Author: Marissa DeCuir

Perfect for fans of the Off-Campus series, and those who are over the Alpha Male trope

PARIS – Debut author Rosanna Patruno is releasing the first book in her thrilling New Adult fantasy series, “The Hidden Heir” (March 14, 2023), which follows magical Inga through her supernatural lessons with the handsome yet mystifying Biagio, and on an otherworldly journey to protect her family from the sorcerer hunting them.

Despite being one of the less gifted witches in her family, Inga is eager to take advantage of her magical skills. Her mother, however, doesn’t believe women have a place in school, and wants Inga to give up magic and work with her in her tearoom. When Inga meets the gifted yet mysterious magical instructor Biago, who offers her one-on-one lessons to advance her magical abilities, she is ecstatic. Her mother does not trust the high-status, handsome Biago, for reasons unknown to Inga. But Inga unexpectedly develops feelings for Biago, as he shows her what it is like to live among the aristocrats of London, leading Inga into a world of unexpected euphoria that she did not know existed.

When long forgotten family secrets begin to resurface, including a millennia-old sorcerer hunting Inga’s family, and young women suddenly disappearing across London, Inga must fight to secure her own fate, and the fate of those around her. Can Inga trust Biago to help her avoid a destiny far worse than death, or is Inga’s mom right to not trust him? Follow Inga on her journey to uncover the truth of her family’s history, and to protect them and society at all costs.

“The Hidden Heir”
Rosanna Patruno | March 14, 2023 | New Adult Fantasy
Paperback: 978-2-9585988-0-8

Rosanna Patruno: From her youth spent in Puglia, a wild region in the south of Italy, Rose has retained a love for the culinary preparation of beautiful natural products. And when still a teen, she decided to become a writer without knowing anything about this world; Rose never imagined for a moment what her path would be. At the age of twenty she defied the path laid out by her patriarchal family and escaped, leaving her family and this region behind, to follow her own passion – that of art and literature to discover Paris. There she took art classes, immersing her creativity between anatomy morphology and the art of watercolor along with Theater, which sharpened her sense of observation and her art of human portraiture – two skills she offers in her writing. Later, she developed her knowledge of pre-Christian myths, a passion she shares with her husband. Her life as a writer comes from a well of decisions and encounters: “A novel may begin life as an anecdote, but sharing is where it is truly born. It is not something that we premeditate. But the desire to have amusement and excitement can only stem from our original creations for which the inspiration flows from our own memories – the surprises of life”.

Follow Rosanna Patruno on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

In an interview, Rosanna Patruno can discuss:

• How growing up in southern Italy has influenced her personality & how her experience impacted her view of the world
• What it is like growing up in a patriarchal society, and how she drew on that for her writing process
• Why she feels patriarchal society finds its greatest support among some women
• Why it is important to acknowledge that not all teenagers come from a family that wants the best for them, and how this story can show them how to strengthen their personality
• How she goes against the stereotypical alpha male tropes in her storytelling and offers alternate ideals of what a couple should be
• How writing fanfiction helped to find the strength to write her debut series
• Her plans to continue Inga and Biagio’s story

An Interview with Rosanna Patruno

You mention that you were a big fan of fanfiction. How has fanfiction inspired your writing of this series in particular?

When you come from a country with ancient and rich literature, where you are acquainted since childhood with outstanding authors, one has the impression a girl simply cannot compete with the likes of Dante, Manzoni, and Umberto Eco. Fanfictions provide aspiring writers with a space where they can find fun in storytelling without being compared to Literature tutelary figures. It is a nice and pleasant training ground where they can “sharpen their quills” and gain confidence in this craft thanks to their readers’ emotional support and recognition.

What was it like growing up in a patriarchal society, and how did you draw on that for your writing process?

One does not realize how polluted their city is until one discovers the purer air of the wild sea. Likewise, a girl in a patriarchal family could hardly breathe until her will, a casual encounter, or both, show her a different reality. It takes time and effort to unleash her long unused wings in this new environment, but with the right support, she can build her confidence. In this book, my character is only at the beginning of this journey, which I went through in the years it took me to write her story.

