Author: Marissa DeCuir

NEW YORK, New York – In her upcoming memoir, award-winning journalist Kate Brookes shares the story of her daughter’s transition and the harsh realities facing transgender kids and their families.

“Transister” (She Writes Press, Aug. 8, 2023) is the story of a family in transition. Not a prescriptive narrative but an affirming one. A raw, honest, sometimes humorous account of Brookes’ journey as her young child grapples with gender identity and becomes her authentic self.

Brookes has longed to become a mother for as long as she can remember. And for almost as long, she has harbored a fierce determination to parent her children differently — better — than her own mentally ill mom parented her. To create the “normal” family she’s always wished for. And when she gives birth to twins after two years of fertility struggles, she is, admittedly, hugely relieved that she’s found herself with two boys. There will be no need for her, a decidedly un-girly girl, to braid hair, buy Barbie dolls, or pick out party dresses for her kids. Boys. Easy. Right?

By the time her twins are 8, Brookes has had two realizations: 1) her obstetrician’s “it’s another boy” announcement was flat-out wrong, and 2) there is no such thing as a “normal” family — and that’s a beautiful thing.

“Transister: Raising My Twins in a Gender Bender World”

Kate Brookes | Aug. 8, 2023 | She Writes Press | Memoir 

Paperback | 9781647425210 | $17.95 

Ebook | 9781647425227 | $8.99 

About the Author

Kate Brookes is the author of “Transister” (She Writes Press, Aug. 8, 2023). She is an award-winning TV reporter/anchor-turned-producer/filmmaker who has interviewed everyone from Beyonce to the late Barbara Walters, field produced for The Discovery Channel, written for Today.com, and emceed galas, live events, and webcasts for nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. An activist since her teenage years, Kate has devoted countless hours to the causes she supports, including mental health, housing justice, and anti-gun legislation. But it wasn’t until realizing she’d completely botched the birth announcement for her twins that she became active in LGBTQ causes. Kate lives with her husband and rock star children in New York City. Find out more about her at TransisterMom.com.

Follow Kate Brookes on Facebook and Twitter

In an interview, Kate Brookes can discuss:

• Navigating her daughter’s transition as a family while facing misunderstandings and prejudice
• Her personal journey to acceptance and learning how to mother a transitioning daughter
• The harsh – and often life and death – realities of parenting a trans child
• How insights from parenting a transgender child can help all parents supporting non-conforming children 
• How to discuss gender identity with children, even at an early age  
• The importance of supporting and normalizing trans experiences 
• Supporting your child’s coming out process

An Interview with

Kate Brookes

Before we dive into everything else, can you introduce us to you and your family?

I’m the proud mom to twin 14-year-olds, Gabriella (Gabby) and Jacob, both of whom are absolute rock stars, one of whom is transgender. My husband, Mike, and I are raising them in New York City and doing our best to embrace both of our kiddos and meet them where they are. We spent the first 8 years of parenthood operating under the notion we’d birthed twin boys (umm, that’s certainly what the OBGYN told us when he pulled said kids out of me), and the last 6 years, first adjusting to… and then celebrating the reality that one of our sons is actually our daughter. 

Your memoir is candid, raw, forthcoming – but also, at times, funny. Why was it important to you to incorporate humor into “Transister?”

Honestly, sometimes it’s easier to laugh than it is to cry. And believe me, I cried a lot while watching my daughter grapple with her gender identity. But, sometimes stuff really is funny, and why not acknowledge the humor? I mean, when’s the last time your 3-year-old son walked down the street pointing to women’s shoes and saying, “Heels, flats, heels, flats!” Or your 9-year-old daughter asked if her dress makes her penis look big? Besides, humor can be an effective way to connect with people and to address/tackle “taboo subjects” in a non-threatening way. For all of these reasons and more, it was important for me to include some levity in “Transister.”

When did your daughter first realize she was trans? Did you realize it or did she tell you?

My daughter realized she was trans at 8 years-old. “Gideon” and I were walking along Broadway, holding hands, when we stopped at a red light and he looked up at me and said, “Mama, I think I’m a transister.” To which I replied, “Do you mean transgender?” “Yes, when I was in your tummy,” Gideon explained, “it was a mistake. I was supposed to come out a girl.” The reality? I knew “he” was likely a “she” for years and had even begun attending support groups for parents of gender non-conforming and trans kids. But my husband and I did our best to let things unfold naturally and allow our kiddo to realize who she was at her own pace.

Did you realize immediately it was her identity and not “just a phase?”

I had no doubts this was her identity and never once thought otherwise. Granted, years before she socially transitioned I hoped the tutus, Barbie dolls, and YouTube makeup tutorials were “just a phase.” And part of me wished our kiddo was “just gay,” not because we’d love our son any more than we’d love our daughter, but because statistically when it comes to healthcare, employment, and suicidal tendencies, it’s easier to be gay than it is transgender. Ultimately, the fact that my daughter was insistent, consistent and persistent about her gender identity further confirmed for me that she was indeed a girl, and a beautiful one at that.

Did any part of you resist this realization? How do you navigate that?

We 100% embraced her realization and declaration. Keep in mind, we’ve always viewed ourselves as accepting, uber liberals from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. And yet, when I look back, I’m somewhat embarrassed (maybe even ashamed?) to acknowledge there were definitely times I squashed my kiddo’s inclinations. Case in point? At around 4 or 5 years old, she wanted a Disney princess comforter. My response? “Oh, wow, the pink and purple background won’t match your blue walls. Bummer. Let’s see if we can find something else that goes.” Or the time my kiddo wanted a Cinderella birthday cake, and my husband, Mike, and I chose an alternative. At the time, we told ourselves we were doing what was best for both of our twins so they wouldn’t face ridicule. But in retrospect, I think I was the one who feared ridicule.

What advice would you give other parents of children who identify as trans? What questions should they ask? What support can they offer? 

Accept your child. Love your child. Support your child. Even if you don’t understand your child. Studies show…and common sense reinforces the notion that children whose gender identities are affirmed have much better outcomes socially, emotionally and academically than kids whose parents don’t accept them. Think about it – all most people want is to feel loved, safe and protected. Trans kids are no different.  

At what point did you begin to change pronouns and publicly identify your child as your daughter?

About 6 months before our daughter came out publicly, she asked “us” to use female pronouns and call her by girls names, but only at home and only when it was just the four of us. Of course, Mike and I unintentionally botched the pronouns early on; it was admittedly difficult to shift to she/her after saying he/him for 8 years. And the new name? It probably would have been easier if there was just one. Our daughter went through 12 names (Jennifer, Liv, Phoebe, etc.) before landing on one that stuck. While not uncommon, I know of a parent who wrote her kid’s revolving names on a calendar to keep track, it was often difficult to remember her current name and address her accordingly. It wasn’t until Gabriella started 3rd grade at a new school that, with her permission, we began publicly identifying her as a girl.

How has Gabriella’s twin brother, Jacob, handled the transition? Did you experience any grief over the “loss” of your son?

Initially I not only grieved the loss of my son, but also the loss of the “normal” family I was trying to create, the one I pined for ever since I was a child. Over time, though, my husband and I realized we didn’t lose anything. Rather, we gained a happier child, one who’d now live as her authentic self, and we celebrated the arrival of our daughter. And that normal family? I’ve learned there’s no such thing, of course, and I’m actually good with that! As for Jacob, initially he focussed solely on the loss…his loss…of his twin brother. He was just 8 years old – who could blame him? It was a lot for anyone to comprehend, let alone a kid in single digits. Jacob was part confused, part angry, and part embarrassed. I’m happy to report that in the years since Gabriella’s transition, Jacob has developed an incredibly close relationship with his sister. Different from the one he had with his brother, and perhaps even more special.

How did your friends and family react to Gabriella’s transition?

