Erica
Bauermeister, the national bestselling author of The School of
Essential Ingredients, presents a moving and evocative
coming-of-age novel about childhood stories, families lost and found,
and how a fragrance conjures memories capable of shaping the course
of our lives.
Emmeline lives an
enchanted childhood on a remote island with her father, who teaches
her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t
explain are the mysterious scents stored in the drawers that line the
walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates
them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity,
until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out
into the real world–a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and
revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to
her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and
imagination.
Lyrical and
immersive, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of
scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we
seek, and even help us find our way back home.
Lael’s Review:
In Emmeline’s childhood, mermaids brought supplies to their island
cabin, and scents of faraway places lived in beautiful bottles
covering the back wall. Made with a mysterious machine, these scents
inspire her father’s tales of Queen Emmeline and Jack, the Scent
Hunter. Tragedy thrusts her into the mainstream world, where secrets
are revealed and Emmeline must redefine family. Bauermeister portrays
a magical land of enchantment from a child’s perspective, and the
demise of innocence so well that dear reader’s heart breaks for
Emmeline. I was fortunate to receive this beautiful story of never
giving up on your dream, and unintended consequences, from St.
Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
About the Author:
Erica
Bauermeister is the author of the bestselling novel The School
of Essential Ingredients, Joy for Beginners, and The Lost Art
of Mixing. She is also the co-author of the non-fiction works,
500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide and Let’s
Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. She has
a PhD in literature from the University of Washington, and has taught
there and at Antioch University. She is a founding member of the
Seattle7Writers and currently lives in Port Townsend, Washington.
The prologue
introduces low-level, low-brow politician Henry Lewis, who’s
interrupted in his back alley business when his intended victim Davie
is rescued. Allan Linton fell into the PI business after a newspaper
takeover, and he pulled strong, silent street avenger Niddrie in as
his “and Associates.” A mysterious man calling himself Carter
hires them to find a woman in a photograph whose name is likely an
alias. Then dear reader goes through a flashback on the rise and fall
of Allan’s marriage to the daughter of a top dollar barrister, then
back to the present where his daughter asks his help with the
entitled son of her grandfather’s partner and he explains his love
for the Hollies. He seeks help on the case from his best friend
Michael, who just happens to be the main drug dealer in town, and
dear reader goes through another flashback chapter on the origin of
their friendship. There are aliases and backstories galore in this
novel, with each flashback its own fascinating short story. If you
like backstory woven into the fabric of a novel, this format might
confound you. The unusual names and behaviors of the characters make
this whodunwhat feel a bit out of time and place, like a cheeky noir
film. I received a digital copy of this fantastic story from Black &
White Publishing Ltd through NetGalley.
Dr. Trisha Raje
brings modern day morés
and an introverted personality to this Austen classic as she
subconsciously creates problems from miscommunication. Unexplored
emotions and hesitance toward introspection lead Dr. Trisha to
misadventures. Dear Readers watch her spar with the sexy caterer,
whose mother’s favorite book inspired her to name him Darcy—he
goes by DJ. She attempts to reconnect with her family, guilt-ridden
by a long ago transgression of her friend, who has shown up recently
to lure in the caterer. Dr. Trisha remains focused on his sister, her
patient, how she can aid her in reframing her outlook toward her
future as an artist without sight. Dev’s work is, as usual, lush
and gorgeous and emotional and sexy as hell, with complex, realistic
characters in complicated situations in which they must untangle
themselves, eventually giving in to intense feelings. A brilliant
storyteller, she carefully weaves into a well-known story a
contemporary character, her Indian-American culture, and a romance
inspired by, well, gourmet food. Of course. I was fortunate to
receive a copy of this wonderful story through Edelweiss.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award winning author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that let her explore issues faced by women around the world while still indulging her faith in a happily ever after. Her books have been on NPR, Washington Post, Library Journal, and Kirkus Best Books of the year lists, but Sonali is most smug about Shelf Awareness calling her “Not only one of the best but also one of the bravest romance novelists working today.” Sonali lives in Chicagoland with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog. Find more at sonalidev.com.
A terrible tragedy unleashes a fateful chain of events for two
families from starkly different worlds in a breathtaking new tale of
suspense that doubles as a razor-sharp take on class conflict in
today’s America.