How do you think this story can show teenagers how to stand up for themselves, especially when up against unsupportive family members or friends?

A reader (or someone watching movies) identifies with a character. When surrounded by a fictional “loving and perfect” family, with parents willing to do their best for their kids, she will twist it to fit her own (dysfunctional) family. This could lead her to renounce her dreams to follow her family’s will, sometimes for the parents’ or siblings’ interest. Giving her the means to recognize the red flags is just as important as showing her how she could find the strength to lead her way.

What do you think of the “Alpha male” idea seen in many fiction novels, and how do you feel Biago is different from that standard?

It is reassuring to fall for the stereotypical alpha male (protective, strong, competent, rich…) because it is the patriarchal mother’s expectation for her: an over-controlling figure who “will take care of her” by keeping her in a state of child-like dependency. The romanticization of such a figure will lead the daughter into the same trap her mother fell in, reproducing the expected social format of a shadow woman. Offering a different yet positive alternative shows how a more balanced and respectful relationship can help the girl become herself in a less direct, and less directed, but more interesting long-term path.

There seems to be an underlying importance of music in your book. How would you describe your relationship with music?

If music always attracted me, I only discovered its world in Paris, where people can go to concerts (jazz and classical mainly) almost for free. One of my favorite experiences was a night rehearsal of Renaissance music at Notre Dame. It was a magical moment; we were nearly alone with the musicians in the cathedral, offering us the impression of stepping back a few centuries ago. We also had the chance to “welcome” a Bosendorfer at home for some time (a cumbersome guest, I must admit), and its sound and resonances accompanied the writing of the encounter between Biagio and Inga.

This is your debut series! Can you tell us about what else we can expect from the series, and from you as an author?

Inga’s journey to discover herself and her potential is only at the beginning, and it will take time and effort to become and to get where she is meant to be. The universe where Inga and Biagio’s story takes place is larger than shown in this story, and the Distant Worlds mentioned here will soon offer unexpected plot twists!

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

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.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Award-winning author’s book includes Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker and many more

Brunswick, ME – Award-winning author of over ten mysteries and historical novels, Matt Cost is releasing a fast-paced historical mystery, “Velma Gone Awry: A Brooklyn 8 Ballo Mystery” (April 12, 2023, Encircle Publications), which is set in the roaring ‘20s and follows a PI on a surprising, peculiar case to find the flapper daughter of a wealthy businessman.

Matt Cost brings us back to Brooklyn in the roaring 20’s and introduces us to Hungarian PI, 8 Ballo. The search to find Fritz Hartmann’s daughter will lead him to cross paths with Dorothy Parker, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Bugsy Siegel, Babe Ruth, and many more. As the 8th child in his family, Ballo’s mother simply named him 8. Now in his mid-thirties, the jilted, college-educated, Great War veteran has his own private investigator business and is on a jarring journey to discover why Velma has gone awry.

Matt Cost is an award-winning author and also a runner up in the RONE and a finalist in the Silver Falchion. He owned a mystery bookstore and was a history major at Trinity College. After reading Cost’s work, Grace J. Reviewerlady said, “a fine cast of characters and always a sprinkling of humor… engrossed from the very beginning until the final word. Thrilling and exciting, this one comes highly recommended and easily earns all five glowing stars, and InD’tale Magazine said, “…twists and turns and added thrilling lures will ensnare readers and keep the pages turning!” of the Clay Wolfe/Port Essex series.

“Velma Gone Awry”
April 12, 2023 | Encircle Publications | Mystery / Historical Fiction
Hardcover | 978-1-64599-418-3 | $27.99
Paperback | 978-1-64599-417-6 | $17.99
Ebook | 978-1-64599-419-0 | $6.99

Praise for Matt Cost:

“Meet Detective 8 Ballo…. he’ll find a mountain of trouble, make plenty of enemies, and meet all the big names in town, from Dorothy Parker to Babe Ruth to Bugsy Siegel. Before you’re done, you’ll find a mountain of entertainment, a book filled with action, suspense, plot twists, and a sense that you’re actually living back there in the fantastic world that author Matt Cost brings so vividly to life. Velma may have gone awry. But don’t let her get away. Read the book.” – William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of Back Bay and December ’41