My friends and family were overwhelmingly supportive of Gabriella’s transition. Some of them had seen the signs (her growing dress collection, use of makeup, etc.) over the years and weren’t surprised when we shared the news; others had no idea Gabby had been grappling with her gender identity and still seemed to take the change in stride. That said, not everyone “approved” of our daughter’s transition or how we were parenting our child. And we did lose a few friends, including several who were so close we considered them family. Disappointing, on the one hand. But my husband and I truly believe if you don’t support our family, then good riddance… we have no place for you in our lives.

How did your daughter’s friends react? Did she come out to everyone at once?

Most of Gabby’s friends were not only super supportive when she came out, but also not surprised. (Okay, there was that one friend from day camp who did a double-take when she bumped into Gabby on the street and realized G was sporting long hair and a dress. But once she realized it was the same kid she swam and played with the previous summer, the friend immediately hugged my daughter and asked for a playdate.) Mike and I sent a letter to friends, family, and parents of Jacob and Gabby’s friends, a letter explaining her social transition, new name and new pronouns, which helped facilitate her “coming out.” It also gave parents a “heads up” and the opportunity to discuss the change with their kids before they encountered our daughter for the first time.

You live in New York City, where gender-affirming care is more accessible. What advice do you have for parents of trans kids in areas where access to gender non-conformity is less accepted?

First, I have to acknowledge the privilege my daughter and our entire family have because we live in a place where gender-affirming healthcare is more accessible and gender non-conformity is readily accepted. But let’s be clear, geography shouldn’t be a privilege or a barrier. Trans people should be able to access the resources and support they need regardless of location. That said, I’d recommend parents seek out both emotional and medical support for their kiddos, whether it’s virtual or in-person, as early as possible. Organizations like The Trevor Project and PFLAG are accessible to anyone online and can be incredibly helpful in locating and connecting families with local resources. Support groups, therapists, gender-affirming healthcare – all of these can and do play a critical role in the life of a trans child and their family. No one should feel alone in this journey.

Anti-trans sentiment is unfortunately ubiquitous, even in the more liberal areas of the country. How do you navigate and manage the fear associated with this?

Wine and Xanax are key. Kidding. Sort of. Let’s be real; anti-trans sentiment is rampant in our country, and as the mom of a trans daughter, it’s incredibly stressful…and scary…to turn on the TV and hear some horrible anti-trans rant from a politician…or to overhear a random person on the street spewing anti-trans hate. I find solace knowing that my daughter has friends and family who love and support her…and a mom and dad who will do anything to protect her. 

What message do you have for politicians who support anti-trans legislation?

First, it’s “interesting” that so many politicians who support anti-trans legislation identify as pro-life. I would opine that if they were truly pro-life..and wanted to ensure all of their constituents remained alive, they’d support gender affirming healthcare. But, I’m not sure logic works when dealing with angry and scared people – and I do believe that anger and fear are driving most, if not all, of the anti-trans legislation. Regardless, my message is two-fold: First, I’d remind politicians that transgender people are, first and foremost, people…people like you and me who are just trying to live happy, healthy lives. And politicians are elected to represent all of their constituents, not just the rich people, or the white people, or the cisgender people. Second, I’d attempt to play to their emotions and ask how they might react if their child or grandchild came out as transgender. Would they support them or legislate against them? And finally, (I guess my message is three-fold), I’d make sure said politicians know that I and my posse of equal rights supporting, left leaning, liberal minded, and open-hearted mama (and papa) bears won’t go down without a fight!

Your book ends with Gabriella and Jacob entering the fourth grade. Tell us about them today. How are they doing?

Gabriella and Jacob are now 14-years-old and total rock stars. Period! Both will be entering high school in the fall, both are taller than me (yup, I’m now the runt of the family) and both are smart, funny, empathetic and beautiful and handsome, respectively. Gabriella’s superpower is making friends – her social calendar makes my head spin!!! And Jacob is killing it on the basketball court – his three-pointers rival that of athletes twice his age. When I became a mom, I remember telling my best friend that all I wanted was for my twins to be happy, healthy and kind. Suffice it to say, they’re well on their way.

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/

How a mother of six turned $5 into 5 million+ cupcakes sold

Nashville, TN – “All you have is all you need,” is the life lesson entrepreneur Mignon François learned as she turned the $5 she had to feed her six kids dinner for the week into a multi-million-dollar bakery brand. Despite having no experience and no recipe for success, Mignon is now founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection (TCC), over 5 million cupcakes sold since her start in 2008. Her heartwarming story of resilience, determination, and faith will inspire others who are seeking encouragement to keep pressing forward when she releases her highly-anticipated nonfiction “Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe” (R.H. Boyd, May 9, 2023).

Mignon’s success has been featured on NBC’s TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, as well as in publications such as Southern Living, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider to name a few. She has received numerous awards, including Women of Legend and Merit, Entrepreneur of the Year, Women’s Empowerment Innovator, NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur, and Black Enterprise magazine’s Family Business of the Year.

In “Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe,” Mignon shares her story of climbing out of a life of continuous struggle and scarcity to building a baking empire, and learning to savor life’s sweetness along the way–one cupcake at a time. She shows readers how to find purpose with no blueprint, mapping a journey that led to the joy that has become synonymous with Mignon François.

“I started with none of the things you need to succeed in an industry known for failure,” she said, “but I started with what I had—an early morning wake-up warning from God to choose life.”

“Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe”

Mignon François | May 9, 2023 | R.H. Boyd | Memoir 

Hardcover | 979-8883650597 | $24.99 

About the Author

Mignon François is a speaker, entrepreneur, and community leader who has inspired thousands through her “Follow Your Spirit” approach. After years of drowning in debt and brokenness, Mignon founded The Cupcake Collection in 2008, on the last $5 she had to feed her family and turned it into a legacy with over 5 million cupcakes sold.

Her grassroots story of success has garnered national attention from TODAY with Hoda and Jenna, Southern Living, Entrepreneur and Business Insider just to name a few. In addition, her business savvy has earned her numerous titles and awards, including Woman of Legend and Merit, Entrepreneur of the Year, Women’s Empowerment Innovator, NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur, and Black Enterprise magazine’s Family Business of the Year.

Today Mignon is committed to teaching anyone who will listen about what they can do if only they believe.

2023 forges a new path for Mignon’s career as she adds author to her resume. In her highly anticipated memoir, “Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe,” Mignon shares her story of finding success with no presets in place, mapping a journey that led to the joy that has become synonymous with Mignon François.

Follow Mignon François on social media: 

Facebook: @iammignonfrancois | Twitter: @MignonFrancois_

Instagram: @mignon.francois | LinkedIn: @MignonFrancois | YouTube: @Mignon.Francois

In an interview, Mignon François can discuss:

• How she turned her $5 weekly dinner budget for her family of 6 into a thriving bakery empire despite having no previous entrepreneurial experience
• Why her “all you have is all you need” approach is the best strategy for aspiring entrepreneurs–or really anyone seeking fresh hope and inspiration to keep pressing forward
• How she carefully crafted her cupcakes to be unique and (most importantly!) delicious 
• How her business helped reinvigorate a struggling Nashville neighborhood 
• Trusting in God through life’s hardships and how her faith has helped make her a better businesswoman
• The life lessons that stemmed from her divorce 
• Her experience as a descendant of enslaved people on a sugar cane plantation and her tremendous success with sugar as the main ingredient

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/

Amazon #1 new release is perfect for fans of NYT bestselling author Allison Brennan

OCALA, FL – Debut author and Best Thriller Awards Finalist Angela Greenman draws inspiration from her time with the International Atomic Energy Agency and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to create what BestThrillers.com called “a slick spy thriller that balances a futuristic counter-terrorism mission with the battle for its heroine’s soul.” In “The Child Riddler” (July 19, 2022, Bella Books) Zoe Lorel has attained her dream job as an elite operative in an international spy agency, and she’s found her one true love. Her world is mostly perfect–until she is sent to abduct a nine-year-old girl.

The girl is the only one who knows the riddle that holds the code to unleash the most lethal weapon on earth: the first ever “invisibility” nanoweapon, a cloaking spider bot. But Zoe’s agency isn’t the only one after the child. And when enemies reveal the invisibility weapon’s existence to underground arms dealers, every government and terrorist organization in the world wants to find that little girl.

