Mother Sayings From The Truth Lies Buried

For Mother’s Day last weekend, I put a series of posts on the group Apricot Plots about the sayings of Jenny Simpson’s late mother. Jenny is the heroine from my novel The Truth Lies Buried. I thought I would share them here, along with short extracts from the book.

“Handsome is as handsome does”

Extract from The Truth Lies Buried – ‘She might have imagined his emotion, but she didn’t think so. He may be an attractive man, but as her mother had often said, ‘Handsome is as handsome does’. The veneer of politeness and concern could veil something much darker.’

‘Things make more sense when you write them down.’

Quote from the book – ‘I’ll get some paper and a pen. Things make more sense when you write them down.’
Now I’m starting to sound like my mother. Great!’

‘Don’t let things fester, better to challenge them head on.’

Extract from The Truth Lies Buried – ‘Another of her mother’s sayings washed into her mind … Don’t let things fester, better to challenge them head on …’

‘The world is your oyster. You can be whoever you want to be.’

Quote from the book – ‘She reasoned aloud. ‘The world is your oyster. You can be whoever you want to be, Jenny.’ It was another of her mother’s well-worn phrases. Why did they automatically appear in her head? It was inevitable using the phrases upset her, as they reminded her of her mother too much.’

‘If you don’t know what to do with things, put them in a box until you do.’

Extract from The Truth Lies Buried – ‘Another of her mum’s precepts for life reared up unbidden from the midst of what her mother must have seen as homely and Jenny viewed as a mess: ‘If you don’t know what to do with things, put them in a box until you do.’ She hadn’t yet dared to look in the loft to see just how often her mother had followed her own advice.
She needed boxes and she needed them now.’

A bed should be made to look inviting, so you want to get into it.’

Quote from the book – ‘He looked over. ‘You really didn’t need to make the bed. I don’t usually bother.’
‘A bed should be made to look inviting, so you want to get into it.’ She was quoting her mother, but suddenly realised what she had said and the possible misinterpretation of her words. She blushed to the roots of her hair, mainly because of the unexpected tingle the thought of getting into bed with Carver had created in her body.
He grunted something unintelligible and rushed from the room.
Oops. She laughed. Belatedly, she hoped he hadn’t heard her giggle.’

‘Pull yourself together, girl. You are not a jelly. You are a strong woman used to looking out for herself.’

Extract from The Truth Lies Buried – ‘Pull yourself together, girl. You are not a jelly. You are a strong woman used to looking out for herself.
It was another of her mother’s well-worn maxims.
Jenny laughed aloud as she went straight into the kitchen, filled and switched on the kettle. Her mother would never be completely dead whilst Jenny was repeating her sayings and following her rituals.’

I had such fun writing these sayings for the book. I hope you enjoy them too.

About The Truth Lies Buried

Two children in a police waiting room, two distressed mothers, a memory only half remembered …

When Jenny Simpson returns to the seaside town of Borteen, her childhood home, it’s for a less than happy reason. But it’s also a chance for her to start again.

A new job leads to her working for Carver Rodgers, a man who lives alone in a house that looks like it comes from the pages of a fairy tale – until you see the disaster zone inside …

As Jenny gets to know Carver she begins to unravel the sadness that has led to his chaotic existence. Gradually they realise they have something in common that is impossible to ignore – and it all links back to a meeting at a police station many years before.

Could the truth lie just beneath their feet?

The Truth Lies Buried is now available as an eBook, paperback and audiobookif you would like to read more.

 

Thank you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available now as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available now from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks. This will be available as a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.