Fiction Review: The Editor

My neighborhood book group's selection for March was The Editor by Steven Rowley, an author whose other novels (Lily and the Octopus and The Guncle) I've heard good things about but haven't read yet. So, I was looking forward to reading this quirky, humorous novel, but its emotional depth was a pleasant surprise.

James Smale is excited and nervous. After plenty of rejections, his autobiographical novel about a mother and son has finally found a home with a major publisher in 1992. His agent sends him to the hallowed halls of the New York publisher to meet with his new editor. He's so nervous, he keeps making lame jokes and apologizing for silly things with the woman who guides him to the conference room for his meeting. Then his editor walks into the room, and it's none other than Jackie Kennedy Onassis (she really did work in publishing as an editor for a while in the 90's). From that first awkward meeting, he begins working with her (with her!) to edit his book and get it ready for publication. Ironically, his own relationship with his mother is precarious (they are barely speaking) because she is furious that he's written about their family and about her, even if it is veiled in novel form. Jackie--she prefers Mrs. Onassis at work--invites him to her vacation home on Martha's Vineyard, and the two of them gradually become friends as she guides his book to what she thinks it can be. She encourages him to go visit his mother and talk things through, saying it is necessary for his book because it lacks a strong ending. The result is one hilarious and horrible Thanksgiving weekend with his family, when a huge family secret is revealed. As James slowly, painstakingly, works through both his personal issues and editing his novel, Mrs. Onassis is by his side.

When I read the premise of this novel, I expected something light and fun, playing with the idea of a first-time novelist working with such a famous woman as his editor. And the novel is very funny, with plenty of laughs as James battles his neuroses and interacts with his siblings. But I was surprised by the emotional complexity of the novel, as James and his mother--both in real life and in his fictional world--work through their issues and get to know each other better as adults. The novel also hints at the parallels between Jackie's life as a mother and what she reads in James' novel, though she is a very private person who shares little of her personal life. Most of my book group enjoyed this novel (with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10), and we had a great discussion. It's fun to imagine the real life of a major celebrity like Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and I greatly enjoyed the author's sense of humor, but the real magic of this book is in its exploration of family dynamics and mother-son relationships.

308 pages, G.P. Putnam's Sons

Penguin Audio

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

March's Monthly Motif is Buzzed About Books and this one counts!

Alphabet Soup Challenge - E

Diversity Challenge

Literary Escapes Challenge - another New York!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

 

Visit my YouTube Channel for more bookish fun!

 

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible. The audio sounds good, but the sample is from the middle of the book and is quite spoilery, so be forewarned! Why would they do that?

 

You can buy the book through Bookshop.org, where your purchase will support the indie bookstore of your choice (or all indie bookstores)--the convenience of shopping online while still buying local!

     

 

Or you can order The Editor from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

My Book: Out in Paperback!

FINALLY! 

 

The paperback version of my book is now available from Amazon, after a long and bumpy journey (let's just say it was a learning experience!). It is also still available as an e-book on all platforms. 

 

And a favor? I REALLY need ratings & reviews, so if you read my book and get something out of it, please leave ratings and reviews on whatever platforms you use (Amazon, B&N, Apple, Goodreads, etc) - even just a few words will help! 

 

Thank you, and I hope everyone is coping well with our New Normal, which is ironically the title of my book! I wrote it for those with chronic illness but it is suddenly applicable to everyone coping with isolation, anxiety, grief, living a separate life, and looking for small joys each day.

Two Recent Travel Articles

Happy Friday! I am almost caught up on my e-mails after last week's vacation - down to less than 100! It's been a busy week of catch-up and writing.

No time for a review today, so I thought I'd share two travel articles I wrote that were recently published. Although I love writing about books and am enjoying my freelance work in that area, and I sometimes write about chronicle illness, I want to do more travel writing in the future - preparing for when my husband retires in two years, and we hope to travel more.

So, two of my travel articles recently published (copies of the articles at the links):

Nebraska's Stonehenge, an Around the Bend article for Trailer Life magazine's March 2018 issue about Carhenge, a very cool and unique roadside attraction - classic Americana!

 

In Delaware's Defense, an Unexpected Mid-Atlantic article for AAA World, Mid-Atlantic edition, March/April 2018, about Fort Miles, a strategic WWII fort in southern Delaware.

Look for another travel post tomorrow, with photos from last week's vacation to southeastern Virginia for Saturday Snapshot.

Do you enjoy travel?

My First Shelf Awareness Column: Spring Has Sprung!

I just wanted to share with you one of my new freelance writing jobs: writing From My Shelf columns for Shelf Awareness' twice-weekly newsletter. So far, I have been writing about two columns each month, so these will be appearing regularly.

