Erika Robuck's Blog, page 26

Review: Little Gale Gumbo

LITTLE GALE GUMBO by Erika Marks is 432 pages and TODAY is the pub date. I "met" Erika on Twitter over book talk, our shared unusual name spelling, and our shared publisher, NAL. I've been dying to read her book since I read the description. It turned out to be a sumptuous, original blend of flavor from New Orleans to seaside Maine that kept me turning pages long into the night.

The novel's roots are set in New Orleans in 1977 when a street-smart, fast-talking musician charms his way into a young Creole girl's heart. The two marry and have two daughters: Dahlia and Josephine. After enduring Charles' affairs, illegal activities, and abuse, Camille flees New Orleans with her girls to start a new life where he can't find them.

They end up in the small town of Little Gale, Maine, and while the town regards the colorful Southern girls with suspicion, their landlord, Ben, a single father with a kind heart, accepts them into his rooms and his life. The five of them make an unusual group, but they soon come to love and trust one another, even starting a cafe on the island where Camille's famous gumbo charms the home-towners.

Their lives, however, end up far from idyllic. Charles finds the women and upsets their lives every time he gets out of prison. His disruptions become more and more frustrating until finally, after many years pass, he turns up dead at Ben's house, and Ben ends up in the hospital. Dahlia, Josephine, Ben's son, Matthew, and Dahlia's former boyfriend, Jack, come together to solve the mystery of what happened to the men, unearthing many secrets along the way.

It is such a pleasure to read the work of a fellow author I care about and respect, and enjoy it so much. Marks does an exceptional of job of creating suspense and building character in a unique setting with people I won't soon forget. Little Gale Gumbo is Shakespearean in theme with its unrequited love, misunderstandings, secrets, and mysterious death. By the end of the novel, the characters are involved in a complex web of associations with one another, and Marks does a wonderful job of revealing those secrets and connections.

For me, the real heart of this novel is Camille. With her therapeutic use of voodoo, her patience with her daughters, her wisdom in dealing with her husband, and the color she brings into the lives of her girls, her rooms, and the town, she makes those around her better. If there was a "best actress in fiction" award, it would go to Camille.

As much as I loved Camille, her daughter Dahlia frustrated and stirred me. I rooted for her in spite of her stubbornness and the walls she put up. I don't know if I could forgive her for her big secret in the novel the way others do. I will say that I read her scenes eagerly and with a great wish to see good come to her, and was pleased with her in the end.

Because of my deeply personal connections to this novel, it moved me. This is the kind of book I finished and immediately wished I could meet with a book club to discuss. If you have a book club, I highly recommend you read LITTLE GALE GUMBO, meet with your group, and stew up Marks' recipes for Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, and Pralines while you discuss the novel. Marks is a talented author and I look forward to more from her in the future.

For more about the author or the book, please visit her website:

http://erikamarks.wordpress.com/category/little-gale-gumbo/

Giveaway at Shelf Awareness

I've long subscribed to Shelf Awareness Pro, a book industry newsletter devoted to what's new in publishing. Now, Shelf Awareness has a newsletter for readers. It's full of up to date publishing news, giveaways, and information on signings and book related media. They are running a promo right now giving away 25 signed copies of Tatiana de Rosnay's A SECRET KEPT, and since I just reviewed it yesterday, I wanted to let you know about the contest. (Great timing!)

You do have to sign up for the email newsletter to enter the contest. Here's a link if you're interested:

Good luck!

Review: A SECRET KEPT

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A SECRET KEPT, by Tatiana De Rosnay, was published in 2010 and is 320 pages. I bought it because I loved SARAH'S KEY and wanted to read more by the author. This dark, sensual, family mystery did not disappoint.

Entirely set in France in the present day and in 1974, A SECRET KEPT begins when Antoine Rey, a divorcee in his mid-forties, takes his sister, Mélanie, to their childhood vacation spot, Noirmoutier Island, for her fortieth birthday. Passage to the island is made on a causeway called Le Gois, a road that is only passable at low tide and which becomes treacherous in moments once the water rises. They make the passage and spend an idyllic time on the island, but the devastating events following their holiday set in motion a search for clues surrounding the untimely death of their mother when they were children.

