Mom and Dad’s Martinis [Book Tour with Excerpt]

Welcome to the April 6th stop on the blog tour for Mom and Dad’s Martinis by Jacelyn Cane, organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for excerpt spotlights, reviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

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About the Book

Mom and Dad’s Martinis
A Memoir
by Jacelyn Cane

Published 17 June 2019
Tellwell Talent

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Page Count: 135
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Jacelyn Cane’s mom and dad liked their martinis dry: straight gin on the rocks with a dab of vermouth and a hint of water – and they liked them often. They also liked to party; they danced, socialized, and drank – they were good at all three. Sometimes this behaviour led to humorous situations – antics in the pool, at the club, the cottage or in the car, for example. Other times, however, the experiences were not so funny – family fights and times of neglect, trauma, and abuse. By weaving together a series of episodes that take the reader to light and dark places, author Jacelyn Cane tells a poignant cautionary tale for anyone affected by alcoholism and/or family struggles. The author is using a pseudonym and most of the names in the book have been changed to protect people’s identities. “Mom and Dad’s Martinis: A Memoir” is a great read for anyone who has experienced a childhood mixed with joy as well as sorrow. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and hope.

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Excerpt

I was twenty-one when I realized my parents were alcoholics. When we were young, their drinking seemed more controlled – or at least I didn’t notice it as much. They were the only family I knew, so their drinking seemed normal. They always had their martinis before dinner, and dinner was often very late, but we ate together, and mealtimes were generally civil. As Duncan, Sandy, and I got older, however, my parents often ate later than we did, so the drinking continued into the night. Mom always had dinner prepared before she started drinking. That way, she only had the last-minute touches to worry about.

One night, Mom was banging around the kitchen, as she put dinner on the table for herself and my father. She was so drunk. By about nine o’clock, they sat down in the kitchen to eat. I heard them talking from my bedroom.

“Charles, why don’t we invest in John Beatty’s hovercraft business?” said Mom. “I think it’s really going to be a success.”

“Dot, dry up,” said Dad. “I’m not investing in something so risky. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, I do,” said Mom. “John’s got good business sense.”

“Shut up, motor mouth.”

“Tom, it’s my money too.”

“It’s not your money. It’s my money.” He took another sip of his martini. “I worked hard all my life for this money.”

“Well, I’ve worked hard all my life too,” Mom responded, as she cut into her pork chop. “I’ve supported all of your hard work. I’ve raised three kids. I’ve cooked, I’ve cleaned, I’ve ironed. I’ve worked as a volunteer.”

“Don’t give me that crap!” he yelled. “Your whole life has been one big vacation.”

I felt sick to my stomach. I hated hearing my father put my mother down like that.

Not long afterwards, I decided to write them a letter.        “Dear Mom and Dad,”

“I love you both very much, but am very concerned about your drinking. I think it is out of control. You drink every night and I think you are both alcoholics. Could we please talk about how to solve this problem?

Love, Jackie”

After my parents were asleep, I left the letter on my mom’s beside table, so they would read it in the morning when they were sober.

About the Author

Jacelyn Cane was born and raised in Toronto. She lives with her husband, and near her three children and step-daughter. She is a retired elementary school teacher who also worked in social justice education with the United Church of Canada. She has worked in theatre and as a reporter. She was educated in Toronto, earning a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Canadian History from York University. Later, she earned a B. Ed. at the University of Toronto. She is passionately involved in numerous social justice issues such as climate crisis concerns and Indigenous rights. She loves meditating, writing, reading, music, laughing, and being around nature. She is motivated by a deep sense of spirituality. Her number one love, however, is being with family and friends.

Website | Goodreads

Giveaway Alert!

Jacelyn Cane will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.