My first column, Spring Has Sprung, was published in the April 6 issue - you can read it at the link. It's a round-up of five different books (both fiction and memoir) related to spring to put you in the mood for this season of renewal and hope!

I really enjoy writing these kinds of columns where I can share a bunch of my favorite books on a related topic. I previously wrote a monthly book column like this for Vital! magazine.

I won't post every column I write here on the blog, but you can sign up for the Shelf Awareness newsletter yourself (see the sidebar at the link), and I will also post my columns on Facebook and Twitter.  I have also begun writing author interviews for Shelf Awareness, which I am loving so far! It's like having my own private book group meeting with an author after reading his or her book. The first of those will be published in May.

Hope you are enjoying spring! Word is that it might finally warm up above the 40's here today!

New Travel Article: Exploring Cajun Country

Down on the bayou in Cajun Country

A local resident

My latest travel article, Exploring Cajun Country, has been published on My Itchy Travel Feet, a fun travel website that calls itself The Baby Boomer's Guide to Travel.

This time, I take readers to southern Louisiana, known affectionately as Cajun Country. This region features flora & fauna, food, music, and culture that are all wonderfully unique. It's like traveling to another country without leaving the U.S.!

Crawfish - yum!

My husband and I used to live in New Orleans, so Louisiana holds a special place in our hearts. We have taken our sons back to NOLA several times, but this visit to Cajun Country was especially memorable. My article includes details on swamp tours and other local entertainment, enjoying the unique outdoors, great food, and wonderful music.

Check it out at the link.

Have you ever been to Louisiana? What did you enjoy there? I'm ready for another visit!

New Article: 6 Amazing Hikes in Shenandoah National Park

As a freelance writer, I frequently write about travel and the outdoors. In the past, most of my travel writing has focused on family travel, but now that our sons are grown, I am branching out a bit.

My first (hopefully of many!) article on the website My Itchy Travel Feet was published today:
6 Amazing Hikes in Shenandoah National Park.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much we love the outdoors, camping...and Shenandoah!

I am excited to begin a new relationship with My Itchy Travel Feet and see both my article and my photos on their website. I hope to share more of our travel and outdoor adventures with their readers.

It's the 100th anniversary of our National Parks - which one is your favorite?

9 Awesome Books to Read Aloud to Your Tween

My husband reading aloud to our son in our camper

My article, "9 Awesome Books to Read Aloud to Your Tween," is featured today on BonBon Break for their November theme of Connect.

Reading aloud is a great way to connect with your kids after a busy day - and there's no need to stop when they learn to read themselves! We continued reading aloud with our sons, now 17 and 21, until they were into their teens, and we enjoyed some wonderful books that way.

You can read my full article at the link, and here are links to my reviews of some of the books I recommended:

• The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
• Lionboy trilogy by Zizou Corder
• Alabama Moon by Watt Key
• The Tiger Rising and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
• Hide & Seek by Katy Grant
• Airball: My Life in Briefs by L.D. Hardraker

For more great read-alouds for tweens, see the full article at BonBon Break.

What are some of your favorite read-aloud books for older kids?

New Essay Published

Sorry I have been absent from the blog for a while. My dad just passed away this week, and we spent a week by his side in hospice in my hometown (Rochester, NY). I won't be posting here much for another week or so, as we will be traveling a lot and going to the service. My dad fought a brave battle against melanoma, and we are grateful that we had a full year with him after his diagnosis and spent many weekends together. It's still hard to believe he is gone.

On a lighter note, my essay, 5 Things I've Learned From Living with Chronic Illness, was published on Mamalode this month - it describes some of the silver linings of our family's illnesses, a positive view of this crazy life we lead! Hope you will check it out.

I'll be back to blogging regularly when things settle down a bit.

Dad and I dancing at my wedding

A Tribute to My Dad

One of my earliest memories is when, at four years old, I ran out to the breezeway and greeted the kind man my mother was dating with, “Are you going to be my Daddy?” I somehow knew even then that he was the perfect father for me, and he officially became my father when my parents got married a short time later.

He’s not my biological father, but that has never mattered to either him or me. He officially adopted me when I was five years old, and he’s been my dad ever since. He is still one of the kindest, most loving men I’ve ever known, and I couldn’t have chosen a better father.

             

Even back in the 70’s and 80’s – before it was common for fathers – he always took an active role in the lives of me and my sister. We did a lot of things together as a family: camping, hiking, and our annual vacation at the beach. On Saturday nights, we played games together in front of our fireplace. My dad was the champ at Parcheesi and never would have let us win on purpose. He was always fair-minded and kind.

