Exploring complicated issues from a woman’s perspective
Dancing in Quicksand
A NOVEL
What happens when family values meet domestic violence?
One woman’s search to find meaning beyond the ties of her toxic marriage
“A promising first novel that offers a lighter-than-usual take on a deadly serious subject”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Do the best you can … when you know better, do better.”
— Maya Angelou
I’m Lucille (Ceil) Payne, and I write about women’s agency — a woman’s ability to make and execute personal decisions about her own life versus feeling or being trapped by social norms, religious dogma, and family expectations.
As a kid, I followed the rules. As an adult, I looked for alternates when tradition or the norm didn’t mesh with my values.
I write about characters who challenge the status quo.
Dancing in Quicksand is my debut novel. A second book will follow in 2024.