’s love. Parked is the captivating, unforgettable story of a young girl whose path in life is lonely and tragic but also filled with humor, hope, irreplaceable characters and tender moments of happiness. "This story tugs at the heartstrings and reminds us to remember that we are our own and no one else's; and that family and tradition can only define us if we let them. Fantastic book!" -Christopher M. Beith, author "If life had a V8 engine, Teenie's foot would be heavy on the gas...PARKED is character driven. You'll find yourself invested in each character…You'll root for them, scream at them, shaking your head, like they can see and hear you." - Patricia Garber, author
Book Bubbles from PARKED A Novel
The Truth Can Set You Free
Aunt Ed is not only a likeable character (we all need an Aunt Ed in our life) but she is also a valuable character. It is through Aunt Ed that we learn the history of Jubalee and Teenie's grandfather and now, through Aunt Ed, we learn the bitter reason why Jubalee has always been so unkind and harsh with Teenie. With Aunt Ed's insight into what makes Jubalee treat her the way she does, Teenie begins to glimpse a freedom from the years of trying to please someone whom she can never please, and being able to stop begging for the love of someone who will never love her. It plants in Teenie's mind seeds of freedom- freedom from the past, her pain and her tormentor.
Wait 'til MamaGets Home
CJ, Teenie's mother, has been gone for ten years. When she returns, it is not at all like Teenie had imagined. CJ is so far removed from Randolph, Teenie and the life they once had together, she can only continue to be distant and apart from it. Teenie feels everything and nothing both at the same time. A reader said once in a review that they had felt cheated by the fact the words they wanted to hear CJ and Teenie say to each other never came...but to be honest, what more could either of them say and still have the characters be real, raw and believable?
Here Kitty Kitty...
I believe that attraction is a chemical exchange, whether it's between a boy and girl, or a different combination. Teenie is not looking for anyone, but there is something about Kitty that fascinates her and scares her just a little. We know that Teenie is attracted to strong personalities, and Kitty is no exception. And, as usual, Teenie does not stop to think of the consequences...she just does what feels right in the moment.
Not Safe Even In Her Safe Place
With Harvey's death, Teenie is forced to say goodbye to the only person in her life who is genuinely good. When Jubalee harshly confirms Teenie's worst fear, she flees to her garden. Throughout her life, Teenie has had various "safe places"-- her mother's closet, Dell's kitchen, and now, her garden. Unfortunately, the hurt is deep and even her safe place can't protect her from the pain.
All Bark and No Bite
Yes, it's completely dysfunctional and yes, it seems like it is based solely on necessity, but the relationship which Teenie shares with her father, Trigger Reed, is one of the most normal and thriving relationships Teenie has in her life. Trigger is an interesting character. Incredibly flawed, weak, stubborn and slow to learn from his mistakes, he is none-the-less likeable. He loves Teenie and she loves him despite his flaws. This is a touching scene to me because Trigger tries to express to Teenie how much he loves her the only way he knows how.
A Heart as Big as her Boobs
Rhonda Vescovo is probably my favorite minor character. I love her freedom and her boldness. A composite of 3 girls I knew in junior high/high school, I've always called Rhonda "the tramp with the heart of gold." Teenie doesn't judge Rhonda the way others do- she sees the goodness in Rhonda, the part of her that is worthy of being loved. Rhonda, in return, offers her the same thing to Teenie.
Viva Las CJ
Teenie is able to laugh off the surprise that Juablee and Harvey have eloped to Vegas without telling her, but she is completely floored by the news that they saw CJ, her mother, whom she has not seen in ten years. While the realization that Jubalee has kept CJ's whereabouts from her is almost too much for Teenie to take, it is an exciting time for the reader who has been wondering for most of the book what had happened to CJ and if they would see her again.
My Family
Dell, like Teenie, is short on real family. It's one of the things they initially connect on in the beginning of their relationship. On their first Christmas together, Teenie is surprised by what is an annual gathering of friends at Dell's trailer- people who she learns Dell considers his "real family." I love the last line of this excerpt because it's true- it's not blood that makes you family, it's love.
Nice To Meet You
Teenie and Dell are both incredibly, physically attracted to each other. It's as much a chemical thing as it is timing. Teenie, although experienced with other "boys," knows Dell is undeniably a man- a fact which both terrifies and excites her. The ten year age difference may seem shocking to some, but in Teenie's world, it's very commonplace for young girls to date much older men.