Zoe races to save not only the child she has grown to care about, but also herself. Meanwhile, the agency-prescribed pills– the ones that transform her into the icy killer she must become to survive–are beginning to threaten her engagement to the one person who brings her happiness. Can she protect the young girl, and still protect the one thing she cares about more than anything else?

“The Child Riddler”

Angela Greenman | July 19, 2022 | Bella Books | Techno-Thriller 

Paperback | 978-1642473650 | $14.79 

Audiobook | B0B6XSK36G | $15.30

Kindle | B0B6KMZRDS | $6.99

“The book opens with a bang with a powerful, action-packed scene that matches up well with some of the best spy thrillers I’ve read previously…Greenman is a capable writer and many of the action-packed scenes a reader expects from a spy thriller are well done and highly entertaining.”

— Crime Fiction Critic 

“A slick spy thriller that balances a futuristic counter-terrorism mission with the battle for its heroine’s soul.”

— Best Thrillers 

“Extremely entertaining techno-thriller…a globetrotting adventure…memorable characters…fast action…plus some beautiful descriptions of cities and architecture.”

— Audiobook Blog

“The highly suspenseful narrative flowed at a fast pace with startling and exciting twists and turns.”

— Love Reading

“…outstanding and brilliant tale…never a dull moment…detailed and vivid…”

— Readers’ Favorite

ANGELA GREENMAN: Angela Greenman is an internationally recognized communications professional. She has been an expert and lecturer with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)  for over a decade. She had the honor to be selected to draft the Communications Review Criteria (internal, external and crisis) for the IAEA’s prestigious Corporate Operational Safety Review Team.  As Lead Trainer for an IAEA regional workshop, she received perfect scores from nine countries. At the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) she served as a spokesperson and was given a special citation for developing an agency publication which was published by the Federal government (“Guidelines for Conducting Public Meetings”). Also while at the NRC, she was a recipient of multiple awards for exceptional effectiveness in dealing with the media and public. Prior to the NRC, she was a press officer for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the City’s civil rights department where she coordinated a city-wide anti-bias campaign. She has traveled the world (21 countries and counting), sailed the turquoise Caribbean waters, explored Canada’s beautiful wilderness and lakes, and now her imagination is devising plots for future novels that will feature more of the exciting places she has been. Find out more about them at her website.

Follow Angela Greenman on social media:

Facebook: Angela Greenman – Author | Twitter: @AngelaGreenman  

Instagram: @angelsprism | TikTok: @angelagreenman

LinkedIn: Angela Greenman

In an interview, Angela Greenman can discuss:

• The role of women in thrillers, and how she portrays her protagonist differently than normal women leads
• How working for the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and working in 16 countries shaped the thrilling scenes and settings in her books
• How she writes moral ambiguity, complex character motivations, and multi-layered character development while not losing any action
• The hardships of her childhood, which included homelessness, and how books helped her through challenging life circumstances
• How she found her love for writing, and the process of writing her debut thriller
• Balancing characters in her book, specifically a badass operative and a nine-year-old child, and the bond her characters create
• The lessons she learned as a new author and the preparation that led her book to be considered one of the best books of the year by BestThrillers.com five months after publication
• How to learn from traumatic life events and become a happier person

As an international communications expert:

• Keys to successful communication: issue and message development
• How to conduct effective public meetings

An Interview with

Angela Greenman

1. You are very well-traveled (21 countries and counting)! How did your travels influence your writing? 

Travel is a feast of the senses — moments filled with remarkable people, architectural splendor, rich cultures, and deep histories. The colors, smells, sounds, personalities, and scenery are stored in my muse’s toolbox to help me craft a sensory and atmospheric immersion for the reader. 

For instance, when I visited the Prague Castle and inhaled the cold musty air of the castle towers, it transported me back in time to the ruthless disciple of the castle archers at the narrow windows, and the terror of the torture victims. The atmosphere and history of this massive complex impacted me so much that I featured it in the first chapter of “The Child Riddler.”

In another example from the book, I used the tall graceful blue bottle of Bulgaria’s national drink, rakia, and the glow of Austria’s green and blue domes in the evening light to build an elegant background that contrasted with the devious actions of some of the characters. 

2. You have an extensive career as a communications professional before becoming an author! How does your work in community relations in Chicago and world governments’ public communications on nuclear power inform your writing, and what made you decide to lean into your writing passion?

From my career, I learned to appreciate how we are multidimensional and that there are a variety of reactive forces in our lives that influence us. I also acquired an understanding and interest in the future of technology from my involvement with technical agencies. Since the pandemic put my international travel on pause, I decided it was the right time to turn the page to the next chapter and pursue my love of writing.

3. What does this book mean to you, and what do you hope your readers take from your book?

The positive recognition that I have received as an author is a powerful validation for me that I am finally free from the prison of my bad childhood. I’ve had other successes in my life, but having “The Child Riddler” considered well-written and my writing on par with other well-known thriller writers, is the achievement that I needed to break that last mental chain. 

Because of my rough childhood (poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), I almost failed out of my public grammar school. While I have excelled in everything else related to communications, I struggled with writing, not in the ideas, but the structuring such as grammar and spelling. Because it was harder for me, I felt inadequate as a writer. I think my childhood trauma prevented me from absorbing the kindergarten and grade school lessons, and unfortunately, I carried that sense of inadequacy throughout my life—until now, until “The Child Riddler” praise.

Beyond the book being well-written, I hope the readers find “The Child Riddler” an exciting adventure. I also hope one of the things they take away from the book is that having a female alpha protagonist is realistic. Women are out there accomplishing great things as leaders right now.

4. What do you hope to bring to the “techno-thriller” genre that may be lacking in the typical thriller book?

In addition to exciting action and state-of-the art technology, I strive to craft suspense and tension in personal relationships. Each person is a unique tapestry woven from individual experiences, and thus what their personal trigger is, or how they’ll respond to it, is often a surprise. These complexities should also be true of the characters to make the story realistic. Additionally, being well-traveled, I’m able to enhance the story with exotic and atmospheric settings.

5. What’s next for you? Any chance we’ll see Zoe again?

I am currently writing a second book, a sequel to “The Child Riddler.” Zoe has let me know in no uncertain terms that her story is far from over!

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/

CHICAGO – Design is in Justin Dauer’s DNA. Calling on his more than 25 years in the industry, Dauer – who started designing in dot.com-era and is now a go-to speaker for national AIGA and UXPA conferences – highlights how design impacts company culture in his upcoming book, “In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey.”

“In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey”

Justin Dauer | June 27, 2023 | Leadhand Books | Design 

Justin Dauer is an internationally renowned design leader, author, and speaker from Chicago. You’ll find him often engaging with the AIGA’s speaking events, interviewed in Forbes magazine and Medium’s “Forge” publication, and penning articles for Aquent, CEO World Magazine, and A List Apart. He speaks internationally on culture and design, including keynotes at the UXPA International conference, Midwest UX, and St. Louis Design Week. Justin is also the writer of the celebrated book “Creative Culture,” founder of design leadership consultancy Anomali, and a former VP of Design at CVS Health. Find out more about him at https://www.anomalibydesign.com/.

Follow Justin Dauer on social media:

Twitter: @pseudoroom | Instagram: @pseudoroom 

In an interview, Justin Dauer can discuss:

• Design’s impact on company culture
• How to leverage a platform called Make Meaningful Work to identify the practices where we thrive in our day-to-day environments, ensuring we’re always most connected to what we’re creating, and those we’re creating with
• How to identify and follow your “North Star” and use it to guide the way to your best work
• The importance of evolution in design and career paths and why “thought leader” branding can be problematic in the design industry
• Leveraging humility as a core value to ensure we’re always students of our craft, making ourselves available to grow and evolve
• How the concepts in his books informed the development of his new company, Anomali
• His 25+ years of experience in the industry – from dot.com era designer to now – and how those experience influenced his perspectives shared in this book 

An Interview with

Justin Dauer

How do you define fulfillment when it comes to your own professional experience and career, and why is this important?

