Faith After Faith: A Novel (Excerpt), A Thesis in the Field of Creative Writing & Literature

Abstract

Faith After Faith is a novel following a young mom through her separation from her Mormon roots as she struggles to build a new life for herself and her autistic daughter. Neurotic, overthinking Faith feels crushed by the expectations placed on her by the high-control religion that rules her home state of Utah, but is accustomed to putting her feelings aside. She accepts her misery until her young daughter also begins to struggle within the confines of Mormon culture. Faith realizes she must make a change, even if it means being shunned from her community, clashing with her formidable mother, and risking her marriage to do it. In the midst of her personal chaos, a fluke tornado hits Salt Lake City. Faith must protect her daughter from the storm, save her estranged mother from the rubble, and begin life again after the destruction. In the process of rebuilding, Faith finds a new best friend, starts therapy and is diagnosed with ADHD, and gives herself permission to live on her own terms. The storm is based loosely on a real tornado that hit Salt Lake City on August 11, 1999, and the events of Faith’s life reflect my own as an ex-Mormon, mother of an autistic child, and a late-diagnosed neurodivergent (ADHD) woman. The novel includes themes of religious transitions, gender roles, mother/daughter relationships, forgiveness, self-discovery, found family, female friendship, and neurodivergence.