NOW AVAILABLE
Roland Caine, a man lost in retirement, finds his life forever changed by a visiting peahen. Prudie Kayfall, a clumsy, recent widow, struggles to define her purpose against creeping invisibility. Feisty grade-schoolers led by Racie Walker heist a dreaded teacher’s weapon of destruction. The gut-punch of a shattering hit & run ripples over countless lives. Essays shine light on caring for an aging mother, navigating family politics with a loving grandmother’s hand, the value of creating legacy, and our cultural obsession with youth at all costs.
After her fourth novel, CHICK SINGER, was published (Sibylline Press, 2025), author and singer/songwriter, Lorraine Devon Wilke, decided it would be a refreshing pivot to pull together some of her favorite shorter works. Included are award-winning essays and short stories, sharp commentary pieces, personal family memoirs, and select lyrics (with background anecdotes behind some of her most popular original songs, and accessible links to their recorded tracks). Many entries feature her photographs.
Each piece is imbued with her unique view of the world; all will hopefully move, provoke, intrigue, and entertain readers and listeners alike. ENJOY!
AVAILABLE IN EBOOK & PAPERBACK:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Apple Books
Rakuten kobo • Bookshop • Google Books
“An intimate glimpse at the life of an exceptional artist. Lorraine Devon Wilke has gone up close and personal with her new book, The Mother of My Reinvention: essays, stories & lyrical assemblages. It takes courage to layout your life and your feelings on the page as Wilke has done with this work, but for the writer it’s also a cathartic. To write about the what, where and when helps you come to terms with the who and the why. Many works similar to this are written more for the author themselves than their audience. What takes The Mother of My Reinvention above self-indulgence is Wilke’s unflinching honesty.
“Whether she’s writing about her turbulent relationship with her mother (‘The Mother Of My Reinvention’), or her near miss as a rock diva (‘A Chick Singer Reflects On Dreams, Heartache & Renegotiation’), she presents events as she experienced them and lets the reader come to their own conclusions. She also boldly writes about aging (‘Aging While Woman … How Dare We?’ and ‘Making Herself Known’), a taboo subject, especially for women, with humour, insight, and indignation.
“As well as some of her best fiction (‘She Tumbled Down’), this ‘assemblage’ includes links to seven songs she composed. From ballads to blues, these professionally produced performances are an indication of what a multi-talented, creative force Wilke is.
“Insightful and entertaining, The Mother of My Reinvention: essays, stories & lyrical assemblages provides an intimate glimpse at the life of an exceptional artist.” ~ Rod Raglin, author/photographer
“This is a page turner of a collection written by a prolific and talented writer. Whether it’s a heartfelt essay about her troubled history with her mother or engaging short stories like ‘Penelope For His Thoughts’ or ‘She Tumbled Down,’ Devon Wilke’s ability to give expression to her life experiences in several forms – oh, forgot to mention she includes songs in this book – is quite something. Highly recommend.” ~ Penny Peyser, writer/actress, Sonnets From Suburbia
“There’s something here for everyone, including an essay about failing to meet her dream of rising to fame as a rock star. By the way, how that never happened will always remain a mystery to me. There are links to her music included and she has an incredible voice; I can carry a tune, but Lorraine has a singular talent. After not achieving that dream, she picked herself up, dusted herself off, and embarked on other creative ventures. We are the richer for her efforts. You can read this collection in small bites or devour it whole. Either way, however you decide to consume it, your satisfaction is guaranteed.” ~ Ann Werner, author of After the Apocalypse series
“Lorraine Devon Wilke is a multi-talented artist—lyricist, singer, writer, novelist, essayist, actor, photographer. Her range and inventiveness are impressive. Lorraine’s writing is always insightful, authentic, and, at times, sharp. The Mother of My Reinvention is an excellent compilation of her many skills and highly recommended to glean a broad taste of her work.” Judith Teitelman, author of Guesthouse for Ganesha
Sign up for LDW updates and newsletters. Your address will always be kept private.
Lorraine Devon Wilke 