Immaculate Conceptions

by S.E. Sward

Teddy Robicheaux is Hopeful1, a 29-year-old teacher in Little Rock, Arkansas. Liv Jensen is Mommy1moretime, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Kelly Dawson is Texasmom, a 41-year-old wise-cracking hairstylist from Dallas, Texas. Maggie Nash is Want2BaMom, the 34-year-old wife of a college professor, and living in Nashville, Tennessee. What do these four women have in common? The heartache of infertility and the saving grace of friendship after they meet on Fruitful Musings, a website dedicated to infertility issues. Join Teddy, Liv, Kelly and Maggie as they help each other cope with the ups and downs of the infertility roller coaster.

345 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

S.E. Sward lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, daughter, and one overfed feline. What began as an effort to come to terms with her own infertility evolved into the novel Immaculate Conceptions. When S.E. Sward is not working on her next novel, she writes posts on her blog Black Holes & Macrame and works in a public library, bringing her love of reading, writing, and grammatical correctness to the world at large. Immaculate Conceptions is her first novel.

Reviews

[Tamera Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ability to get pregnant is often taken for granted by most women. But what happens when the days become months, the months to years and still no child? People begin to push, “When are you going to have a baby?” This burden can be hard to bear especially when some of the pushing comes from hurtful family members and sometimes unsupportive partners. Even with today’s technologies and evasive procedures, the ability to reproduce can be null. Often there are cold and precision medical procedures involved that can test the endurance of couples. Meet four special friends, who long to become pregnant. These women share a distinctive bond and meet through a website meant to help these ladies with their issues. IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONS brings you into the personal lives of these friends and their inner pain and heartache. Share the joy and the sorrow of what it’s like to miss out on one of life’s precious gifts – the miracle of creating a child.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONS by S. E. Sward is a poignant look into a very real problem for a lot of couples struggling to have a child. The author lays everything out in the open as she delves into the personal lives of four women who are on a mission to get pregnant by any means necessary. Maggie, Teddy, Kelly and Liv are wonderful, diverse characters connected by a common thread. This heartfelt story is a wonderful, engaging read bringing to life the challenges of infertility in today’s complex world. This book is a must read for women struggling with this very real and often heart wrenching issue.

[S.E. Sward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Immaculate Conceptions by S.E. Sward is a story of hope and heartbreak. Teddy, Maggie, Kelly, and Liv are all women who are desperate to have children but for whom time is ticking away. They meet on a website for wannabe mums to talk about infertility and the treatments available to them. But what starts out as internet support soon turns into a web of real support, friendship, and love that is second to none. Pain and frustration are replaced by caring as each one comes to the aid of the others to see them through the difficult times ahead, the clinical procedures, and the heartache. Will these women be successful in realizing their dreams or are they just chasing after rainbows?

A novel that is based on the harsh reality of life, Immaculate Conceptions is a must-read for anyone who has been through the pain of infertility or for those who have no idea of what it can feel like. Wonderfully poignant, funny yet sad, this is one of the most true-to life novels I have read in a long time. S.E. Sward has got it right – the characters, the story line, the whole concept is there in one neat package. Anybody who reads this will find themselves on the edge of their seats, biting their nails to the quick and rooting for each and every woman. It is a real page-turner with a bit of everything – sadness, happiness, and humor all rolled into one very well written story.

[Cliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my wife's first novel. OF COURSE I think it's incredible!