The holidays are over, and we have put away our decorations, but it is never too early to plan for next Christmas!  Add Mary Kay Andrew’s heartwarming and festive book, Bright Lights, Big Christmas to your TBR list now.  It will help celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.    Plan to buy extra copies to give as gifts as well.
 
I was intrigued by an email from Quail Ridge Books, a local indie bookstore, announcing a live book event and signing with Mary Kay Andrews.  After I read what the book was about, I instantly signed up and invited some friends as well.  Ms. Andrews didn’t disappoint.
 
Andrews captivated the audience by sharing the origin of the story’s idea, the research she did to write it as well as taking questions from the audience.  What hooked me on this book was the theme of New York City Christmas trees.
 
My husband is a professional landscaper who has co-designed and plant located for Rockefeller Center for over twenty years.  He located the 1996 famous tree right in our hometown of Armonk, New York.
 
We have also made many trips to West Jefferson in the mountains of North Carolina, to hand-pick the best trees in the fields to bring to Rockefeller as accent trees to the crown jewel that stands above the ice skating rink.  Andrews's story brought back warm memories as well.
 
The book is short, with a romantic theme that Andrews described as the reserve of a Hallmark story.  Instead of the protagonist escaping the city and finding love in the country, Kerry Tolliver finds love and a new purpose in the city that never sleeps after being raised in the rural mountains in the south.
 
The story is interesting as Andrews shares the amazing ways Kerry and her brother set up a pop-up tree business in the middle of a busy, popular neighborhood in New York City based on real-life experiences.  I found myself reading just a page or two at the end of the book so I could make it last a little longer.
 
Consider picking up the book from your favorite local, independent bookstore now and tucking it away with your Christmas décor.  Or order it now:  LINK
 
Andrews also shared with us, that she and some fellow Southern women’s literature authors started a Facebook page, Friends and Fiction.  If you enjoy fiction, consider joining the page.  I have found some good reads on it.

What exactly is ‘Women’s Fiction’?   Goodreads defines it as “an umbrella term for books written by women that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels, romantic fiction, "chick lit,"and other sub genres.  One of these sub genres includes women’s ‘upmarket fiction’, which features a female protagonist and often creates great conversations for book clubs.  Rebecca Vnuk nicely outlines her Five Rules for Women’s Fiction (link).

Whatever the definition, women sharing life experiences, struggles, humor and ways to deal with all this is a good thing in my book. No pun intended.  Anytime a woman can break away from the demands of caring for others, career, trying to fit in exercise, friends, and all the other things that yank at us to write a story, it allows a discussion to be had amongst us.  We may find ourselves laughing at the same silly things we do, crying at events that ripped our hearts out, or discovering a new way to deal with a problem in our life.

When I set out to write ‘I Know You’re There’, I was targeting my story to nurses.  It’s very rare to find a novel with a nurse protagonist written by a nurse.  The reason for this surely won’t surprise you. Nurses are busy!  Once, the book was published, I was surprised to find that it had two other popular women’s markets: Emerging Adult (post college graduate age, entering the real world and all that entails) and Prime Time Women (those 50-75 who generally are finished focusing on child raising and/or career but are vibrantly pursuing other interests).

There is no greater compliment to an author than a reader who shares how the author’s novel touched them in a special way. 

“That part when they are changing the women’s diaper, I was rolling on the floor laughing.”

“You described the process of caring for someone who is dying perfectly.  I had so many of those same experiences when I cared for my dad.”

“I really liked how you described heaven.  It made me think.”

As women bond together and share our unique experiences, we grow stronger.  It’s not always easy to get women together given the massive amount of responsibilities they tend to.  A women’s fiction book, however, can be read alone and pondered.  Or, if given the opportunity, open the door to discussions with other women who may be looking for validation, comfort or a good laugh.

‘I Know You’re There’ is Susan Allison-Dean’s debut novel.  It is available on most e-book sites including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBookstore and in paperback.



Have you read a good women's fiction book lately?

It’s your turn to host your book club meeting.  You’re looking to do something different.  Fun.  You choose I Know You’re There  as the book you and your group will read. 

The night of your book club arrives; you’ve prepared an assortment of Caribbean treats, the curry aroma is intoxicating.  The pineapple slices drip their juice into the bowl surrounded by round slices of kiwi on top.  The blender has a full bowl of ice next to it, mango and of course, plenty of rum.  The stage is set, now for the music.

When your guests enter your home whether it is on a snowy, cold February night or a hot, sweltering day in July, you want them to instantly pick up the Caribbean vibe you are trying to create.  You want them to leave their troubles behind, just as Jill Bradley, the protagonist in the story, did and experience a place of letting go and feeling irie. 

So what tunes do you play?  The King of Reggae, Bob Marley, immediately comes to mind.  Some favorites include Is This Love, Three Little Birds and Jamming.  Mix that with a little American Tropicana, Jimmy Buffett.  Songs like Boat Drinks, Margaretville and the new duet with Zac Brown, Knee Deep make escaping their worries sound plausible.  From across the pond, UB40, has some classics they’ll remember.   Red, Red, Wine, Reggae Music, Kingston Town, and I Got You Babe will have them jamming in no time.

Once you’ve set the mood, your guests have had a drink, a bite to eat, their ready to relax and chat about the book.  What issues in the book did they relate to?  When they feel the need to escape from their problems, what do they do?  Did they learn anything new about nursing?  They laugh, they share, maybe even some end up shedding tears.  It’s all good.

The evening ends with coffee and rum coconut cake.  Your friends rave that this was the best book club ever!  How are they going to top this?  You hug the last guest as she leaves through your front door.  You close it, go to the music and turn it on loud and dance in your living room. 

I Know You're There is Susan Allison-Dean's debut novel.  To schedule a book club appearance in person or via Skype, please contact Sue at [email protected].