When we’re distinctly aware of where our fulfillment is derived from, we’ve taken a grand leap toward making meaningful work — work that connects to us as designers (nay, human beings), and to those who will ultimately engage with it. In a field of work largely comprised of impermanence (digital), the contrast is that our decisions can have lasting impact.

Fulfillment means connection: connection with ourselves, connection with our environment, our work, and one another. Our personal fulfillment is essential for us, but also far bigger than us.

What questions can designers ask themselves to discover what gives them fulfillment at work?

When our sense of connection is at its strongest, our personal values are also at their most fulfilled. That bond is no coincidence: recognizing how powerfully that value system drives our fulfillment throughout our career.

An introspective look at the scenarios in your life that have yielded the most fulfillment will provide a direct window into your most cherished values.

When looking for a best-fit role for us and our work, it’s essential to be crystal clear on our most important values. As such, being able to prioritize them is vital. This allows us to have a clear sense of the “must-haves” for the respective design work itself and the given role, the given organization, and the process by which they create. Sometimes, the work will satisfy some values more than others, making it even more imperative that you weigh what you need against what you could potentially function without (or with a diminished capacity). 

How have your own experiences in the design industry influenced your new book? 

100%. This book is largely personal narrative driven, leveraging 25 years worth of a career — and a fascination with design from high school through leading a design organization within a Fortune 5 business — to connect with readers humbly and candidly.

What are some red flags that indicate you aren’t being fulfilled at work?

Recognizing when we’re feeling disconnected from our work — e.g., going through the motions, sleepwalking — can be the first sign the bond between our personal and professional spheres of existence is waning. That imperative connection with our work and those who engage with it: potentially severed.

What role does humility play in the design field?

Agnostic of accolades, the tools we’re using, or devoid of rushed procedure, the humble connection with those on the receiving end of what we’re producing, and with those doing the producing, is imperative toward quality and evolution.

Humility drives our evolution, as we’re making ourselves available to evolve. It contextualizes how we deliver objective feedback as well as how we receive it.

What are the signs of an effective leader?

There can be a difference between a manager and a leader; they’re not always synonyms. “Manager” is a job title, a parking spot or a business card payoff. Show me an unsupported team, and I’ll show you a manager who defines themself by their LinkedIn heading over their service.

Anyone can be a leader, regardless of position on an org chart, experience, title, or tenure. Demonstrative respect, initiative, care, compassion, and support are some of the hallmarks of someone who excels in that capacity. When an organization is headed by business card titles — or a team managed by a LinkedIn heading — there are foundational cracks in the culture from the top down created by that leadership void.

An effective leader has a “from me to we” mindset, and recognizes the support and evolution of their team — in concert with the quality of their work — is their paramount responsibility.

What does people-first workplace culture look like, and why does this matter?

The same values in the DNA of a healthy culture — compassion, humility, inclusion, and respect among them — must also be intrinsic in the organization’s design process. For us to be most fulfilled in what we create, the culture around us must drive the same connection in how we create. Else, the disconnection between incongruous values in action makes for disconnection in totality: us to ourselves, us to our work, our teams, and on and on.

A culture of fulfillment is a planned, living, and nourished ecosystem of support and engagement that facilitates success. It doesn’t exist by chance and isn’t simply sustained by the light of its own virtue. A healthy culture is designed to be that way. It strives to connect us to one another — and to our collaborative work — agnostic of a remote or in-person seat. And its values are harmonious with our own, fueling an ethical symbiosis devoid of internal conflict.

The concept of care and feeding given to a piece of work we produce, from sketch to release to iteration and beyond, is imperative for sustaining a healthy culture. To find a culture of fulfillment is to find a healthy environment that’s championed and supported from the top down — either in an executive-level role specifically dedicated to this purpose or through empowered managers who embody and champion the business’ values.

In your book, you discuss identifying your North Star – what is this? How did you find your North Star? What would you recommend to others looking for their guiding light?

In this case, it all comes down to our values. Values are anything you deem important to you, as they apply to the way you live and your design. They’re your North Star in determining your sense of fulfillment, informing your life’s priorities, and ultimately driving your contentment.

The beautiful thing is that your prioritized values can then be leveraged in so many ways: 

• Informing which questions you ask during your next job interview
• Serving as an objective gut check when you feel the connection to your work waning.
• Determining if the business you’re employed by is operating in unison with what’s most important to you. 

What sparked your interest in design?

My interest in design began as a sophomore in high school, when I saw something that changed my life: the album cover designs the “Graphic Design 1” class had made, now on display in the back of my study hall. My mom was a trained fine artist whose paintings and illustrations had marveled me since childhood, but these album covers had something else going on that drew me in.

I approached the study hall faculty member and asked about the pieces; she said it was her class’ work. I had only taken fine art classes to that point, but those covers resonated with me: it was art but visually communicating.

Inspired by what I had seen and now heard, I asked if I could take her class. She made the point that this wasn’t fine art, but set my expectations on what they did do in design:

“We’re visually problem-solving.”

Rather than dissuade me, that response made me hungrier to learn. 

What do you hope readers take away from this book?

The designer’s legacy isn’t built upon their choice of tools. The designer’s legacy is built upon the choices they make—as macro and micro as that implies. Legacy transcends “us.” This is a mindset that takes us from “me” to “we” as we consider the bigger picture. There is a privilege and responsibility that are inherent in the craft. In communicating. In connecting with people through design.

Privilege and responsibility. Those notions are so vital (and evergreen) to our craft, and how we connect with other human beings. Formative, yet intrinsic to what we do. Every decision carries weight, and is bigger than us. We simply cannot foresee under what conditions people will be engaging with what we create. They need to be equitably understood, advocated for, and included along the way. 

How do you best indulge in and develop your own creativity?

I’m a huge advocate of “pausing with intent” — slowing down for purpose and meaning — in both cultural interactions at work as well as for myself personally. There’s a difference between a distraction and an outlet—the latter being something you’re engaging with purpose.

Making a cup of coffee slows me down — enjoying it slows me down even more. A good cup coupled with a personal design project, or writing, or working with my hands…that’s my sweet spot.

You’ve been in the industry for more than 25 years beginning in the dot-com era. How has the design industry and its impact on company culture evolved? 

I believe designers are settling for far less, now — we know our worth, we know the environments where we can do our best work, and we’re settling less and less for cultures that treat us as names in a spreadsheet-exclusively.  

Explain the importance of evolution in design and career paths — and why you resist the “thought leader” brand.

We’re in a field where we simply cannot stagnate — in mindset, in practice, in process. I believe that, even if we’re only considering our own personal craft, we have to continually challenge our approach — for quality and for connection.

As soon as we close our minds via an inner monologue of “knowing it all”, or branding ourselves a “#thoughtleader” on social media, the designer we are is our final form. The designer we can be, will never exist.

Experience does not equal “expert.” If we’re always students of our craft, we are also always making ourselves available to evolve.

What missteps did you make in your own career, and how did they impact your path? What would you recommend to others navigating their own missteps?

I’ve lingered far too long in environments that were entirely unhealthy — psychologically abusive, devoid of work / life-balance, and “leadership” in business card title-only. It came at the expense of my quality of work and life because I felt I “owed” them. In part, I wrote my first book, “Creative Culture,” around lessons learned from such environments — sometimes it takes seeing how it’s not done to begin to discover environments where you know you’ll thrive. 

I also let my ego take over early on in my career via some quick notoriety and large exposure from my design work. My evolution, work, and quality all suffered and stagnated. Realigning myself to my values and sense of ever being a student of my craft allowed me to grow, and course correct, for the rest of my career.

How did the material in the book inform how you built your own company, Anomali?

