My guest today on What Cathy Read Next is Greg Schindler, author of The First Avocado. Published on 20th February 2025, Greg describes The First Avocado as ‘a coming-of-age story’ narrated by Annie, an “almost eight going on twenty-one” baseball playing tomboy. It’s based on his mother ‘s memories of her family’s eventful seven week journey from Port Huron, Michigan to Tampa, Florida in 1927. Along the way Annie receives her mother’s wise answers to some of life’s difficult questions and learns more about her family’s history.
One reviewer has described The First Avocado as ‘a touching reminder of youth, resilience, and the power that love can carry in the face of life’s many challenges’, recommending it for readers who enjoy books with ‘character-driven narratives, rich historical detail, and bittersweet nostalgia’.
I’m delighted to bring you an extract from The First Avocado which is available to purchase from Amazon.
Extract from The First Avocado by Greg Schindler
The next day after we went bathing, I got Mom to brush my hair and weave my pig tails. We sat on a log out a little ways from the camp, all by ourselves, and while she was brushing, I popped the question about the birds and the bees.
Speaking low and slow, trying to sound grown-up. I jumped in. “Mom, when do my breasts are grow out? And what the heck do husbands have to do with having babies?”
After a long silence she sighed a big sigh and said, “Oh Annie, you’re so young to learn about all that grown-up stuff. I hoped you might stay a child a little longer. Let me think on it a day or two, and I’ll get back with you.”
“Stay a child a little longer?” I repeated. “Gee, does knowing about grownup things make me grow up?”
“Not really,” she said. “But in a way it does. Kinda.”
That was so confusing.
“Now Mom, It can’t be both!” I insisted.
“Well, there’s the physical part of growing up and the mental part. Learning grownup things won’t change you physically, but mentally it will a little. And we moms so enjoy having our innocent little girls around a while.”
“But, Mom, I can’t stay little if really I’m big.”
“No, of course you can’t. Nobody can. But being almost eight years old doesn’t really make you all that big, either. Let me think on it.”
“But Mom, I’ve been almost eight quite a while, and everybody says I’m going on twenty-one.”
“I know, she laughed. “Now you hush and hold still while I finish your hair. I said I’d think on it.”
My back was to her. I smiled a tiny victory smile. It was a matter of time. I could hear it in her voice.
But I’d heard a sadness in her voice, and immediately felt sad and sorry for Mom. I’d argued her into something she didn’t want to do—something that made her sad.
“I’m sorry Mom,” I said quickly. “It’s okay if you wanna wait a few years to tell me grown-up stuff. You gotta do what’s best.”
She kissed the back of my head and cleared her throat. “Oh, moms just want their kids to stay kids forever,” she said low. Then she laughed. “You’re far too close to twenty-one for that.”
I was happy to hear a smile back in her voice.
Our talks are some of my favorite memories of that trip and of my mom.
About the Author
Greg Schindler has been a poet since he took a creative writing class in high school. During the seventies and eighties he penned song lyrics. An occasional short story writer, he turned three of his short stories into children’s books in 2013. His first book of “poetry, songs, and humor” was published in 2014.
His adventure novel, Last Voyage a the Vengeferth, published in 2017, was described by one reviewer as ‘the best possible present to give anyone for International Talk Like a Pirate Day’.
Retired for several years, Greg spends his winters in Sterling Heights, Michigan writing, and his summers hybridizing daylilies — a hobby he has enjoyed since 1995. His two hobbies cross paths when he names the daylilies he registers: “Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie”, “Matchless Fire”, “Color Me Harmony”, “Unique Up On Me”, “Morningcloud Marmalade”, etc.
Connect with Greg
Website | Goodreads
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