Complex intergenerational mother-daughter relationship in contemporary debut
KIRKWOOD, MO – Prepare to be swept away on an emotionally charged odyssey through the heartland of America in debut author Anne Shaw Heinrich’s captivating novel, God Bless the Child (Speaking Volumes, Jun 7, 2024). Heinrich delves deep into the intricate relationship between Mary Kline, her compromised best friend, Pearl and Pearl’s daughter, Elizabeth. Through alternating perspectives, we’re invited into Mary and Elizabeth’s lives spanning from childhood to adulthood in a darkly poignant exploration of family, love, and resilience.
Anne Shaw Heinrich, a seasoned writer with over 35 years of experience as a journalist, columnist, and nonprofit communications professional, brings her wealth of expertise to this compelling narrative. Anne deftly weaves a tale of love, loss, and redemption, exploring the bonds between mothers and daughters and how Elizabeth’s upbringing with her two misfit mothers created a disturbing adulthood filled with personal traumas brought on by an early abortion, mental health battles, and motherhood.
About the book: Mary Kline has always confronted the challenges of her obesity and infertility with unyielding determination, refusing to succumb to societal expectations. But she desires one thing above all; a child of her own. When her vulnerable friend Pearl unexpectedly finds herself pregnant, Mary steps forward as both caregiver to Pearl and guardian to her child, Elizabeth. Mary sees an opportunity in motherhood to heal the wounds of her own loveless past, but Elizabeth resents Mary, finding her repulsive and stifling her upbringing. As the years pass, Elizabeth grapples with unresolved anger and struggles with her mental health, seemingly destined to repeat the same mistakes with the family she makes for herself. Can Elizabeth break free from the pains of her adolescence finding forgiveness for her mothers’ shortcomings, in order to become the mother she’s always wanted?
God Bless the Child
Anne Shaw Heinrich | June 7, 2024
Speaking Volumes | Contemporary Fiction
Paperback | 9798890221438 | $17.95
eBook | 9798890221421 | $7.99
Anne Shaw Heinrich: Since she fell in love with writing in high school, Anne Shaw Heinrich has been a journalist, columnist, blogger and nonprofit communications professional. Her first article appeared in Rockford Magazine in 1987. She’s interviewed and written features on Beverly Sills, Judy Collins, Gene Siskel, and Debbie Reynolds. Anne’s writing has been featured in The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006) and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love (2009). Anne’s debut novel, God Bless the
Child, is the first in a three-book series, The Women of Paradise County, to be published by Speaking Volumes. She and her husband are parents to three adult children. Anne is passionate about her family, mental health advocacy and the power of storytelling. You can find her on her website anneshawheinrich.com
Follow Anne Heinrich on social media:
Facebook: Anne Shaw Heinrich | Twitter: @AnneHeinrich5 | Instagram: @anne_shaw_heinrich
In an interview, Anne Heinrich can discuss:
- How the themes of empowerment and breaking societal norms echo throughout the narrative
- How the themes of motherhood and abortion are not portrayed in black and white but rather in nuanced shades of gray, reflecting the multifaceted nature of real-life experiences
- How the characters’ struggles with mental health issues are portrayed with empathy and authenticity, shedding light on important societal conversations
- How the author spent 18 years working on this novel and how this achievement represents the triumph of perseverance and resilience, proving that dreams deferred can still come to fruition with determination and dedication
- How the characters’ imperfections add depth and authenticity to the narrative, inviting readers to empathize with their struggles and root for their growth and redemption
- What readers can expect in the second and third books of the series
An Interview with Anne Shaw Heinrich
1. Describe your journey of writing and publishing this book.
I started God Bless the Child with a pencil and yellow legal pad back in 2006, while my youngest daughter attended preschool a few hours a week. It was right after I’d had an essay published in The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006). The editors of that essay collection encouraged me to do more writing. I finished the first draft of the manuscript and started pitching to agents, getting really close once. But life got in the way as I was raising a family, working. It seemed self-indulgent to pursue further when I was needed in so many other ways. It wasn’t until Summer 2023 that I decided to start writing fiction again. I reached back out to my editor, David Tabatsky, who was willing to read some of my new short stories, and encouraged me to dust off GBTC for another look. We dusted it off, did some more work on it, and saw the potential for a series. I’ve written a blog about this. The universe said “yes”! Here’s that link: https://medium.com/@annesh51/when-the-answer-is-yes-7e6248b44f08
2. How did you discover your love of writing?
I have always been entranced by the magic of storytelling. As children, my brothers and I were surrounded by good books. Our mother was a voracious reader of fiction, and Dad preferred the news and nonfiction. My first magical moment with storytelling happened when I was a very little girl, sitting in the living room with my Dad listening to Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” together as he pointed out the characters represented by the different instruments. I spent much of my childhood with my nose in a book, often reading the same stories over and over again. It wasn’t until I was in high school, and at the encouragement of two very influential teachers, that it occurred to me that there were stories swirling around me, waiting for me to be their teller. (This has guest article potential for me, for sure.)
3. How did you create your characters? Was it difficult to make them deeply flawed while also giving readers reasons to root for them?
Next to writing, watching and wondering about people is my favorite thing. Where have they been? What have they left behind? Where are they going? And what have they brought with them for the next leg of their journey? I tend to lean into characters who are rough around the edges, but also vulnerable. It’s that space between the grit and the most tender spots that some of the most courageous exploration and storytelling can catch its breath. Most people I know have flaws, but they also hold potential to love and be loved.
4. Tell us about your passion for and experiences with mental health advocacy.
Mental health has taken up a lot of real estate in my life and my family’s story. Our son has battled serious mental illness for the last ten years or so, and we landed on a definitive diagnosis of schizophrenia about seven years ago. He’s such a courageous young man, who still craves connection and joy and love. The impact for families who love and support someone with a serious mental illness cannot be understated. It sets you apart, tests individual and collective spirits, and can be a dream snatcher if allowed. There are thousands of families like ours managing the full gamut of emotions and practical considerations that come with mental illness, which is not different from physical illness. (This is a big, important topic for me. I could definitely write about it and talk about it.) I’ve written a blog, too: https://medium.com/@annesh51/gravity-and-grace-ede26b294389
5. What can readers expect in the rest of the series?
Books Two and Three in The Women of Paradise County Series also have complex characters. The binding agent for all three books is that the stories take place in the same Midwest town during some of the same time periods, and a few of the characters. These stories are not linear in nature, but I’m really having fun with them. Just like God Bless the Child, Violet Is Blue and House of Teeth have some dark themes, but the characters have strong voices. They are keen observers of their worlds and looking for where they belong.
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