“Clay Wolfe and crew are back with another round of hijinks, thanks to author Matt Cost. I have liked this series because of the shenanigans, the budding romance, the action sequences, the sexy scenes, and the fun, ridiculous narratives.” – The Traveling Cloak Reviews

“Clay Wolfe, the nattily-dressed, roguishly-charming, ex-Boston-homicide-cop-turned-PI, is unfurling – expanding his reach (both emotionally and professionally) into thornier, darker and more challenging arenas – a fascinating budding shift for this already top-notch PI crime series.” – Terri at BooklyMatters

“The reader is hooked into the story from the first page with the possibly innocuous, yet nonetheless, chilling words “Sometimes bad genes need to be stamped out and good ones need to be fostered. There’s really no difference between mice and human beings when it comes to genes.” – I Read What You Write: Book Bites

MATT COST writes the Mainely Mystery and the Clay Wolfe/Port Essex Mystery Series. He’s also written several books of historical fiction. This is his first jaunt in combining his two loves of histories and mysteries into a historical PI mystery. Cost was a history major at Trinity College. He owned a mystery bookstore, a video store, and a gym, before serving a ten-year sentence as a junior high school teacher. In 2014 he was released and began writing. And that’s what he does. He writes histories and mysteries. Cost now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. A chocolate Lab and a basset hound round out the mix. He now spends his days at the computer, writing. Find out more about him at https://mattcost.net.

Follow Matt Cost on social media:
Facebook: @MattCost8 | Twitter: @MattCost8
Instagram: @mlangdoncost | TikTok: @MattCost8

In an interview, Matt Cost can discuss:

• The process of researching and writing historical mysteries, and the fun in bringing infamous literary characters to life
• How he manages to write three new books a year in three different series
• Being a seasoned, award-winning author in the world of mystery books
• Owning a mystery bookstore, inspirational anecdotes, and what the book industry looks like as a bookstore owner versus an author
• What exactly a Ballo is, interesting facts of them and the history behind them
• His evolution as a writer of histories and mysteries and the blending of these two genres
• The importance of a strong writing community, the support of important people, and the backing of an involved publisher
• The importance of setting as a character in the plot of the novel

An Interview with Matt Cost

What does the writing process and research process look like for a book set in the roaring ‘20s, and how did you decide which famous literary characters to include?

As I delved into the research of the Roaring ‘20s I became increasingly excited about all that was going on, Prohibition, speakeasies, jazz, baseball, gangsters, and so much more. I read books about all these things, visited historical sites in Brooklyn, and got lost in internet research for days at a time. I wanted to include a sprinkling of the many legendary people of the time and had a hard time tamping the numbers down. In the end, Dorothy Parker emerged as a major character, but there were cameo appearances by Coleman Hawkins, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and Babe Ruth to name just a few

What was it like owning a mystery bookstore? What are some fun, behind the scene stories from that time, or lessons learned that contributed to your storytelling?

I opened The Coffee Dog Mystery Bookstore in Brunswick, Maine, in 1994. It was named after my chocolate Lab at the time, making him, and the place, the two non-fictional pieces to the mystery novels that would follow in the Mainely Mystery series. The UPS man would always bring treats for the Coffee Dog, so that one day when this friendly canine saw a UPS truck at the top of Maine Street, he ran it down and boarded a different driver’s truck, a young man who was quite surprised. Interacting with customers about fabled mystery writers such as Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen, and Robert Parker was fabulous and cemented the groundwork for my future mystery writing.

What exactly is a Ballo? What are some interesting facts and history about them?

The Ballo family emigrated from Hungary to America in the 19th century, at which pointed the A at the end of their name was mistakenly changed to an O on the paperwork. 8 Ballo was the eighth child born in America in 1888, and his mother was certain that he was going to be a girl to even the scales at four and four. When it turned out he was a boy, and Dad was out to sea, she merely wrote the number 8 on the birth record, meaning to change this at a later date, but never did. Dad was a hardworking man who left his seafaring job to be at home working in a German beer brewery in Bushwick and Mom raised the eight children with love and kindness.

How do you decide which of your characters lives or dies? Is it hard killing off characters?

