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The Half-Life

of Secrets

Discover Olivia’s Story

Note: This book was previously sold under the title: Quiet Sins.

… “There are things about the book that remind me of Margaret Edson’s amazing play WIT, about a college professor dying of ovarian cancer (it was made into a film for HBO with Emma Thopson); there’s something of the same stoicism and grim humor in Childhouse’s Olivia.” Judge’s commentary from Writer’s Digest

“This thought-provoking story of a woman reviewing her life as she faces her last days is a riveting page-turner that never fails to surprise. The Half-Life of Secrets will make you laugh, cry and empathize with one of the most unusual heroines to come along in years.” -Elaine Partnow,

Olivia is dying of leukemia. Nothing can be done but to slow it down and make her comfortable – so says her oncologist son. At one point he suggests that the dying body loses its senses one at a time. Taste, smell, touch, sight and hearing are all lost until there is nothing left but raw consciousness, then oblivion. Despite this grim outlook, Olivia displays both humor and insight as she comes to understand that there may be things more difficult than confronting one’s own mortality.

 She reflects on her life through the prism of each of theses five senses, each one evoking a collection of memories, and each one associated with a death. Some memories are deeply painful, others more nuanced. This period of contemplation culminates in an unforseen revelation that changes her perspective on life and justice. In the end, a certain equilibrium has been achieved, so that the quiet sins that have been committed become more balanced.

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Overview

What Reader’s are Saying…

“Olivia’s story is beautifully woven, filled with moments of humor, poignancy, and profound insight…”

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– Writer’s Digest Judge

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Discover the Storyteller Behind “The Half-Life of Secrets”

The Author

Hello! I’m Holland Childhouse

Author of this book

I have a bachelor’s degree in sociology that has gone completely unused in my life. My career was oddly centered around engineering, not the actual practice of it, but sales and marketing. An old boyfriend had taught me how to read an electronic schematic, and this led me into a job early on with a company that produced CAD/CAM equipment – computer aided design and manufacturing. The company sold software that would drive the CAD/CAM equipment.

I ended up writing the user manual for that product, and thus began my new career as a Technical Writer. I eventually morphed into marketing and sales, moved with a different company to France—land of dark espressos, soft croissants, manicured gardens, and charming French accents–for four years. Then I returned to Silicon Valley, where I became the V.P. for that same company. Eventually I retired—which gave me endless opportunities to flex my reading and writing muscles. Now I live in beautiful Colorado with my husband of over 30 years. Our life is quiet and simple and now it is easy to find that time in every day where I can travel to a new fictional landscape, just by picking up a book.

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© 2025 Holland Childhouse, Published by Citi of Books. All Rights Reserved.