MVNU grad returns to promote novel

As a child, Courtney Turcotte Bond struggled with reading.

“My parents had to invest in some tutoring and some phonics help,” Bond told the Mount Vernon News. “But once I was able to start reading pretty well, I fell in love with books and storytelling and the fact that there was an author on the other side of those pages that made that story come to life for me.”

After graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, she became an English teacher and author.

Bond, who now lives in Topeka, Kansas, returned to Mount Vernon on June 4 for a book signing of her novel, “Breathtaking.”

Also appearing at the book signing — held at Paragraphs Bookstore — will be fellow MVNU graduate and Mount Vernon native Adam Boyd Stevens, whose poetry is included in the novel. Stevens will also sign his book of poetry, “Spinning Between Sunlight and Shadow.”

Bond’s novel was inspired by one of her students, Madison Taliaferro, who suffered from the lung disease cystic fibrosis.

“She was homebound,” Bond said. “The school district hired me to tutor her. I worked with her for two years. I was at her house a lot and kind of became part of the family.”

Madison had a double-lung transplant at age 12.

“The story of Madison and her lung donor was absolutely fascinating to me,” Bond said. “That’s when the idea for ‘Breathtaking’ popped into my head.”

In the novel, Bond tries to raise awareness of the disease and the importance of organ donations.

Sadly, Madison did not survive.

“She passed away in December of 2018,” Bond said. “She knew that she had inspired this book. She was real excited about it. I was only about 25% done with it when she passed away. I was not even sure I wanted to finish the book, knowing that she would not get to read it.”

But Bond completed the novel in part as a tribute to Madison.

“I decided there was no better way to honor her life than to go ahead and complete this,” she said.

She interviewed Madison’s friends and family for the book, and also the family of the lung donor.

“The book is dedicated both to Madison and her lung donor,” Bond said.

Proceeds from the book will go to scholarship funds in honor of Madison and her lung donor.

"Breathtaking" is available on Amazon or at Paragraphs Bookstore, 229 S. Main St. in downtown Mount Vernon.