Killing characters’ in my books is a very sensitive topic. Readers don’t seem to mind when you kill the baddies off, but the slaying of a likable character can lead to outrage, but an occurrence that I believe whole-heartedly as necessary to raise the stakes, so that the reader isn’t able to coast along knowing that everything is going to work out, and only the bad will die and the good will live. Many times, in my writing, I’ve gotten to that pivotal point where a person of the pages life hangs in the balance, not yet knowing their fate, and then moving forward with or without them.

Is there anything else in the works for PI 8 Ballo?

The second book in the Brooklyn 8 Ballo series, City Gone Askew, is well underway, and is looking at a publication date of April 2024. 8 Ballo is hired to investigate a murder and the theft of an Aquila, a golden Roman Eagle Standard from the first century, which proves to be only the tip of the iceberg of this scintillating mystery. Joining 8 are his close friends Pearle, McGee, Marty, as well as Dorothy Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and other legendary newcomers to the pages.

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

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.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

LONDON – So much of modern-day diplomacy still takes place behind closed doors, away from cameras and prying eyes. But what does this vital role really look like in today’s world?

From 2009 to 2014, Catherine Ashton was the EU’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security. Arriving in Brussels as a relative novice to international diplomacy, she faced the challenge of representing the views and values of 28 nations during one of the most turbulent times in living memory.

From Russia’s invasion of Crimea to the Iran nuclear negotiations, she led the EU’s response, charting a path toward collaboration and stability. There were challenges, failures and moments of success. She encountered dictators and war criminals, and witnessed the aftermath of natural disasters, military action, and political instability.

Now for the first time, in “And Then What?” (Elliott & Thompson, Feb. 23, 2023) she takes us behind the scenes to show what worked and what didn’t, and how it felt to play a part in tackling some of the major international crises of our time.

• An expert author with a ringside seat: Catherine Ashton was responsible for coordinating the EU’s response to international crises and led historic negotiations such as the Serbia-Kosovo Accord of 2013. Her account includes encounters with Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Sarkozy, David Cameron and many more.
• Incredibly timely: Many of today’s crises around the world have their roots in this period, and this book offers crucial insight into contemporary international relations.
• Essential reading: For anyone interested in geopolitics, international diplomacy and current affairs.

And Then What?
Inside Stories of 21st-Century Diplomacy
Catherine Ashton | Feb. 23, 2023 | Elliott & Thompson | Nonfiction / Politics
Hardcover | ISBN 978-1783966349 | $29.95
Ebook | $29.95

About the Author

Catherine Ashton served as the European Union’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2009 to 2014, and the first female EU Commissioner for Trade. She is a life peer and former Leader of the House of Lords, and served as a UK government minister in the Education and Justice departments. She is a Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC and a consultant to the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

Topics that Catherine Ashton can explore in an interview:

• What is diplomacy? How does it work? Do we need more of it, or is it just talking instead of action? As the U.S. looks at the challenges of the future – Putin’s war in Ukraine, Xi Jinping’s determination to put China ahead, Europe’s inability to shoulder more of the burden – how could international diplomacy resolve some of the problems we face?
• “And then What?” poses the ultimate question faced by leaders as they try to grapple with all of the crises and problems they face. It can be easy to work out the first steps – but then what? How do you deal with the uncertainties that will inevitably follow? What lessons can we take away from some of the challenges we have already faced?
• Diplomacy conjures up different images: from dinner parties in chandelier lit ballrooms to convoys of UN vehicles on dusty roads. What is it really like to be thrust into that world and face some of the most pressing challenges of a generation?
• The problem with diplomacy is we don’t have enough of it, and we don’t give it enough tools in the toolkit. How do we equip diplomats with what they need?
• “And Then What?” was written for people who want to know what it is really like to be in the room during the Iranian talks; to see how President Putin works close up; who want to understand how diplomats work and the real dilemmas they face.
• President Putin is much on people’s minds now as they contemplate the effects of the ongoing war with Ukraine. But where did this all begin? How did the Ukraine crisis start?
• The origins of other significant crises around the world (for example, in Libya and the Arab Spring) – Going back to the beginning and seeing the role that key leaders played is important to our understanding of how we got here.
• As the world waits to see if the nuclear deal with Iran can be revived, how did the U.S., China, Russia and three European countries (UK, France and Germany) working under EU chairmanship get the deal in the first place? What was it like in the room?

