For decades, author Ann Goethals nurtured other people’s stories as a high school English teacher, a union leader, and a mentor. Now in retirement she’s finally able to tell her own stories. Her debut novel, ‘The Doublewide”, was released in late September this year and introduced readers to a tender, northern Michigan rooted story that has been quietly resonating with audiences since its release.
Goethals, who divides her time between northern Michigan and Chicago, retired from teaching just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. During her 34 years in high school English classrooms, she developed writing centers, shaped teacher training programs, and served in union leadership. Once she stepped away from the world of academia she found herself with the unexpected gift of time. She filled her time at first with essays and short fiction published in online journals and Substack before turning her attention to a story that had been simmering in her mind for years.
The story became “The Doublewide”, the tale of Candy Schein, a soft spoken 28-yearold who works double and triple shifts in a retirement home while saving every possible dollar for one, modest dream — a home of her own. Candy’s life changes when she discovers a mystic blue doublewide that captures her imagination as completely as it challenges her to step out of her quiet routines. As Candy edges toward independence and connection, the people around her help shape a journey that is profoundly human.