In his remarkable debut, THE EAST END(Park
Row Books; May 7, 2019; $26.99 U.S./$33.50 CAN.),
novelist Jason Allen constructs a multi-layered story
about the powerful and the powerless, about love and loss, and about
self-destruction and the possibility of redemption. Set in the
Hamptons over one explosive holiday weekend, this immersive must-read
illuminates both sides of the socio-economic divide in a place where
dreams of escape drive potentially catastrophic decisions.
Unfolding from multiple perspectives, THE EAST END opens
with the countdown to Memorial Day underway and recent high school
graduate Corey Halpern in need of a fix. A townie, he burns off
his resentment of the affluent “invaders” who flock to the
community in the summer months by breaking into their lavish mansions
and pulling harmless pranks. Staring down a bleak future, he sees his
hopes of going away to college vanishing. He can’t disappear, not
when his troubled mother, Gina, is barely making ends meet, trying to
get away from an abusive, deadbeat husband, and chasing pills with
too much booze. Trapped in a downward spiral, she staggers towards
rock bottom as Corey and his brother look on helplessly.
Before calling it a night, Corey makes one last stop at the
sprawling lakeside estate where he and Gina work. There he intends to
commit his first-ever robbery but nothing proceeds according to plan.
Married billionaire CEO Leo Sheffield shows up to his ultra-exclusive
Gin Lane property early, accompanied by his handsome, much-younger
lover, Henry. In an instant, everything changes: Drunk, high, and all
alone, Henry is the victim of a fatal poolside accident.
Unfortunately for a distraught Leo, Corey saw what happened—and so
did someone else.
For this immensely privileged man who is not used to getting his
hands dirty, his very existence now depends on containing the
collateral damage. And time is running out. Leo’s overbearing wife
and three grown children will be arriving soon, along with a house
full of high-maintenance guests. Desperate to preserve his fortune
and his freedom, Leo takes irrevocable steps that expose him to
scandal and far worse. Over the next few tension-filled days, hidden
entanglements, unexpected opportunities, and clashing loyalties
propel Corey, Gina, and Leo to extremes—and ultimately, to shocking
outcomes no one will anticipate.
Atmospheric, emotionally probing, and complexly unmissable, this
kaleidoscopic narrative plunges its brilliantly realized characters
into timely, all-too-relatable moral quandaries that defy easy
answers and resound long after the final page.
LAEL’S REVIEW
Corey breaks into the houses of the wealthy who summer in the Hamptons, to play pranks on them as a way to vent his frustrations as a local serving these “invaders.” The night he chooses to enter the home of his mother’s employer Mr. Sheffield, he learns a scandalous secret and witnesses a tragedy, and then he falls in love. The weekend brings a multitude of challenges for the Sheffield family and Corey’s mom, who’s fighting a drug addiction and a violent ex, as well as Corey and his new love. Allen brilliantly portrays the blurred lines of integrity and honesty for the haves and have-nots in a scenario that flips dependency from one to the other and exposes everyone’s agenda. No character is truly endearing, nor is any character wholly evil, but all are complex, self-serving and compassionate in turn. Fans of “Somethings in the Water,” “Beautiful Bad,” or “Hunting Annabelle” will appreciate this story. It’s a peek at what we might do if we had the chance, and what happens when we involve ourselves in something that’s not our business. I received a digital copy of this fantastic story from Park Row Books through NetGalley.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Jason Allen grew up in a working-class home in the
Hamptons, where he worked a variety of blue-collar jobs for wealthy
estate owners. He writes fiction, poetry, and memoir, and is the
author of the poetry collection A Meditation on Fire. He has
an MFA from Pacific University and a PhD in literature and creative
writing from Binghamton University. He currently lives in Atlanta,
Georgia, where he teaches writing. THE EAST END is his first
novel.
The last Iberian sultan’s mapmaker Hassan and Circassian concubine
Fatima share a love for a poem by Al Attar in which they only have
the opening lines. They continue the tale together, alternating and
combining their own stories of the birds looking for their king.
Hassan draws maps that reshape reality, coming under the scrutiny of
the Spanish Inquisition when Fatima is too open with Luz, Queen
Isabella’s advisor, emissary, and secret inquisitor. Fatima must
find a way to save her best friend, embarking on a journey—guided
by a jinn in animal form—where she finds her true self on the
hidden island of the bird king. Friendship is tested, credibility is
stretched to the limit, and redemption is found. Magical realism
blends historical events and mythology well, thought there are a few
too many cliffhangers in the latter half of the tale. It’s a
beautiful story of desire to escape a horrid time in Spain’s past.
I was given a digital copy of this fantastic story from Grove Press
through NetGalley.