I found myself thinking of Le Gois often while I read the book and watched Antione and Mélanie untangle their family secrets. The more they discover the more their findings threaten to drown them. The revelation of secrets causes Mélanie to pull back the way a cautious driver would at the edge of Le Gois as the waters rise. Antione, on the other hand, races recklessly forward, unable to stop his quest, and gradually becomes empowered by his discoveries.

One of the most intriguing aspects of A SECRET KEPT is Tatiana De Rosnay's convincing voice as a male narrator. Through Antoine's family struggles with his teenagers, the wife he loves who left him for another man, and a relationship with a fierce, sexy mortician named Angèle Rouvatier, his mid-life crisis is revealed in raw, potent language.

Another strength of the book is De Rosnay's portrayal of the difficulties of family life–from sibling relationships, to the aftermath of divorce, to the difficulty of raising children amid crises. She holds nothing back, and while some scenes are painful to read, they are authentic.

For lovers of De Rosnay's novel SARAH'S KEY, this book is very different from its predecessor, but to me, every bit as enjoyable. In A SECRET KEPT, Tatiana De Rosnay shows her skill at tackling different kinds of fiction with originality and honesty. With a cast of characters I won't forget and an ending that made me cheer out loud, I highly recommend A SECRET KEPT. I look forward to reading more of Tatiana's books.

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I had to search the internet for the passage to Noirmoutier, France, and found this amazing video.

Giveaway Winner!

And the winner of Jody Hedlund's book

THE DOCTOR'S LADY

is…

EMILY!!

*applause*

Congratulations! I will get the book shipped to you ASAP.

Thanks to all for participating.

Happy Reading!

Interview: Author Jody Hedlund

Author Jody Hedlund is not only a fantastic writer, but she is one of the most generous, kind bloggers online. Her advice to writers and stories from her publishing journey have meant so much to me and to countless others. Here are some of her thoughts on writing and her process specific to THE DOCTOR'S LADY.

What was the inspiration behind The Doctor's Lady?

This book is inspired by the true life story of Narcissa Whitman, the first white woman to brave the dangers of overland trail and travel west. In 1836, she married Dr. Whitman, and then the next day left her childhood home and would never return for the purpose of starting a mission among the Nez Perce natives.

It was my hope in this story to bring Narcissa Whitman to life. This heroic woman has often been ignored and at times even disparaged. In reality, she exuded incredible courage to attempt a trip many proclaimed foolishly dangerous. It was called an "unheard-of-journey for females." Because of her willingness to brave the unknown, she led the way for the many women who would follow in her footsteps in what would later become known as the Oregon Trail.

What percentage of The Doctor's Lady is true? And how much did you add?

As with any story of historical fiction, the large majority of what I've written was truly from the depths of my imagination, all of my creative meanderings of "what could have happened."

However, in my research of the Whitmans, I drew from numerous biographies. While I wasn't able to stick to every historical detail in complete accuracy, most of the story outline is taken directly from Narcissa's diary.

I tried to follow the trail they took west as closely as possible. While I was unable to include every stop and incident of their travel for the sake of brevity, I did try to capture the essence of their journey. I included their travel first by sleigh, then steamboat, and lastly by wagon and horse.

Make sure you read the Author's Note at the end of the book where I explain in more detail which specific incidents came from the pages of her diary and what I made up for the sake of the story

How long did it take to write the book? What was most challenging?

The research took six to eight weeks. I wrote the first draft in approximately five months and fell in love with it.

However, the editing phase was the most challenging. Somehow in the first draft, I gave my main characters problems and character arcs that were too unlikable. My editors encouraged me to revamp my characters so that they would be more positive and appealing to readers. The editing phase took much longer than I'd anticipated and spanned several months, including two sets of major rewrites.

What's coming next?

In 2012, my next historical romance releases. I'm really excited about this story because it's set in my home state of Michigan. It takes place during the 1880's at a time in history when the lumber era was at its height. Although the story isn't inspired by a true person the way my first two books have been, I do include several real people, particularly a real villain by the name of James Carr who was notorious in central Michigan for his violence and for introducing white slavery into the state.

The heroine of the story is a young woman, Lily Young, who is looking for her sister who's caught up into the degradation of lumber camp life. While Lily searches for her missing sister, she fights against the evil that runs rampant around her, and she fights not to lose her heart to the lumber baron who turns a blind eye to the lawlessness of the lumber business.

