Worthy

Cover image showing title "Worthy" in green with author's name; a silhouette of a young woman facing away with thirteen stars on her back; ghostly face looking at her; four puzzle pieces scattered across the cover; underneath a large photo of a violet.
Pocket paperback cover of Worthy, published March 2023.

Links to Purchase Worthy

Storyline

…I am coming to realize that the course of true love never runs straight, Little Sis. Ever since Amelie and I had our night together, the tone among her friends has become very suspicious. They have been tossing around a new word, “jouet” which means “plaything” and I’m convinced they’re talking about me though Amelie denies it. Her friends almost always use it with her name, as in “Le jouet d’Amelie” whenever I’m around them so I find her denials very fishy.

Excerpt from “Worthy Sisters (Regan)”
Black and white AI generated painting of two young women dancing beneath a full moon.
Luna, winning entry by Regan Valentine Worthy in Seattle Art Institute’s prize for high school students, October 1963.

A tragic artist and her grieving sister alter the destiny of Leah Walker, a driven businessperson determined to avoid becoming a mother. A decision Leah makes in graduate school arrives at her office eighteen years later in the person of Genevieve, leaving them both to consider how fate often has other plans.

During her rotation in neurology, [Rhiannon] falls under the scrutiny of the head of the department, Dr. Daniel Winthrop Hawkins. He seems to have more than a professional interest in her, making subtle inquiries into her afterwork activities and hinting at whether she has a boyfriend. Rhiannon always tries to maintain a professional demeanor and deflects most of his questions.

Excerpt from “Worthy Sisters (Rhiannon)”

The story begins with a trio of sisters, Regan, Rosalind, and Rhiannon. Losing her older sister and nearly her own life has a profound effect on Rosalind and influences her desire to recreate Regan’s artistic vision in a startling way. Youngest sister Rhiannon faces her own challenges as a single mother to Abigail, and a busy nurse. Does she have a better handle on Regan’s wishes than Rosalind, who was much closer?

It isn’t every day that a lab assistant gets to hand pick her successor, but Hadassah Gershon plans to do just that. She knows the perfect candidate to take her place working for the very demanding Rosalind Worthy (nope, sorry, Rosalind Duchard; she’s Duchard now).

Excerpt from “Worthy Pursuit”

The choices Rosalind makes have life or death consequences for some of those she manipulates to achieve her ends and bring about her daughter, Genevieve. Left to her devices, Genevieve sets out to find the mother she’s never known and unravel the many controversies surrounding her existence. Can she find the answers she needs to make some sense of what it took to bring her to life?

Wednesdays are rather long for Genevieve. Once classes are done, she has orchestra, then Chess Club along with several other orchestra mates. She often doesn’t make it home until six-thirty or seven. Today, she’s anxious: Abigail indicated that she’d be processing Genevieve’s DNA sample, and Genevieve wants to learn if any interesting secrets have been revealed. She’s not prepared when she arrives home to find not just Abigail, but Rhiannon waiting for her.

Excerpt from “Worthy Childe”
AI generated photos of how Genevieve might look.

Based on the award-winning play Another Mother, Worthy demonstrates that all actions have consequences and that fate is inevitable.

Four photos depicting a woman around forty-four, with auburn hair and blue eyes, dressed in business attire.
Four AI generated photos of how Leah Walker might look.

Genevieve stands at the door labeled “L. J. Walker Security Consultants, LLC” hesitant to go farther. From Abby’s visit the day before, she knows there shouldn’t be more than one or two people inside, but they’re certain to be formidable. She takes in a deep breath, and, as she lets it out, pushes the call button, then removes her phone and turns away from the camera pretending to text.

Excerpt from “Worthy Mothers”
Facebook banner showing profile picture of a blonde child of indeterminate gender holding a kitten; banner features two crosses and a caption in white lettering on a blue background that reads: "Wives submit yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:18".
Facebook banner for Zelda Burch, created by Genevieve Duchard.
Animated wolf head with "Lupo" in large red letters with "Digital Services" underneath; URL "lupo.com" and "gmlupo.com" in blue at the bottom.