Recently, while working as a Principal Consultant within a consulting firm, I received a call from a former boss, a person I massively respect, trust, and consider a friend. He made me a tantalizing offer: to become the VP of Design within the company he was now a part of, building the design practice and team from the ground up. The associated offer package was impressive, to boot.

Upon reflection and looking at the bigger picture of where I’m at in my career — and in what felt like an affront to the design gods — I turned the offer down. I wasn’t fully connected to the prospect of “doing it all over again,” so to speak, within a large tech organization and potentially navigating similar political hurdles. I left that world the last time due to my disconnection from the environment—and tech in general.

In fact, the last time I felt fully connected to a company’s values and culture was when I was the Design Director at a Swedish design agency. They employed rituals and practices unlike I’d ever seen in the U.S. market. This was my chance to feel that connection once again, and design the environment in which I’d thrive best. To that end — with a mix of fear, exhilaration, and determination — I started my own design consultancy and advisory practice. Across design leadership, healthy culture advocacy, and working with internal design teams on craft, I’d infuse the Swedish cultural sensibilities of egalitarianism, slowing down + pausing with intent, and human connection into the consultancy’s DNA. 

Anomali as a business was designed adopting my values, offering services to clients where I know I do my best work, existing in an environment I’ve cultivated to allow me to thrive and evolve. For the first time in my career, I’d hit that sweet spot trifecta:

• Values-alignment
• Work / work process-alignment
• Environment-alignment

These three pillars equate to what informs my personal fulfillment. Leveraging implicit practices where I know I prosper — ”proactivity,” “big picture thinking,” and “a need to build connection,” among them — I’m operating in harmony with my personal, authentic narrative.

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/

The transformative power of caregiving is rooted in spiritual growth

Sacramento, CA –In Suzanne Marriott’s deeply honest and inspiring memoir, “Watching for Dragonflies: A Caregiver’s Transformative Journey” (She Writes Press, June 6, 2023), she explores how caregiving for her husband throughout his journey with chronic illness allowed her to gain a spiritual awareness that would ultimately help her through her own medical crisis and into a place of healing and contentment.

Amid the many obstacles she and her husband, Michael, face after his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Suzanne learns to be a compassionate caregiver both for him and, ultimately, for herself. Through love, psychological insights, and spiritual inquiry, she cultivates her abilities–and gains the courage to confront a medical system that saves her husband multiple times–but at other times threatens his life. Despite Michael’s many hospitalizations, he makes miraculous recoveries that bring fun and adventure back into their lives, including his numinous experience with dragonflies. When Suzanne faces her own medical crisis with cancer, their world is once again shaken–yet throughout it all, love is their bond, one even death cannot sever. Candid and illuminating, Suzanne’s story of growth through caregiving will appeal to anyone facing a life-changing crisis and seeking hard-won wisdom, comfort, and hope.

 “Watching for Dragonflies”

Suzanne Marriott | June 6, 2023 | She Writes Press | Nonfiction, Memoir

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1647424367 | $17.95

Ebook | ASIN: B0B8H59GJX | $8.99

SUZANNE MARRIOTT is a memoirist and deep-travel writer who shares her transformative experiences with her readers. She was her husband’s caregiver for the ten years he suffered from multiple sclerosis, and her writings on compassionate caregiving have been published in The Union newspaper’s Healthy You magazine. Writer Advice awarded her the “Scintillating Start Prize” for the first chapter of her memoir, Watching for Dragonflies: A Caregiver’s Transformative Journey. Her personal essay, Indian Summer, won the Fall 2012 Memoir Writing Contest from Women’s Memoirs.com and was included in the eBook anthology Seasons of Our Lives: Autumn. Suzanne’s stories of deep travel have appeared in the award-winning online magazine Your Life is a Trip and in Soul of Travel Magazine. 

A native Californian, Suzanne has traveled up and down the coast of her state, exploring as far north as British Columbia and south into Mexico, where she fell in love with the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende and the Maya culture of the lower Yucatan Peninsula. She has been to Europe three times and hopes to continue exploring Europe’s many cultures and natural wonders. Her interests include transcendent experiences, afterlife communication, Jungian psychology, and Tibetan Buddhism.

Suzanne holds a BA in English from UC Berkeley, an MS in education from Cal State University, Hayward (now Cal State University, East Bay), and an MA in transpersonal psychology from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sophia University). She is a member of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, Sierra Writers, and the National Association of Memoir Writers. She lives in an ecologically conscious cohousing community in the Sierra Nevada foothills. For more information on compassionate caregiving, visit Suzanne at www.suzannemarriottauthor.com

In an interview, Suzanne Marriott can discuss:

• How her relationship with her husband changed after his MS diagnosis
• The benefits and drawbacks of traveling with a disability, and what changes need to be made in order for travel to be truly accessible
• Her advice for caregivers who often take little to no time for themselves
• What she learned from her cancer diagnosis
• Her spiritual journey, and how spiritual inquiry helped her heal
• How she grew from her experiences as a caregiver 

Praise for Suzanne Marriott and “Watching for Dragonflies”

“Suzanne Marriott’s touching memoir stays with the reader long after its final present-tense paragraph. This is a book that needs to be read by anyone who wishes to know what it’s like to go through the stages of a chronic illness. Along with Michael, who has MS, and Suzanne, his wife and caretaker, we experience joy in their successful activities and disappointment in the frequent ineptness of their health care providers. We follow the couple through years of health challenges and learn of the events that bond them together and the mishaps that appear to tear them apart. A very moving, true story.”

—Evelyn Kohl LaTorre, author of “Love in Any Language” and “Between Inca Walls”

“In her memoir, Suzanne draws on her background in transpersonal psychology to access the spiritual and psychological resources that guide her growth as a caregiver. Empowered by inner wisdom figures, dream revelations, and shamanic and Tibetan Buddhist practices, she develops the inner resources she needs to support her husband.”

—Marilyn Schlitz, Ph.D., Professor of transpersonal psychology and President of the Academic Faculty at Sofia University and CEO/President Emeritus at the Institute of Noetic Sciences

“Suzanne’s Marriott’s caring memoir of her love, marriage, joy, grief, and spiritual seeking, and of the distresses and challenges of her long caregiving, is stunningly honest and inspiring.”

                 —Judith Van Herik, Professor Emerita of religious studies at Penn State University

“‘Watching for Dragonflies’ is an inspirational story of personal growth through adversity that will bring comfort and companionship to other caregivers. An intimate and empowering memoir.”

      —Rachel Howard, author of “The Lost Night” and “The Risk of Us”

“Suzanne Marriott takes you into a world that is breathtaking in its intimacy, love, and lucidity. She is a deep traveler, a spiritual adventurer, and not only a survivor but a thriver. This is a no-holds-barred memoir by a woman who can lift you out of life’s tight places and help you to breathe, to flow with love, to believe.” 

   —Judith Fein, award-winning travel journalist, author of “Life is a Trip”

“Services for—and recognition of—family caregivers simply must improve. Honest storytelling like that in ‘Watching for Dragonflies’ will start a revolution.” 

—Gretchen Staebler, author of “Mother Lode: Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver”

An Interview with

Suzanne Marriott

1. What was your inspiration for writing “Watching for Dragonflies” and what does the title mean to you?

As I worked on my memoir, I gained a sense of purpose. I was inspired to make my story meaningful to other caregivers, encouraging them to believe in themselves, knowing that if I could do it, so could they. 

My husband had a numinous experience with dragonflies when he was able to  walk almost normally in the cool waters of the Eel River, his legs kept cold and his body temperature down. On the far bank, he stood watching dragonflies flit through the reeds, transfixed as their transparent wings reflected the sunlight, transforming them into prisms of iridescent color. These dragonflies became a powerful symbol of strength and renewal for him–a symbol of being whole. 

2. What was your relationship with your husband like, and how did his MS diagnosis change your relationship?

Though we were very much in love, there were times when our relationship was plagued by power struggles and reactive patterns. As we learned to work together to face the many challenges of multiple sclerosis, our love and trust in each other grew and our intimacy increased. We both grew psychologically and spiritually during those ten years when I was my husband’s caregiver.

