SWIMMING LESSONS is the latest novel by beloved author Mary Alice Monroe. In SWIMMING LESSONS, Mary Alice Monroe returns to South Carolina’s breathtaking Isle of Palms in a heartwarming
novel that unravels a tale of how lives can change over one magical summer.

It’s been five years since the original turtle lady, old Miss Lovie Rutledge, passed away but her legacy lives on with some special women, especially Toy and her daughter, young Little Lovie. Toy Sooner kept her graveside vow to her beloved mentor. She left behind an abusive, dysfunctional lifestyle to become a strong single
mother and Aquarist at the South Carolina Aquarium. But success has taken its toll, leaving Toy fearful of change and risks. Caretta Rutledge, Florence Prescott and Emmaline Baker have all experienced loss. This summer, with each other’s friendship and support, they will try to make their dreams a reality.

The turtle season begins the day Toy rescues a sick sea turtle on the beach. When Toy brings the loggerhead to the aquarium she begins a turtle hospital with the help of her boss, Ethan. As the summer progresses and the sea turtles take their measured steps toward healing
and freedom Toy, Cara, Flo and Emmi must find their own strength to face their fears and move courageously toward their futures.

In the novel Toy assembles a journal of photographs and sketches for her young daughter depicting the summer they spent tending the turtles. While Mary Alice was sitting on the beach with my fellow turtle lady (and photographer), Barbara Bergwerf, they talked about how wonderful it would be to bring to life the images of the journal in a book for children. The result is Mary Alice Monroe’s first children’s book, TURTLE SUMMER: A Journal for my Daughter. This is the journal Toy wrote for Lovie and a companion book to the novel.