The Nun and the Gardener is a collection of short stories and essays, some humorous and some serious. Many of LaVerne's short stories and essays start with a bit of truth, such as an experience in her life, and then go from there - sometimes into fantasyland. She likes to take that grain of truth and stretch it just a tad by using her very active imagination. She tries to find humor in every situation, and especially in her life. When that doesn't work, she writes serious stories and essays, but her imagination is still very much involved.