3. What experiences helped you succeed in caregiving? Do you have any advice for caregivers?

I learned as I went along, doing what needed to be done and stretching my capabilities until I was doing things I never dreamed I could do, even things that an RN usually does. I found wonderful support through my MS Society Caregivers Group where we helped each other by sharing  information and experiences. Most of all, I loved my husband and I was open to learning, doing whatever needed to be done as each new challenge arose. Also, I learned from my mistakes and didn’t let them defeat me. I encourage other caregivers to find a support group, do online research, and believe in themselves and their ability to meet whatever challenges they may face. It is of utmost importance for caregivers to take care of themselves, find some free time, do restorative things like yoga or meditation, and spend some time with supportive family and friends. When things become too much, reach out to family and friends for help or, if you can, hire a part-time caregiver to help out.

4. What advice do you have for writers over 50?

Believe in yourself and your ability to write a compelling book and believe in the power of story. Do research to identify your audience, know what benefit your book will bring to others, and make bringing forth that benefit your primary goal. Above all, print out your drafts and read them in hard copy to catch errors, get feedback from trusted beta readers, and revise, revise, revise.

5. What did you learn from your experience with cancer? 

I learned the importance and value of taking care of myself and my right to live out my life for myself as well as for my husband. I sought guidance through dreams, spiritual healers, guided meditations, hypnosis, and inspirational writings. Above all else, I maintained a positive attitude, never doubting my ability to heal and to thrive. Through my experience with cancer, I grew in self-confidence and a sense of self-worth as intrinsic, not dependent on what I do for others. Through both my cancer and caregiving, I grew in assertiveness, acceptance of what I could and could not change, compassion, perseverance, and the knowledge that I could survive grief and loss.

6. Can you tell us a bit more about your spiritual journey? 

I gained knowledge and guidance through Jungian practices such as dream work, Shamanic drumming and Native American wisdom cards, inner dialogues with my wisdom figure, Tibetan Buddhism, and after-death communication through both dreams and synchronicities. My work with a Jungian-oriented therapist supported me throughout my journey in my spiritual and psychological growth. 

7. What’s next for you, writing-wise?

I hope to open a dialogue with other caregivers through my website and Facebook blog. I also look forward to writing personal essays on caregiving for print and online publications, and I will continue to look for new ways to tell my story and connect with other caregivers.

8. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

If I can do it, so can you. Believe in yourself and your ability to learn from your mistakes.  Let love and compassion be your guides, both for your loved-one and for yourself.

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/

On a blustery Maine day, 39-year-old Roberta S. Kuriloff found herself standing on a plot of land purchased with her former partner, holding a couple of wood stakes to mark off exactly where her new house would sit. No longer their land. No longer their dream. Now, just hers.

Immersed in a world of blueprints, materials, contractors, and critters, Roberta confronted the major losses she’d suffered in her life — in particular the deaths of her mother and aunt from cancer and her separation from her father and brother during her placement in an orphanage — and to try to understand how those losses had shaped the woman, lawyer, and activist she’d become. As she cleared land, hammered nails, lifted beams, and shivered in her rented mobile home, the answers began to come to her.

Roberta soon found love again, with a woman named Nancy…only to lose her abruptly just one year later in a car accident. Her grief over Nancy’s death, and the psychic and out-of-body events she experienced following that loss, led to an eight-year spiritual quest where she explored her Jewish roots, the Kabbalah, Buddhism, and reincarnation. As she healed, new love beckoned with Bernice — and at long last Roberta found that intrinsic sense of self, that unshakable foundation of heart and soul, that home, that she’d been searching for all along.

The building of the house became a metaphor for Roberta’s journey and search for wholeness. It was the physical manifestation of finding soul, her essence, and being able to share it with others. Roberta discovered how her four major relationships, four special smiles, intersected with each other without knowing, a connection uncovered when she became more aware, and life became more precious. Home was not just a physical place, but an intrinsic sense of self, an unshakable foundation of the heart and soul.

She Writes Press will publish Roberta S. Kuriloff’s memoir, “Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me” on July 18, 2023.

“Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me”

Roberta S. Kuriloff | July 18, 2023 | She Writes Press | Memoir 

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1647424954 | $17.95

Ebook | $9.95

About the Author

Roberta S. Kuriloff is a speaker, community activist, former attorney and the author of “Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me” (She Writes Press, July 18, 2023). With humor and poignancy, her memoir takes readers along an inspiring journey of self-discovery as Roberta finds that home is less a physical place than an intrinsic sense of self, an unshakable foundation of the heart and soul. She also published “Everything Special, Living Joy, Prose and Poems to Inspire,” and a short story she wrote, “Unearthing Home,” was published in Yellow Arrow Publishing Journal. An essay called ‘Musings on the Word Atonement’ was published in “Art In The Time of Unbearable Crisis; Women Writers Respond to the Call” published by She Writes Press June 2022.

As a child living in an orphanage, Roberta dreamed of being Superman’s daughter flying above Earth to save the world’s disenfranchised children, or being the Pied Piper leading the other kids back to their family homes. In later life, her legal work centered on families in emotional and financial crisis. She is a founding member of two domestic violence projects as well as an elderly services organization, and was a hospice patient-volunteer and bereavement workshop facilitator. In between her community work, she makes time to enjoy her passions for writing and dance.

She and her spouse, Bernice, have been together for 27 years and happily married since 2013. They live in the home she built in the woods of Maine.

Find out more about her at www.RobertaKuriloff.com. 

Follow Roberta S. Kuriloff on social media:

Twitter: @RKuriloffAuthor

In an interview, Roberta S. Kuriloff can discuss:

• The concept of “home” and how that idea has evolved for her over time – from spending part of her childhood in an orphanage to learning the true meaning of togetherness, family, caring and security
• Pursuing an uncharted spiritual journey, and how she found solace after losing loved ones
• How writing letters to her departed mother in her journal brought her clarity and comfort during times of intense grief
• How we fit into our cultural and religious ancestry
• Understanding how we look at life – half empty or half full

An Interview with

Roberta S. Kuriloff

“Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me” addresses the concept of home in a very thoughtful way. What imagery and emotions does the word “home” conjure up for you today, and how has that evolved over time?

Home ideally represents togetherness, family, caring and security. It is what I have experienced over the past 27 years with my spouse. As a child, “home” was an orphanage, separated from family, although my father visited us on the weekends, and now and then we visited our extended family. My family, while in the orphanage, were the kids with whom I lived. We established our own little families to feel like we belonged.  

Your memoir also explores loss in many forms. Can you tell us about a few of the ways you found solace during these times of intense grief?

Somehow as a child I came to believe that everything in life had a purpose. It helped me survive my pain and sadness. My imagination carried me to being Superman’s daughter, flying above my life, or Roy Rogers’ daughter, riding into the sunset, or sunrise. Best was when my father took us out for the day, and later weekends, where we spent time with relatives. 

Your mother died when you were very young, yet you continued to write letters to her throughout your life. Can you tell us about that? Do you still write letters to her?

I communicated with my mother through my diary letters to her, addressed to “Dear Eva,” a few of which are in my book. Doing so made me feel connected to her. I stopped writing the words “Dear Eva” when I became an adult. I still write in a journal, pretty regularly, which helps me process my life. I have about 35 diaries/journals.  

Tell us about navigating your spiritual journey and reconnecting with your identity as a Jewish woman. What advice would you give other spiritual seekers?

I have always been a spiritual seeker, believing there was more to life than the one we presently live. I’ve explored various religious ideas and beliefs, as well as books about people who experienced past lives. I don’t relate well to traditional religion, but am still drawn to Judaism and Jewish history, as it defined my family, especially my father’s life growing up in Ukraine, and his experiences as a Jewish survivor, as well as my personal experiences with others who questioned my religion. Yet, I’m also drawn to understanding religions and how humans use it to justify their actions. Being a “spiritual seeker” for me is really looking at life from a higher, challenging perspective, not from the perspective of organized religion telling me what I can and cannot do.