Where can readers find you?

I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund

I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund

My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com

Finally, I'll leave you all with this fabulous book trailer for THE DOCTOR'S LADY. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review & Giveaway: THE DOCTOR'S LADY

THE DOCTOR'S LADY by Jody Hedlund was published this month and is 374 pages. I requested a copy for review because of how much I enjoyed Jody's first book, THE PREACHER'S BRIDE. I ended up loving this book even more!

The novel begins in 1836 in Angelica, New York, where Priscilla White, an unmarried woman with a wish to be a Christian missionary in India, waits to find out her assignment. Her life takes an unexpected turn, however, when Dr. Eli Ernest, a single man in need of a wife in order to accept the sponsorship of the Mission Board for his own mission into the West, makes her a business proposal. If she will agree to marry him, on paper alone, they will get the approval of the Board, and each will be able to fulfill their calling. When she agrees, they set out on an adventure that takes them from New York, to Pittsburgh, to St. Louis, to Oregon Country where they not only discover much about the new land and people there, but their own hearts.

One of my favorite aspects of THE DOCTOR'S LADY is the historical rendering of the unexplored American wilderness. I was fascinated to learn about modes of transport, early settlements, and the interactions between Native peoples and whites. It is clear that Ms. Hedlund did her research, and she perfectly balances information and narrative.

I also enjoy the style in which the book is written. Ms. Hedlund paints such vivid portraits of her settings and characters that I could see every scene as clearly as if it was on film. She is also a master of tension and plotting. I turned pages long into the night, and finished the book in three days.

Finally, THE DOCTOR'S LADY represents quality romance reading. As a work of Christian historical romance, the faith of the characters in spite of adversity, and the purity of the love story are a breath of fresh air without ever feeling heavy-handed or overly-idealistic. Priscilla and Eli are human, realistically drawn characters and I missed them after I closed the pages of the book.

If you are a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend THE DOCTOR'S LADY. And because I enjoyed it so much, I'd like to give away a copy of the book. If you would like to win, kindly leave a comment about why this book sounds interesting to you, what you enjoyed about THE PREACHER'S BRIDE, or why you love historical fiction, in general. I will randomly select the winner on Friday, September 23rd.

Best of luck!

For more on Jody or her books, please visit her website at: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Review: A GOOD HARD LOOK

"Melvin could be inarticulate, and still Flannery would understand. He knew this from her writing, from the way she trapped tiny disappointments, tiny hopes, tiny frustrations, and pinned them down with sentences." Ann Napolitano, A GOOD HARD LOOK

A GOOD HARD LOOK by Ann Napolitano was published in July of 2011 and is 326 pages. I follow Ann on Twitter and thought her book sounded interesting not only because I am a fan of Flannery O'Connor (one of the central characters in the novel), but because I'm also interested in reading how other novelists animate writers from the past, as I do in my own stories.

The novel takes place in O'Connor's small hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia. There are three point of view characters in the book: Melvin, the wealthy New Yorker who's relocated to marry Cookie, the town debutante, and Lona, their seamstress. Melvin, Cookie, and Lona are each stilted or stifled in some way, and are in search (consciously or unconsciously) of a way to make their lives matter.

Melvin is drawn to Flannery O'Connor for her bold honesty as an escape from the extreme state of politeness in which he lives his life. Cookie hates Flannery for this very reason–the fact that she feels Flannery has her figured out with a single, penetrating glance. Lona has allowed herself to become dulled by her household routines and the joints she smokes behind her police officer husband's back.

As the characters' lives are revealed in small pieces and the choices they make pull them further away from realizing their full selves, impending disaster rumbles beneath the surface. When it erupts in a scene of shocking violence and tragedy, every chance of hope seems lost. The characters must take a "good hard look" at how they've contributed to their own destruction and what they can do to rebuild their lives.

I had to let A GOOD HARD LOOK sit and simmer for a day after reading the last page. It is a work of literary fiction and there is a complexity of theme that is revealed subtly but satisfactorily. I reread passages from the beginning and revisited O'Connor's works I'd read years ago, and found that though Naplitano writes in a style all her own, O'Connor's influence can be felt in the jarring violence, insights into the human condition, and hard won redemption.