             

He was just as kind to my friends, greeting them by name when he came home from work and always taking an interest in what I was doing. Whenever he came home and saw my best friend, Michelle (which was almost every day), he would say teasingly, “Oh, no! It’s Michelle!” and she’d erupt in a fit of giggles. She knew, just like I did, that he genuinely liked me and my friends. He had a great sense of humor. He even put up with my annual slumber party of screaming little girls in the basement!

             

Dad didn’t just get involved in my life; he involved me in his, too. He was in the trucking industry, and for a while when I was a kid, he had his own business and small truck, making deliveries to local stores and businesses. When I had a day off from school, he’d take me along with him for what he called “pick-em-ups and deliveries.” I rode around town beside him in the red truck, and we’d stop for donuts and lunch. I felt so special sitting next to him, especially when he introduced me to his regular customers.

             

Besides all the day-to-day fun we had together, my dad was always there for special events. We were a family that celebrated everything, and he came to every dance recital and school function, usually with his movie camera. He always let me know that he was proud of me.

             

At my wedding, Dad and I danced together. I chose one of his favorite songs, “Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers, and its lyrics were perfect for our relationship. My family and friends gathered in a big circle around us, and most of them were crying! Dad and I thought that was funny, as we enjoyed our dance together.

             

When my husband and I became parents ourselves, my dad became Grandpa. He was just as loving and kind with our two sons as he had been with me and my sister. From the time they were little, he has always been actively involved with them, playing with them on the floor or outside, playing games together with the whole family, and letting them know he loved them.

             

Last summer, my dad was diagnosed with melanoma, now stage 4. He’s had surgeries, radiation, and immunotherapy, and this past year has been a struggle. My sons, both busy teenagers now, will still drop everything to go visit him and Grandma (a day’s drive away). They play cards with him or watch TV or a movie, and they love his sense of humor. It means so much to me that they love Grandpa just as much I do.

             

Our relationship began in a loving way when he not only accepted me as his daughter but treated me no differently than my sister, his biological daughter. It has only grown stronger over the years. From my dad’s example, I learned patience, kindness, and tolerance. I have come to recognize and appreciate his influence more the older I get. I feel so fortunate to have him as my father, and he’s taught me a lot about being a parent myself.

Great Books About Fathers

(This article is reprinted from my monthly book column in Vital! magazine)

Father’s Day is on June 21. Give your favorite Dad one of these great books or celebrate the day by reading about fathers:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – There are several father-child relationships at the heart of this suspenseful, clever book set in Barcelona.

12,000 Miles in the Nick of Time: A Semi-Dysfunctional Family Circumnavigates the Globe by Mark Jacobson – One of my favorite memoirs, by a father who plans a trip around the world with his wife and three kids/teens – thoughtful and funny.

Defending Jacob by William Landay – A novel depicting a father’s ultimate challenge: to defend his son who is accused of a heinous crime.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel – A graphic novel memoir that explores the very unusual relationship the author had with her gay father and how it affected her.

Us by David Nicholls – A warm and funny novel narrated by Douglas, a Brit who is struggling to be a good husband and father as his marriage falls apart on a European vacation.

She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan – A memoir by a transgendered father with two children who undergoes the transformation from man to woman.

American Pastoral by Philip Roth – This American classic about the life of a typical American man includes the main character’s relationship with his own father, as well as his difficult relationship with his daughter.

I Sleep At Red Lights by Bruce Stockler – A heart-warming and hilarious memoir of a father’s first years with a preschooler plus baby triplets.

 

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – A novel that explores the fragile relationship between fathers & sons, set in Afghanistan.

The Ride of Our Lives by Mike Leonard – a memoir by the Today show correspondent about taking his parents on a cross-country trip that will make you want to go right out and rent an RV for your family.

Suzan Jackson is a freelance writer who lives in Delaware with her husband and two sons. She writes a blog about books, featuring reviews, book news, and more at www.bookbybook.blogspot.com. You can find reviews of all of the books listed here on the blog.

(This article is reprinted from my monthly book column in Vital!, The magazine for Active Older Adults, available free in public places like libraries and drugstores in Delaware and North Carolina)

 

What are your favorite books about fathers?

New Essay on Mamalode Today!

My essay, While They Are Sleeping, is featured today on the home page of the Mamalode website (and will be available all month).

This is an older one that I wrote many years ago, back when our sons were just 6 and 3 years old, about checking on them while they slept each night before going to bed myself. It's something that I think any parent can relate to and makes me feel quite nostalgic, since my "boys" are now 20 and 17 and tower over me!

I hope you enjoy the essay - please share it with your friends!

Celebrate Everything, Big and Small!

My essay, Celebrate Everything, Big and Small, is featured today on the website Mamalode for their March Celebration theme.

