In The Insistence of Memory, reality bends when Joanne discovers her husband’s secret creation: a machine that can record memories and play them back in someone else’s mind. Read on to learn about the characters you will meet in this contemporary novel.
Main Character Descriptions
Joanne Simon
Joanne grew up in the small town of Parkview with her close friend Eleanor. She married her high school boyfriend, Jeff, and has eight-year-old twin daughters named Sarah and Ruthie. After Jeff’s death, Joanne is left to manage the fallout from the secret memory machine he left behind. While she wants to preserve his creation, Joanne has her own secrets that would be better left in the past.
Eleanor Wagner
Having grown up together, Eleanor and Joanne feel more like sisters than close friends. As adults, Eleanor and Joanne live in neighboring houses, and Eleanor often visits with her two-year-old son, Nolan. Though her husband, Andy, helped Jeff create his memory machine, Eleanor is wary of digging into the past. Above all, she wants to protect Joanne from more heartache.
Andy Wagner
Andy, Eleanor, Joanne, and Jeff grew up together before becoming neighbors. Andy worked at “the Lab” with Jeff, where he helped him “borrow” equipment for his memory machine. Though Jeff is gone, Andy still wants to move forward with the project, sure that Jeff’s invention will lead to a big payday.
David Tyler
Dr. David Tyler is a cognitive neuroscientist who works at a research facility known locally as “the Lab.” His research focuses on memory formation and retrieval, which led to a work friendship with Jeff before his death. Though David knew nothing of Jeff’s invention, Andy now thinks David can make the project a success.
Supporting Characters (may include mild spoilers)
Doug Mitchell – Doug is Joanne’s personal attorney and a friend of the family. He has known her since she was a child and helps her with legal issues, such as those that have come up since Jeff’s death.
Mark Ferguson – Mark grew up in Parkview with Andy, Eleanor, Joanne, and Jeff. Questions about Mark come up as the story delves into the main characters’ adolescence.
Fletcher Williams and Madeleine Lanik – Fletcher and Madeleine work at the Lab with David Tyler on a team led by Dr. Keller. They become suspicious when David seems distracted by something outside of work.
Look for The Insistence of Memory on Amazon or wherever you buy books. You can also learn more here: The Insistence of Memory