At her local drugstore, Amy Byler runs into her husband, who went on
a business trip to Hong Kong and stayed for three years. He’s
returned to make things right and be the father his children deserve.
School Librarian Amy signs up to present her reading program at a
conference in NYC, where she plans to reconnect with her college
roommate, during the kids’ week with their father. She meets a hot
librarian, makes a new friend, and starts a movement. Harms cleverly
uses the modern-day epistolary of email and texting in this humorous
exploration of a single mom becoming her own woman. Fans of Ann
Garvin, Katherine Center, and Kerry Anne King will appreciate Harms’
voice. I received a digital copy of this wonderful story from Lake
Union through NetGalley.
What happens when an overworked, underappreciated single mother of two
gets an opportunity to spend a week away from reality in NYC? What
happens when that week turns into an entire summer? And, what happens
when this rare gift of personal freedom, self-reflection, and fun comes
to an end?
These are the questions at the heart of former editor and literary agent
Kelly Harms’ delightful and empowering new novel, THE OVERDUE LIFE OF AMY BYLER
(Lake Union Publishing; May 1, 2019; hardcover), about a middle-aged
woman’s much-needed Momspringa.* Full of wit, heart, bookish-references,
and romance, THE OVERDUE LIFE OF AMY BYLER is next year’s feel-good read!
*Momspringa (n.): A period of time when moms are given time away from
the demands of daily life, including their children, so they can
recharge and reconnect with themselves as human women. Inspired by the
Amish term Rumspringa.
Describe your
writing process: schedule, environment, strategies, and inspirations.
I write from 9-4
during the workweek, and sometimes earlier in the morning or on the
weekends (especially when I’m editing). I’m a creature of habit,
so I work almost exclusively in my home office—I’m not a coffee
shop or kitchen table kind of writer. I need silence (which I don’t
always get; my “assistant” happens to be my dog, and she barks
her head off when the delivery trucks come down our street) and long
chunks of time dedicated just to writing in order to produce a book.
As for inspiration,
I find it everywhere—conversations I’ve had, things that have
happened in my own life, trips I’ve taken. At any given time, I
have two or three novel ideas I’m contemplating even as I’m
writing another draft.
Walk me through
your publishing process from “final” draft to final product,
including your publishing team and marketing that you are expected to
do as the author.
I write about one novel a year, and I’m currently working on my
sixth, which comes out next February. I can tell you that there’s
no set process … it’s a little different for every book I’ve
written. For example, I wrote all of I’m Fine and Neither Are
You before selling it to my publisher. But I sold my sixth book,
This Won’t End Well, based on a few chapters and an outline,
and then wrote a draft. After polishing my first draft (which usually
takes 4-6 months to write), I then turn it in to my agent and editor,
and go through three intense edits before going through proofreading
and copyedits. Marketing starts months before a novel comes out, and
lasts … well, it never really ends. That can include connecting
with readers through social media, speaking to book clubs, and doing
talks at libraries, bookstores, and other organizations, just to name
a few.
Who are your
biggest cheerleaders online and IRL?
I’m a member of
the Tall Poppy Writers, which is a wonderful marketing collective of
approximately 40 women authors, and that’s a huge source of support
for me. My husband, my sisters, and my best friend are my IRL
cheerleaders—I couldn’t do this without them. I’m also a member
of numerous online reader and author groups, like Great Thoughts
Great Readers (which is on Facebook) and the Women Fiction Writers
Association. For a fairly social person who works by herself at home,
connecting with others in these groups keeps me sane.
How does your
writing influence your life and vice versa?
Well, writing is
almost like an act of therapy for me. It’s not that I write about
what’s happening in my life so much as I examine themes that are on
my mind—honesty, connection, commitment, desire.
What do you love
most about your creativity?
That my career is
centered around my creativity. I’ve always wanted to be a novelist,
and I have to pinch myself sometimes when I realize that’s become
my full-time job. I worked as a health journalist for 20 years (and
still occasionally write articles for outlets like Health and
WebMD.com), and as much as I like research and facts, it’s so fun
to create an entire world in 300 pages.
Describe your writing process: schedule, environment, strategies, and inspirations tangible and abstract.