Similarly, can you describe your journey to understand how you fit into your cultural and religious ancestry? Was it challenging? In what ways?

While living in Maine, I went on vacation with Mary Ann to Germany and Russia. My first trip out of the U.S. was eye opening. I discovered German friends who questioned their parents regarding how Jews were “handled” in Germany. They were very progressive. In Russia, I visited a synagogue, as well as had dinner in a Jewish restaurant with a bunch of young Russian men, the latter being a fun evening, especially exchanging little gifts. I discovered my openness to new experiences, as well as to my relationship with food. I’m not afraid to challenge myself, not afraid to challenge my beliefs. 

How does your memoir explore relationships of all types (familial, romantic, friendships and with yourself)?

I believe I am very honest and open in my book. I explore and share my experiences of romantic relationships with men and women, my mixed sexual feelings, and the difficulties that arise in friendships when one grows and changes and some friends don’t. When my romantic relationships ended, I still stayed friends, like with Mary Ann and Ernie. I meditate and examine my mind and dreams to better understand my feelings; therapy helped with the latter. 

Can you discuss your experiences as a “home kid?” What does that mean to you, and how do you think it continues to inform your identity as an adult?

I still consider myself a “home kid.” It is in my DNA. I see life through that “role,” but at the same time see myself separately from my life’s definitions. I’m a cautious person, but also enjoy living life fully, even when it hurts. I face my fears and pain. I believe the “home kid” experiences made me a more sympathetic attorney with clients. I’m not afraid to share my life with clients and friends; it’s a good learning lesson about survival. But then, most lives are, of course, a learning lesson.

How did your experiences as a lawyer, feminist, lesbian, activist and hospice volunteer inform your approach to this memoir?

I believe my experiences allowed me to be very open and honest in writing my memoir. Working as a lawyer taught me that everyone has challenges, stories to share, pain, love, fear and hidden questions. People are open to sharing when they feel listened to. In all my roles, I am open to learning from, and sharing with, others because we all experience similar fears, hopes and dreams. The best part of being a lawyer was sharing with clients, almost like therapy, for the client and for me.

What do you hope people take away from this book? 

Life is difficult, tough, but fun and challenging as we make it. Most of us have choices, and we can choose to be positive or negative, happy or sad. Even those people who suffer from pain and loss, have choices, albeit very difficult. It is how we look at life: half-empty or half-full, as I shared in my first book, “Everything Special, Living Joy.”

Advance Praise for Roberta S. Kuriloff

“Framing a Life: Building The Space to Be Me is the story of one woman’s quest for self-understanding, love, and the meaning of home. On days when I despair that nothing much is going right, I look to Roberta and her courage, perseverance, and optimism. Her story could have been the story of a bitter woman, beaten down by life and loss. It is anything but. It is a shining light held aloft for any woman struggling to find that place within that is whole, complete and at peace.”  

— Cathleen O’Connor, PhD, author of High Heels on the Hamster Wheel (Balboa Press, 2014), The Everything Law of Attraction Dream Dictionary (Adams Media, 2010), and The Collection: Flash Fiction for Flash Memory (Anchala Press, 2018)

“Framing A Life by Roberta S. Kuriloff is about the search for home, family, and love—yet is so much more. This story examines the grief of losing all we human beings long for in this world, but still moving forward with faith, love, and tenacity. You will smile. You will cry. Best of all, you will cheer on Roberta as she learns home is not necessarily a place. It is embedded in your core, your heart, and your soul.”  

— Laura L. Engel, author of You’ll Forget This Ever Happened: Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s 

“Kuriloff tells her amazing story of resilience. This is the journey of her survival, her intense drive to succeed, and the later death of her partner—a woman she loved. Finding the surprising depths of her spiritual side, she not only relearns how to love, but she also relearns how to live. It is an intensely personal yet very relatable work.”

  — Linda Bergman, screenwriter, producer, and author of So You Think Your Life’s A Movie: The Sequel 

“Roberta’s memoir is honest and poignant and shares with grace how she overcame her life’s tragedies. Her courage and optimism and the ways she found and built her true home— in the deepest sense of the word—will uplift and inspire many readers.”

— Rivvy Neshama, author of Recipes for a Sacred Life: True Stories and a Few Miracles

“Rarely have I read a memoir that was so captivating. Roberta Kuriloff’s resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity is inspiring. Through her work as a lawyer and her interactions with family and friends, she demonstrates what it means to be a compassionate feminist and a joyful, spiritual person.”  

— Patricia Ould, PhD, co-author of Same-Sex Marriage, Context, and Lesbian Identity: Wedded but Not Always a Wife   

“In Framing a Life, Roberta constructs—from fragments of past scenes, journal entries, night dreams, changing states of being, and reflections—a textual home for herself and the reader to reside in, inside the territory of a culturally evolving America. This narrative—of a return to a whole and expanded self, one evoking Walt Whitman’s iconic line (“I am large, I contain multitudes’)—is a timely permission to illuminate the manifold pieces of one’s own life and reassemble them into a compassionate definition of oneself, alive at a certain moment, in a certain place, in human history.”  

— Marj Hahne, poet, writer, editor, teacher and member of IWWG.org 
“This remarkable memoir—one of the deepest I’ve ever read— is my kind of revelation. The book made me cry out, cover my eyes, mourn, and beam with pride and appreciate the trials that led to my own emotional and spiritual growth. Roberta Kuriloff’s story will find a place alongside Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and Amy Chua’s, “Tiger Mother.” Permeated with humility, bravery, and a bold feminist intersection, “Framing a Life,” is a triumph for many of us with both hurting and joyful heart. It will last in our times and long, long into the future. I stand in solidarity with Ms. Kuriloff, her family and for everyone she touches with her wise and magnificent soul.” 

— June S. Gould, Ph.D. Author of “The Writer in All of Us, Plume and E.P. Dutton, workshop leader for The International Women’s Writing Guild

“Roberta Kuriloff uses the metaphor of home to deepen our understanding of belonging. Overcoming a stark life in an orphanage she becomes a lawyer driven to become a voice for abandoned and abused children and ultimately builds a home of her own in Maine to shelter her loved ones. An inspiring memoir about the construction and union of both an inner and outer life.” 

— Maureen Murdock, Ph.D. Author of The Heroine’s Journey: Woman’s Quest for Wholeness and Unreliable Truth: On Memoir and Memory

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/

 A cottage renovation doesn’t go to plan when love–and secrets–are uncovered

HUNTINGTON, New York – Debut author L. S. Case’s new romance, “A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow” (June 20, 2023, Spark Press), leaves readers exquisitely charmed as it follows Miranda Blair to her estranged grandmother’s estate, where she must spend 100 days in order to inherit it–and where she falls for the handsome emerald-eyed guy next door. Fans of Hallmark movies will love embarking upon a magical summer in which an unlikely attraction blooms–but the future is threatened when secrets are unearthed. 

Miranda has spent two decades running from her past, but everything changes when she’s named the sole heir to her grandmother’s estate. The catch? Her grandmother requires a 100-day stay at her smalltown New England cottage as a prerequisite for Miranda’s inheritance. Miranda begrudgingly accepts, and despite the charms of the picturesque town of Cobblers Hill, the abandoned property needs a makeover as desperately as Miranda does.

There’s a definite perk: her handsome neighbor Jake Colby, who awakens Miranda’s taste for adventure by showing her the hidden beauty of Cobblers Hill. As attraction grows, Miranda allows herself to embrace new possibilities. But when secrets are revealed, can she trust her heart to choose the future she truly wants? 

“A richly detailed novel which you will want to revisit again and again. A journey of heart and soul, it explores the intricacies of family, relationships, and the old adage that nothing is as it seems.”

