Credited Screenwriter & Published Author
Raising Artemis
Meet a Story About Second Chances (and First Purrs)
A compelling exploration of the intricate connections we share with our animal companions and the transformative power of their presence in our lives.
Raising Artemis
Ever wonder what your cat is really thinking when they give you that knowing look? Raising Artemis lets you in on the secret - through the witty observations of a very special Birman cat who's got plenty to say about the human they left behind.
Dr. Artemis Nicche thought she had it all figured out at Yale New Haven Hospital until panic attacks turned her world upside down. Now she's stuck at home, wrestling with memories of both the pandemic's chaos and a childhood she'd rather forget. Her best friend Mel feels a million miles away, and the empty spot on the couch where her cat used to sit? That's starting to feel like the Grand Canyon.
But here's where it gets interesting - enter one spunky kitten and two Labs who think they're therapy dogs (spoiler: they kind of are). Together, this furry trio becomes Artemis's unlikely rescue team, helping her piece together the puzzle of her past and figure out what comes next.
Think The Art of Racing in the Rain meets A Dog's Purpose, but with a special twist. It's a story for anyone who's ever looked at their pet and thought, "You totally get me, don't you?" And let's be honest - with 68% of U.S. households sharing their lives with pets, that's quite a few of us! At 78,000 words, it's the perfect length to curl up with your four-legged friend and get lost in a tale about finding yourself - with a little help from the animals who seem to know us better than we know ourselves.
Synopsis
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION
Picture this: Lucy, a wise old Birman cat with plenty of afterlife wisdom to share, has been given a special mission by the spirit realm's animal council - to tell us the story of her beloved human, Artemis. And what a story it is!
When we first meet Artemis, she's a doctor at Yale New Haven Hospital, fighting an exhausting battle against Covid-19. But after losing a patient who touched her heart, the panic attacks start rolling in. Two slip-ups later, her chief (and mentor) Dr. Anderson has no choice but to send her home for some much-needed rest.
Here's where Lucy, along with some help from Artemis's childhood pals - Sam the black Lab and Charlie the chunky Siamese - lets us in on a secret: there's more to Artemis's story than meets the eye. Hidden away in her memories is the loss of her brother Jack, a childhood tragedy she's tucked so deep inside, she almost forgot it was there.
But sometimes the universe has a funny way of healing us. Enter three furry therapists: Phoebe (a sassy Burmese kitten) and two lovable Labs named Maggie and Jessie. With their help, Artemis starts piecing together the puzzle of her past, finally understanding that losing Jack was what pushed her toward becoming a doctor in the first place.
When another panic attack rocks her world after returning to work, Artemis makes a brave choice - trading her stethoscope for volunteer shifts at the local animal shelter. There she meets Rachel, who sees something special in her, and before you know it, Artemis is running the whole show as Executive Director. Talk about a plot twist!
Years pass, filled with triumphs (like rebuilding after a devastating fire) and countless animal lives saved. By the time retirement rolls around, only Phoebe remains by her side, but Artemis's legacy? It's written all over the shelter that now bears her name.
In the end, when Artemis takes her final bow, Lucy shows us the most beautiful reunion of all - Artemis, surrounded by every animal who ever loved her, her brother Jack, and her parents, finally understanding that every step of her journey, even the hardest ones, led her exactly where she needed to be.