THE LOST GIRLS

A retelling of J.M. Barrie's classic tale Peter Pan - with an exploration of the life of Wendy Darling before, during, and after her visit to Neverland - and how she could never forget Peter Pan.

In the practical world, "Peter Pan" is a syndrome referring to adult men unwilling to grow up. But what of the women who love them? Is there a "Wendy" syndrome? Extrapolating from the JM Barrie children's story, Laurie Fox asked herself what Wendy Darling's life might have been like - before, after, and during her visit to Neverland?

The answer is The Lost Girls, a brilliant and fantastical investigation into four generations of women who loved Pan. In Fox's imagination, Wendy is but the latest in a long line of Darling women whose storytelling power, appetite for fantasy, and belief in magic allow them brief interludes under the light of the legendary young hero. While Peter never grows old, the Darling women do - each with the knowledge she will bear a daughter who will inevitably entertain Peter Pan and his lost tribe. Flirting on the line of madness, our protagonist Wendy cannot take the Darling calling so lightly. Fox investigates Wendy's dilemma with the skill of a psychologist, examining the warring impulses within Wendy - her yearnings for freedom and security, fantasy and reality. It is an investigation that will resonate with women young and old.

Laurie Fox is the author of the autobiographical novel, My Sister from the Black Lagoon, The Lost Girls, and the interactive poetry book, Sexy Hieroglyphics. She has also published two chapbooks, Sweeping Beauty and I Love Walt, and her poetry has been included in several literary journals. A graduate of the University of California Santa Cruz, Laurie has written and performed in dozens of plays and performance artworks. A former bookseller of both new and antiquarian books, Laurie was also a long-time creative writing teacher and works in publishing. A native of Los Angeles, Laurie resides in Berkeley, CA. -