I’m a creature of habit, so when I’m writing well, I’m writing every day. When I’m not writing, I may find it difficult to reconnect with the habit, which almost always leaves me feeling anxious and unfulfilled. So while I know I don’t have to write, I also know I’m my best self when I am writing. Knowing that, you may not be surprised to learn that when I’m writing, I tend to dedicate many hours a day to the page. I have an office with a regular desk, but I also have a treadmill desk in our family room; you might find me in either of those places, or even in the kitchen writing and watching the birds. (If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I’m a big bird-watcher and amateur photographer.) When I feel stuck–whether or not I’d call it writer’s block–it’s usually because I’ve made a mistake somewhere. This might mean a character behaved unnaturally, or I forced a plot point, or (name your infraction)! Sometimes it takes a few days to figure out where I’ve erred, but other times it’s a longer process. It’s always frustrating for me, and I can’t seem to move beyond the problem scene until I’ve figured it out.
Walk me through your publishing process from final draft to final product, including publishing team and marketing expectations of yourself as the author.
Is any draft a “final draft” when you’re traditionally published? Eventually, yes, but once you submit your polished “final” draft to your editor, you are bound to see that draft again—and probably change it again, too. That draft goes to your copy editor, who’ll return the draft to you with scads of notes and questions, which you’ll need to turn around with a “stet” (leave that word or phrase as originally written) or with a change that makes your story more concise or clearer/better in some way. After, your manuscript will be presented to you with those changes in the style of the actual book but with loose pages. At this stage—and through second- and sometimes third-pass pages—it’s important that you don’t make significant changes to the story. But sometimes you or your editor will catch errors/inconsistencies, or have a last-minute inspiration, and you’ll work something into the manuscript. Meanwhile, meetings with marketing and publicity may begin, in person or by phone, or even a combination of the two. That’s when you’ll hear the team’s plan for your book, and have the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions.
For my part, I try to supplement whatever in-house initiatives are ongoing, usually by reaching out to bloggers, by sending myself on a tour (real and/or online), and especially by making inroads with my local arts community. I make sure my local bookstore(s) know when my book will be releasing, and I work in conjunction with my publisher to plan some events. It’s important that you try not to burn out once you move into full-time publicity mode, because it can be exhausting. But it can also be exhilarating, once your book arrives and is in your hands—first in the form of advance reader copies (ARCs) and later as early copies of your truly final draft, bound and covered and reader-ready. Always take time to appreciate this milestone. Personally, I like to throw a release-day party, usually to follow my first book signing.
Tell me about your support system online and IRL; who are your biggest cheerleaders?
My husband is my
biggest cheerleader, followed by my kids and extended family. But I
also see a lot of support behind the scenes from several author
friends—people I trust with my early scenes and chapters, who know
I need fuel and encouragement but will tell me if there are issues
with the story. I also see a lot of support through the community of
writers at Writer Unboxed; some of my most potent fuel comes from
them.
How does
writing influence your life and vice versa?
Writer
Unboxed, which I co-founded with Kathleen Bolton thirteen years ago,
has had a tremendous influence on my life as a writer. It has kept me
tethered to writing during tough times, when I might otherwise have
given up. In a broader way, my life informs my writing, because I
tend to process ideas through my writing. And my writing influences
my life because, on the other side of “The End,” I have a clearer
understanding about an idea or a problem, or even my own human
capabilities and limits.
What do you love most about your creativity?
I love the way it
can surprise me, whether it’s a mid-scene revelation or a way of
tying up a scene that springs up seemingly out of nowhere. Times like
that, I feel like there’s a ghost over my shoulder, typing in those
words, because it feels more than a little otherworldly and outside
of myself. That’s when I feel luckiest to be a writer.
Pixie Forest Publishing loves the idea of spreading awareness of
indie books and anthologies by offering book boxes! Almost all of the
books are signed by the authors, who provide swag like bookmarks,
candles, pens, necklaces, and more. PFP adds in their own unique swag
that’s centered around that month’s theme as well!
They offer up to
five boxes of each theme every month. Some past themes include
fantasy, horror, romance, kid’s, and young adult. To date they’ve
sold nine different boxes! Upcoming themes include another fantasy
box, a Mother’s Day box, vacation themed, sci-fi, and dystopian.
Boxes range from
$30-$40 depending on the contents. Every box includes a $5 off coupon
for a future box and a collectible snap-charm keyring.
Miss a month?
Don’t worry! All the individual books are linked to Amazon on their
website for a month following the box it appeared in, along with the
author’s information.
Interested in
being a part of a box? Email Jensen and Donise at
contact@pixieforestpublishing.com
to learn more and have a chance at being a featured book box author,
poet, or fellow publisher.
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