You can add joy to any day with a celebration, whether for a major holiday or for any small reason.

St. Patrick's Day was yesterday, but we still have the First Day of Spring coming up on Friday and Easter just around the corner. We can always find excuses to celebrate!

I hope you enjoy the essay and that is inspires you to celebrate everything, big and small, in your own way and embrace those moments of joy!

Wrap-Up: Two Writing Challenges

At the start of September, I decided to jump-start my fall writing season (kids back in school!) by joining two writing challenges. I'm a bit late with the wrap-up, but here's what I accomplished:

The Monster Review-a-thon focused just on writing reviews. It was  just one week (when I had only two days with the kids in school), so my goals were modest:

• Write reviews of 3 books
• Write a Big Book Summer Challenge Wrap-Up post

In all, on my book blogs that week, I managed:


Review of Defending Jacob

Review of The Ask and the Answer

Post on Book Adaptations on TV

Weekend Cooking Post

So, not quite as many reviews as I'd hoped, but the challenge did serve as an extra motivator to get back into my normal blogging routine. And I wrote another review, plus the Big Book Summer Challenge Wrap-up Post the following week.

I also joined Sit Down and Write 4 Challenge, hosted by Stories Inside: the Writing Blog of the True Book Addict. My goals were:

• The book review goals listed above, plus two more reviews and/or book blog posts next week.
• Write and publish 3 new posts for my chronic illness blog, Learning to Live with CFS, which has been badly neglected this summer.
• Write and send 4 new pitches, including 2 for travel articles.
• Finish the first draft of chapter 1 of my book on living with chronic illness.
• Edit my article on CFS into brief guest blog posts for a supplement website (paid work!)

Wow. Yeah, OK, I might have been a bit overzealous! But again, joining the challenge sort of gave me permission to focus mainly on writing last week. I finished:

• The reviews and book blog posts listed above, plus a review of The Time Machine the next week.
• I wrote four posts for my chronic illness blog.
• I wrote and sent four pitches, and yes, two of them were for travel articles.

I didn't have time to work on my book (that always seems to be the case!) and I still haven't received the background materials for the paid job, but I felt good about the progress I made in those two weeks. Next time, I think I may try to focus on one area of writing at a time to see what I can accomplish that way.

The only problem is that I put priority on writing last week and let everything else slide...so now I've spent most of this week running around, catching up on all the household necessities and to-dos I put off last week! As a result, I've had no time for writing at all. Sigh. There must be a way to find a nice balance!

Anyway, I enjoyed both writing challenges and found them helpful in re-focusing my writing work. Have you tried any writing challenges? Or do you have any tips on finding time for writing along with all the other things that must be done?

Two Writing Challenges

I am trying something new this week!

I have joined reading challenges for the past several years and enjoyed them. This weekend, I was reading Mom's Small Victories, one of my favorite blogs (the author writes about books and lives with chronic illness, just like me), and the author posted about two writing challenges she had signed up for. At first I thought, "Why bother? I don't have time to write anyway," but then I remembered my kids start back to school this week, and I will finally have some writing time again! So, the timing is perfect, and I really need this extra motivation after a stressful, non-writing summer, so I am signing up for the same two writing challenges.

The Monster Review-a-thon is hosted by The Book Monsters (another bonus - finding new blogs!). That one is just this week and just reviews. Since my kids just went back to school today (and my son has Friday off!), my writing time is somewhat limited, so my goals for this one are modest:

• Write reviews of 3 books
• Write a Big Book Summer Challenge Wrap-Up post

Sit Down and Write 4 is being hosted by Stories Inside: the Writing Blog of the True Book Addict. Just the name of this challenge is perfect for me! This is what I need help with - ignoring the long list of to-dos nagging me and the messy house and just Sit Down and Write! This one lasts two weeks which is great because I will have 4 days next week with the kids in school and the house QUIET for a change. So, here are my goals for this one:

• The book review goals listed above, plus two more reviews and/or book blog posts next week.
• Write and publish 3 new posts for my chronic illness blog, Learning to Live with CFS, which has been badly neglected this summer.
• Write and send 4 new pitches, including 2 for travel articles.
• Finish the first draft of chapter 1 of my book on living with chronic illness.
• Edit my article on CFS into brief guest blog posts for a supplement website (paid work!)

Yes, it's a lot for two weeks (one and a half at this point, really), but that's the point of a challenge, right? I want to use this as motivation to kick off the fall writing season and make up for a very unproductive summer.

So, join in the fun! Do you have a backlog of reviews you'd like to catch up on or some other writing project you have trouble finding time for? There is still plenty of time to sign up for these challenges - just follow the links here. Wish me luck!