Praise for Catherine Ashton’s “And Then What?”

“A riveting, absorbing account of modern diplomacy by one of the greatest international diplomats of recent times. ‘And Then What?’ is hugely informative, full of tremendous insights, and a truly great read!”
– General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and NATO/US Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA

“Brilliant – suspenseful and dramatic. I read it in a day.”
– Ken Follett, international bestselling author of “The Pillars of the Earth”

“Cathy Ashton was not a diplomat, but she became the EU’s top diplomat overnight in 2010 and was immediately plunged into a host of global crises. Her account of some highlights of her time in and away from Brussels makes fascinating and illuminating reading. From Haiti to Libya, reconciling Serbia and Kosovo, the Iran Nuclear deal and the start of the Ukraine drama, she was immersed in the hard grind of global crisis management. Modest but highly professional, she made a major impact – and this book is truly remarkable history.”
– Lord (George) Robertson, Former Secretary General, NATO

“‘As I read ‘And Then What?’ I couldn’t help but think of the bar scene in Star Wars. A prerequisite for future diplomacy among such characters, including our progeny, is the success of diplomacy such as Cathy Ashton reports here, in lieu of war and a dead-end future. If generations of Earthlings-to-be do indeed engage in cosmic negotiations with other lifeforms, it will be because of the success of Cathy and her diplomatic compatriots in bringing us to realize we are Earth-life, together.”
– Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut

“This is not an ordinary diplomatic memoir. Cathy Ashton worked tirelessly to mitigate the devastating consequences of real and political earthquakes while the EU’s de facto Foreign Minister. She combines acute analysis with moving portraits of the many people she engaged with, from dictators to shopkeepers; from overworked civil servants to distressed toddlers searching in vain through rubble for their parents; from the revolutionary youth of Tahir Square to jaundiced negotiators who wanted a deal but didn’t know how to strike it. During her time in office, Ashton eschewed the limelight. While avoiding self-promotion and deflecting the arrows of appalling misogyny from the quivers of the media as well as of some of the EU’s male establishment, she was at the heart of at least two of the most important international agreements of the early twenty-first century, the Iran nuclear deal and the first major step towards rapprochement between Kosovo and Serbia. Perhaps most surprising is her story-telling ability – each episode in this book has the element of a thriller combined with that of the most perceptive travel writer. And together it throws an entirely new light on the monumental political processes that shook the globe in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. A must for students of politics and a treat for lovers of general non-fiction.”
– Misha Glenny, Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna, and author of “McMafia”

“A surprise appointment as High Representative – effectively the EU’s Foreign Minister – and initially dismissed as too inexperienced, Catherine Ashton became recognised as a brilliantly effective diplomat and negotiator, winning international acclaim for two personal triumphs: her brokering of an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo in 2013 and her leading role in the Iran nuclear deal of the same year. This riveting, deeply personal and wonderfully accessible book takes the reader inside the room during the successes, setbacks and personalities of this turbulent period of history.”
– Sir Kim Darroch, former British Ambassador to the USA, National Security Advisor, and UK Permanent Representative to the EU

“Cathy Ashton’s gripping memoirs are not only a perfect combination of very precise facts and touching personal emotions, but for all foreign policy observers they convey important lessons of the past to serve for the crises of today.”
– Pierre Vimont, former French ambassador to the EU and the USA

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

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.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Teen struggles with eating disorder in gorgeous, moving graphic novel from critically acclaimed author and artist

Pasadena, CA – Disney and DC artist and author Victoria Ying pulls at readers’ heartstrings and explores her past in the poignant YA graphic novel, “Hungry Ghost” (April 25, 2023, Macmillan/First Second). Ying has seen tremendous success with many of her works, including DC’s “Diana Princess of the Amazons,” and fans will rejoice in the new story and its moving imagery.

Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all, thin. No one, not even her best friend Jordan, knows that she has been binging and purging for years. But when tragedy strikes, Val finds herself taking a good, hard look at her priorities, her choices, and her own body. The path to happiness may lead her away from her hometown and her mother’s toxic projections—but first she will have to find the strength to seek help.

“Hungry Ghost is heartbreaking, hopeful, and frank about figuring out how to love yourself and even the people in your life who might stand in the way of that self-love. It’s a beautiful, compelling book.” — Trung Le Nguyen, creator of The Magic Fish

“Victoria Ying gives us an unflinching look at eating disorders and loss in this heartbreaking story about learning to love yourself.” — Lily Williams, creator of Go With The Flow

“Such a beautiful, tragic, uplifting story about friendship and love. I wish I could have read this when I was a kid, but I’m also grateful that I’ve read it now. I’ll be thinking about its message for a long time.” — MariNaomi, creator of Distant Stars

“Hungry Ghost”
Victoria Ying | April 25, 2023 | Macmillan/First Second | YA graphic novel
Hardcover | 978-1250766991 | $25.99
Paperback | 978-1250767004 | $17.99

More about Victoria Ying

Victoria Ying is a critically acclaimed author and artist living in Los Angeles. She started her career in the arts by falling in love with comic books, this eventually turned into a career working in animation and graphic novels. She loves Japanese Curry, putting things in her shopping cart online and taking them out again and hanging out with her husband and furry friends. Her film credits include Tangled, Wreck it Ralph, Frozen, Paperman, Big Hero 6, and Moana. She is the illustrator on DC’s “Diana Princess of the Amazons” and the author and illustrator of “City of Secrets,” and the sequel “City of Illusion” in stores everywhere! Her upcoming graphic novel projects include the sequel to “Diana Princess of the Amazons” and a YA debut, “Hungry Ghost.” Find out more about her at www.victoriaying.com.

Follow Victoria on social media:
Facebook: @artofvictoriaying | Twitter: @victoriaying | Instagram: @victoriaying

In an interview, Victoria can discuss:

• Why this story is important to her and her personal recovery story
• Balancing being an artist and an author
• Her storytelling process and how it has evolved through her projects
• Disordered eating in the Asian-American community and raising awareness around the issue
• How the pandemic affected her writing and health

An Interview with Victoria Ying

How did you transition from making art into storytelling?

I was always told by my father to write my own stories, but I was too scared to do so when I was a young artist, I wanted to just work on other people’s stories, but after working at Disney for 8 years and watching the storytelling process, I wanted to speak my own truth and tell the stories that I had inside of me.

How would you describe your art style and artistic process?

My art style is all over the place. I’ve always had an interest in exploration, so I try to use art techniques that match the tone of the story that I’m working on. Diana was a very fluid and simple style, while Hungry Ghost is a scratchier, more mature, but anxious style.

Recovery looks different for everyone. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience and why you decided to share a story that was so personal to you?

Recovery often looks one way because of how it is portrayed in the media. We often see a thin white girl who’s family is horrified at her revelation, but that was not my experience and in my desperation to be seen, I wrote this book.

Was creating this story of Valeria therapeutic for you?

This story flowed out of me in a way that no other writing has. I had an experience close to what happened in the book and I had to get it out. I wrote it as fiction because there are elements that speak to a larger truth than just the facts and processing it as fiction has been helpful.

The start of COVID-19 and lockdown was hard for a lot of people, but you mentioned that it made you reevaluate yourself and your body. How so?

I was in recovery for ED, but I hadn’t really made peace with my body or food. I was still dieting and over-exercising at the start of the pandemic, but I had made a commitment to change myself for the better and that meant addressing my mental health. During the pandemic, the freedom of having to see people, of having outsiders or friends or family judge my appearance went away and that space helped me to recover.

How can people make space for those with marginalized bodies?

While my story stars a thin character, I want it to be known that many if not most of the people suffering from Disordered Eating and disordered behaviors are often people we don’t expect. People often make judgments about what people’s lifestyle habits are just by looking at them and we often encourage people in larger bodies to engage in disordered eating because we see thin as being healthier. In my experience, I was the sickest when I was thinnest and we need to see people in larger bodies and their experiences with disordered eating as just as valid as those of thin people.

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

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.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/