New Books Network Ann Cavlovic, "Count on Me" (Guernica Editions, 2025)
Nov 15, 2025
Ann Cavlovic, a talented author from Western Quebec, discusses her novel Count on Me, which dives into the complexities of elder care and family dynamics. She reveals how the frailty of aging parents and unresolved debts can fracture families, showcasing sibling rivalry and the darker side of financial entanglements. Through her characters, Cavlovic weaves a narrative that balances empathy and critique, exploring the transactional nature of love and the subtle signs of elder abuse. Her insights into these profound themes are both hopeful and poignant.
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Long-Brewed Interest In Love And Money
- Ann Cavlovic developed a twenty-year fascination with the tension between love and money before writing Count on Me.
- She connected that curiosity to observing family conflicts in nursing homes where inheritance disputes surface.
Do Tough Estate Tasks Sooner
- Ann urges families to face aging logistics early: wills, conversations, and retirement options matter.
- She challenges listeners to tackle one deferred task in a week to reduce future conflict.
Startling Opening Signals The Book's Stakes
- Cavlovic intentionally reintroduced the blunt opening scene to signal the book's tone and force readers to confront aging realities.
- She argues we tolerate graphic war scenes but shy from intimate aging details, creating avoidance-driven problems.