Much about A GOOD HARD LOOK reminds me of Nancy Horan's LOVING FRANK. Both novels begin with a quiet literary style with flawed characters of great depth, and build to shocking events that lead to dramatic conclusions. If you enjoyed LOVING FRANK, you'll also enjoy A GOOD HARD LOOK.

To me, the mark of a good book is one that keeps the reader up late at night, inspires reflection and revisiting of the prose, and sends the reader searching for more information about the characters, subjects, or settings. A GOOD HARD LOOK does all of those things, and I know it will continue to resonate within me and provoke new ideas long after I've finished it.

For more on Ann Napolitano, visit her website at: http://annnapolitano.com/ .

Review: The Language of Flowers

"If I had thought of it, I would have left the new girl a milk jug full of fennel. The feathery plant and licorice-sweet smell would have been a comfort. But it was too late. I nodded goodbye to the room that would no longer be mine, feeling a sudden gratitude for the angle of the sun, the locking door, the brief offering of time and space."  Vanessa Diffenbaugh, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh was published in August and is 308 pages. I was sent a copy for review from the publisher, Ballantine/Random House, and read it because I'd heard others on Twitter raving about it. It lived up to and surpassed all the praise I'd read.

At the opening of the novel, Victoria Jones is eighteen, and therefore, no longer a ward of the state. To begin her life, she is given three months temporary housing and twenty dollars by the social worker who has handled her foster case for years. With that money, Victoria buys five gallons of milk, drinks each gallon, and cuts the containers in half to start a garden in her room.

It is at this early point in the story, when Victoria's fingernails are dirty from stealing plants from suburban yards and cultivating them in the transitional home where she resides, that I fell in love with her. As the novel progressed, each chapter deepened and reaffirmed my commitment to her–starting with her past in cruel foster homes, touching her profound understanding of plants and what they mean, and moving through her times of peace, love, and also, terrible pain. Throughout the book her character achieves a true, gradual, and believable transformation.

The book moves back and forth from Victoria's past to the present, and each character is rendered with dignity and empathy. Diffenbaugh weaves the characters and times together with the beauty and elegance of a well made bouquet, and presents them to her readers in a moving and powerful debut novel.

Reminiscent of WHITE OLEANDER but wholly original, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS is sure to be a bestseller, and is one of my favorite books of the summer.

**BREAKING: As I was finishing the novel, Vanessa announced on Twitter that Fox 2000 bought the film rights! I will be the first in line to see the movie.

The Little Writer That Could

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I'm slowly emerging from the writing cave. My eyes are adjusting to the light. I'm sweeping the cobwebs off the blog and making sure everything's in working order. I'll be ready to put the wheels back in motion this week with a book review for one of my favorite fall books, but for now, I just want you to know that I've missed you and can't wait to reconnect.

Here's the deal: I had an aggressive deadline for my edits for HEMINGWAY'S GIRL because in October, my foreign rights agent is going to Frankfurt where, hopefully, she'll get some foreign publishers interested in the book. The agent needs the complete, approved manuscript by October 1st, so I had to get my edits back to my editor at NAL/Penguin ASAP to give her enough time to read.

Now, if I have to make more changes, which is entirely possible and maybe even probable, we'll miss the deadline. If my editor can't get through the million other projects she has before October, that's the way the cookie crumbles. All I could do was rely heavily on family and babysitters, neglect my house, and not sleep to get the work done–which I did–but now it's out of my hands, and I am at peace with that.

I'll keep you posted every step of the way, as promised, but for now I look forward to a return to semi-normalcy, blogging, reading other people's books, and diving back into my new manuscript starring Zelda Fitzgerald.

For which the first three chapters and a full synopsis are due on Nov. 1st.

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*Photo courtesy of traeton at DeviantArt.com

Guest Blogging

Today, Amy Sue Nathan was kind enough to invite me to guest blog at her site, Women's Fiction Writers. In my post I share my publishing journey–from the angst-ridden novels of middle and high school, to a two-book deal with a major publisher. I hope you'll stop by.

http://womensfictionwriters.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/guest-post-my-publishing-journey-by-author-erika-robuck/