An Austere Performance

by Neal Smith

Is something missing from Roni’s life? She doesn’t even know. Veronica Ambler—“Roni,” to friends and family—lives a simple, repetitive existence. She finds comfort in it. She has few attachments to others and enjoys working as a freelance musician. When she wakes up on a beautiful summer day, the only thing she has to do is attend her niece’s christening service. At the party following the service, hosted by Roni’s brother, Vincent, and his wife, Tori, Roni is shaken by a chance conversation with the minister. He asks her about her “personal theology,” and Roni is troubled by the question. Roni will ponder this and other big questions through the unfurling years. Along with Vincent, Tori, and her many friends, Roni grows older and wiser. She helps others through painful breakups, tragic medical conditions, sexual awakenings, and more. She meets lovers and must decide whether she can truly share her life with another. The dreamy, philosophical An Austere Performance gives you a glimpse into the mind of one extraordinary woman at different moments throughout her journey of self-discovery. Only she knows how it will end.

242 pages, Paperback

Published December 29, 2016