Trick or Treat
Bored and abandoned by Rhonda on Halloween night, Tennie meets Dell for the first time. Even though Casey "Dell" Delmar is much older than Teenie, there is a real, instant chemisty between them. It will change, of course, later in the novel, but for now there is something undeniable about the way they connect almost immediately.
Number One Fan
Kara Lynn is different than the girls Trigger usually dates. At first, Teenie is judgmental of Kara Lynn and finds fault with her little nuances. Over time, however, Teenie begins to see a direct correlation between Trigger's sobriety and Kara Lynn's presence. While it doesn't make Teenie like her more, it does cause Teenie to be more accepting of her.
A Business Proposal
When Frankie approaches Teenie with what he calls a "win-win situation," she is torn between a solution to her problem and her natural repulsion for Frankie. With Free out of the picture, Teenie doesn't have the imaginary moral obligation to him anymore. In her eyes, she has lost it all. Since she thinks she no longer has value, she agrees to Frankie's proposal. It's a real low point for Teenie and it's where the reader should wonder: How is Teenie going to turn this around?
Hot Lips
Teenie doesn't have anyone telling her what is right or wrong but because she is instinctively a "good person," she begins to self-impose restrictions on her actions and makes justifications for what she does and does not do. Once again, Rhonda helps creates a contrast between Teenie's actions and her own, allowing the reader to judge someone else while Teenie is doing something they may find offensive in order to keep her a likeable protagonist. Rhonda Vescovo may be my favorite minor character.
Ain't Nothing Free
Teenie likes to make her own money, mostly because it gives her independence from Jubalee. Resourceful and hardworking, Teenie has been able to create an income for herself through non-traditional means (like her cigarette selling business). When that changes, Teenie struggles to find a replacement. It's no surprise that Jubalee isn't willing to help her.
If You've Got It...
While Rhonda is fully aware of her body and how to use it to her advantage, Teenie is still trying to figure out exactly how sexuality works. Rhonda is most definitely a bad influence on Teenie, but yet at the same time Teenie does nothing to rein in Rhonda by being the voice of reason. Shameless, beautiful, and untethered, both girls discover how powerful a woman's body can be.
The Bad Girl
We all knew girls like Rhonda Vescovo when we were in Junior High. Girls like Rhonda were the first ones to have a boyfriend, to have sex and to tell the rest of us about it. When Rhonda latches on to her, Teenie is so desperate for friendship she accepts Rhonda despite her obvious flaws. Why I Created Rhonda: Compared to Rhonda, Teenie looks like a good girl. I wanted Teenie to be a likeable character even though some of the things she does are not likeable, so I gave the reader someone else to judge rather than Teenie.
Opportunity Knocks
Teenie makes her decisions based on necessity and not on what is morally or ethically sound. That is why she doesn't hesitate to take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself for her to make some much needed cash. Teenie's decision (to chose money over what is morally correct) opens up the door for her to later on accept another "business opportunity" based on necessity rather than morality, with much higher consequences.
Small Town/Small World
Growing up in a small, southern town is difficult enough as it is without being labeled as unwanted and unworthy, like Teenie is. She is a natural outcast because of her family, where she lives, and who she choses as her friends, but she doesn't let it define who she thinks she is. She makes the most of her small world and the people who fill it.
First Crush
Off-limits to parents, the skating rink in our small town was a sanctuary for us kids while we dove into the air conditioned, unchartered water of friendship, boys, first crushes and first kisses on those endless summer nights. Although Teenie seems a little young to already be aware of boys and their "stuff"- you must remember that Teenie is not a sheltered child. Rather, she has always been exposed to the truths of the world under a bright, harsh light. Free is, and always will be, Teenie's first crush.
Worst Fear
When Mrs. Lottie Lou Armstrong, who everyone calls “Dolly,” hits Jelly with her car on a late June evening, she is so drunk she thinks she’s run over a dog. Dolly keeps laughing, asking why they are putting a dog into an ambulance. Jelly is the third kid she’s hit in the past year.
Your First Smoke
As kids, we imitated our parents. Who remembers sneaking a cigarette when the grownups weren't around? It's 1979 when Teenie tries, unsuccessfully, her first smoke with hilarious and disastrous results...
Neighborhood Friends
I grew up in a small town during a time where children were allowed to roam their neighborhoods freely. Your parents sent you outside and you searched out the other kids in your neighborhood. When I was seven, my best friend lived two houses down. Teenie knocking on Jelly's door makes me think of her.
