The Flower Reader (57 page)

8. The hand-lettered and hand-painted book of French fairy tales that belonged to Rinette’s mother is very significant to Rinette, and when Nico copies it, it becomes a symbol of her new life. Is there a book that particularly symbolizes your childhood to you? If you could have it reprinted, would you change it? How?

9. If the language of flowers was universal, what bouquet would you send? What flowers would it include? What message would you want to convey, and to whom would you send it?

PHOTO BY MARK ORISTANO

Elizabeth Loupas
was born and grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She has lived in New Mexico, New Orleans, North Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, and Austin, and now makes her home in Coppell, Texas, on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.

She hates housework, cold weather, and wearing shoes. She loves animals, gardens, and popcorn. Not surprisingly she lives in a state of happy barefoot clutter with her delightful and faintly bemused husband, her flower and herb gardens, her popcorn popper, and two beloved beagles.