At the RWA conference Harlequin presented to their authors the results of a survey which, among other nice things about romance readers, revealed that they are more likely than readers of other genres to read all kinds of books, not just romances. So, readers, here’s a brand new author for you to try, a very special one!
Her name is Emma Rathbone and her debut novel is out this week. The Patterns of Paper Monsters features Jacob, a sarcastic, irreverent, Holden Caufield-esque narrator, who is incarcerated in a juveline detention center in Northern Virginia.
Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly has to say:
”Rathbone’s extraordinary and imaginative command of language surprises at every turn, from a woman described as “a pile of a person who smells like someone’s weird house” to an air vent blowing “glacial
wind swept up from prehistoric ice dunes.”
And The New Yorker is equally as glowing.
Emma’s book was selected to be one of Harvard Book Store’s Select Seventy.
I have a special reason for featuring Emma’s book. Emma is my daughter’s friend from high school. In fact, she patterns the juvenile detention center in the book after their high school. Emma has spent many an hour in this house. Countless sleepovers. I won’t embarrass her or my daughter by recounting their teenaged escapades (not the candle-making episode, nor the time they played hooky from religion classes. I won’t say a word).
As so often happens after high school, the two girls headed in different directions, though they were never entirely out-of-touch. Emma went on to earn a BA at NYU and a MFA at the University of VA and now THIS!
I can remember rewriting my first manuscript, taking out the steamy parts, so that Emma could read it. She was really the only one of that generation who was interested. Now I know why!
So it is a delight to share her success with all of you. I hope those of you who branch out into other genres give Emma’s The Patterns of Paper Monsters a try!
Read a newspaper article about Emma. And some blogs on the publisher site, Reagan Arthur Books.
Who have you known in that ordinary, growing up way, who went on to BIG THINGS? Tell us!
Are you one of the few who haven’t won a copy of Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady? I’m giving away a signed copy in the website contest. Check here.
I’ll just bet you influenced her in some way even if it was just by being around you. How nice. Her book sounds very interesting. And I love most genres lol.
Thanks, jeanne. I don’t know about influencing Emma. But she at least noticed that I thought I could write a book.
What a great story!! My son is a writer and has won contests and had short stories published, but he is still hoping to have a novel in print someday. Right now he’s more occupied in helping to care for 4-yr-old twin sons while both he and his wife have full time and demanding jobs. Best of luck to Emma with her first novel — may there be many more successful ones to follow. P.S. Diane it looks like we will be back in D.C. next winter for a few days. Hurrah!
Oh, goody! I can’t wait for our annual “catching up” lunch!
Sounds like your son inherited some genes from you, Vicky! You and I are good examples of how that break into publication can happen at any time. He sounds like he has enough to do right now, with twins at home!
I’m a great admirer of Number One London, Vicky ( http://onelondonone.blogspot.com/ ) You and Kristine have one of the most entertaining historical blogs I’ve run across.
How lovely. I will definitely have to give this one a read.
I sang in high school choir, ensemble and madrigal singers with a girl two grades behind me who was just the sweetest thing. She was funny and talented and a lot of fun to pal around with when music geeks were somewhat on the edge of school society.
She went on to work at Opryland singing in shows and eventually made it to Broadway where she replaced Andrew Lloyd Webber’s then wife in the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera. She has since been nominated for several Tony’s and has several albums out. If you get the chance check out Rebecca Luker (her married name escapes me at the moment.) I am just so proud of her, the little girl from Helena, Alabama who made it big! And is STILL a sweetheart. rebeccaluker.com
OMIGOSH, Rebecca played opposite Antonio Banderas!!!! Now THAT is impressive!!!
Unknown to me until a high school reunion (of many years), the sister of a classmate of mine played on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera (some of the minor roles). She’d been in the original cast and stayed until her retirement in 2008. I managed to see her in Phantom a couple of months before that and she gave us a backstage tour. So she and Rebecca must have been on stage together!
I grew up in a quiet corner of the world -where Canada, New York and Vermont come together on the shores of Lake Champlain. No one that I know of made it to national prominence. Many were successful in their own way at their jobs and with their families.
I have met important people, but that was long after leaving home and starting on my own path.
I am so happy for Emma. I wish her the best of success.