 — Jeannie Moon, USA Today bestselling author of “The Temporary Wife”

“A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow”

L. S. Case | June 20, 2023 | Spark Press

 Women’s Fiction | Clean Small-Town Romance 

Paperback | 1684631882 | $17.95 

Ebook |  B0B8H5YM9F |  $9.49

L. S. Case: A lifelong resident of Long Island, L. S. Case is a twenty-year volunteer wish granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hofstra University. Before embarking on her author journey, she spent over a decade as a proud region leader, recruiter, trainer, and multi-award sales achiever for Lia Sophia jewelry. Her passion for helping others transformed countless women’s lives, one necklace at a time. In 2017, she co-founded a nonprofit organization and currently serves on its board of directors. Her life’s joy is the time she spends with her husband, family, and a tempera­mental cockatiel. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, L. S. can be found singing off-key at an ’80s concert, cycling to the beach, participating in races, swinging from a trapeze, or hanging from the warehouse ceiling in Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios. Find out more about her at www.lscasenovelist.com.

Follow L. S. Case on social media: 

Facebook: @lscasenovelist | Instagram: @lscasenovelist

In an interview, L. S. Case can discuss:

• Her passion for helping others, acting as a twenty-year volunteer wish granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and co-founding of a nonprofit, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors
• Creating flawed, yet inspirational female main characters, and why it’s important to showcase the imperfections of people and life
• How writing became a cathartic escape for expressing her thoughts, and turned into a novel to inspire and encourage women
• What inspired Cobblers Hill, and how she created this delicious setting for her book

An Interview with

L. S. Case

1. What attracted you to writing a romance novel? Where did the inspiration for this story come from?

I’ve always been a romantic, having married my high school sweetheart almost thirty years ago. I’m also an avid Hallmark movie viewer, Nicholas Sparks reader, gazebo lover, and happily-ever-after believer. While I created this delicious escape with relatable characters to root for and invest in, I aspired to instill hope and ignite change in my readers. They were at the heart of each written word.

2. What was your favorite part about writing the novel? What did you find most challenging? 

Writing A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow provided a cathartic distraction from life’s curveballs. I loved strategically placing my characters’ footprints throughout the journey, determining their strengths and adversities, and ensuring hope prevailed. But while my faith in the storyline was unwavering, I often doubted myself as the storyteller—I struggled to change my mindset from “why me?” to “why not me?”

3. You are very active in your community and enjoy giving back. What inspires you to take action?

Sometimes in life, we are on the receiving end of kindness and compassion. At other times we are called upon to be that beacon of hope. As a firm believer in the power of one person sparking change, I never want to turn away from a cause. If there is a difference to be made, I’ll do my best to make it. It’s a responsibility I never take lightly.

4. Do you have plans for future books?

Yes. I am writing my second women’s fiction novel, Bringing Back Yesterday. Like A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow, it brings a spirit of renewal, growth, and self-acceptance through compelling characters in a picturesque lakeside setting.

5. What advice do you wish to give to writers who are beginning their journey?

Surround yourself with the prayer warriors and cheerleaders who breathe life into your book-writing aspirations. Join a writer’s group and take classes. Immerse yourself wherever you find inspiration. Don’t allow fear of failure or negativity to steal your pen. There is no expiration date on your dreams, so enjoy the writing journey—and never put a period where there should be a comma!

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/

“Food Fight” by Linda B. Davis showcases protagonist with ARFID

Chicago, IL–In Linda B. Davis’ debut novel “Food Fight” (Fitzroy Books/Regal House, June 2023), a three-day class trip becomes a survival mission for a picky-eating student with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Inspired by one of her relatives, “Food Fight” showcases the challenges of living with a lesser known and misunderstood eating disorder, while emphasizing the importance of fitting in by being yourself.

About the book: Ben Snyder is ready to start middle school. He’s smart, athletic, and has two best friends. But his super picky eating, which has never been a problem before, is about to get in his way. Suddenly everybody’s on his case about what he’s eating and what he’s not—his old friends, new friends, weird lab partner, a girl he’s crushing on, and a bully—and he finds himself in a social free fall, sliding toward the bottom of the middle school food chain. Even worse, an upcoming three-day field trip sounds too awesome to miss but has a horrifying menu. As he prepares for the trip, Ben learns there might be more to his picky eating than he ever realized. Armed with new information, he plans to avoid the bully along with every single meal. But when everything starts to go wrong and epic hunger threatens to push him over the edge, Ben must decide how far he will go to fit in—and if he has what it takes to stand out.

“Food Fight”

Linda B. Davis | June 27, 2023 | Fitzroy Books/Regal House | Children’s, Middle Grade

Paperback | ISBN: 9781646033430 | $15.95

Praise for Food Fight…

“A heartfelt and hilarious look at life through the eyes of a picky eater. A must-read for anyone who has ever fought their own battles with both fitting in and being themselves.” 

–Shannon Schuren, author of Where Echoes Lie

“Linda Davis has a knack for zingy dialogue and depicting multi-faceted sixth-grade characters… a pitch-perfect balance for middle-grade readers.”

–Kimberly Behre Kenna, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade

“Davis gives the reader a realistic and sympathetic portrayal of what it is like to be a picky eater in middle school. With a convincing cast of characters, she creates a lively and timely look into the life of a student with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and the challenges he faces. An important and well-written debut novel.”

–Joyce Burns Zeiss, author of Out of the Dragon’s Mouth

“This debut novel pairs a unique subject (selective eating disorder) with a smorgasbord of universal middle grade themes including tolerance, bullying, acceptance, empowerment and self-esteem. Well worth the read!”

–Naomi Milliner, author of Super Jake and the King of Chaos

About the Author…

Linda B. Davis: Linda holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in clinical social work from University of South Florida. Her past work experiences include research investigating how the sense of smell facilitates mother-infant bonding, clinical work with people newly infected with HIV, and psychoeducational support for adults and children living with mental illness.

Ultimately, her career training prepared her to be curious about why we do the things we do. This has come in handy as a mother and a writer. She is passionate about the need for accessible and accurate information about mental health, especially in children’s books. Her novel, “Food Fight,” was inspired by a young relative’s experience living with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a little-known eating disorder often characterized as “extreme picky eating.” Much of her research on the topic has focused on the impact of picky eating on families.

Linda is a member of SCBWI and active in the Chicago writing community. When she’s not writing, she enjoys buying more books than she can possibly read, maintaining her Little Free Library, and traveling with her husband and daughters. To learn more about her life and work, visit: www.lindabdavisauthor.com 

Follow Linda B. Davis on social media:

TikTok: @lbd1009 | Twitter: @lindabdavis65 | Instagram: @linda_d65

In an interview, Linda B. Davis can discuss:

• How a picky-eating young relative inspired Linda to research ARFID, and the surprising facts she learned about the little-known disorder
• Why ARFID representation is crucial for better understanding ourselves and our loved ones, and what she hopes readers of all ages will take away from “Food Fight”
• How her background in psychology and social work influenced her approach to writing
• How families and friends can support loved ones with eating disorders

An Interview with

Linda B. Davis

1. What inspired you to write “Food Fight”? 

Several years ago, my eleven-year-old nephew’s extreme picky eating threatened to ruin his social life. I hate to admit it, but I was less than sympathetic. I attributed his eating habits to stubbornness and rolled my eyes at the cheese pizzas he ate at every family gathering. But a little research turned me around. Once I familiarized myself with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), which is often characterized as extreme picky eating, I came to admire the courage it took him to face the types of eating-focused social gatherings we all participate in every day.

2. How did your background in psychology and social work influence your approach to writing Ben’s story?

Social workers stress the importance of understanding a person’s behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which they live. The impact of ARFID goes beyond eating—it also affects the way a person feels and behaves when interacting with others. For middle schoolers, whose social worlds are expanding, it’s almost impossible to avoid eating in front of other people. I wanted to explore the social complications ARFID might cause for kids like Ben and how it might affect self-esteem, self-confidence, and relationships, both with peers and parents.

3. What was the research process like? Did you learn anything about ARFID that was particularly surprising?

My research included reading books written by treatment professionals for parents of kids with ARFID, talking to parents, and participating in the ARFID online community. A common worry for parents is sending their kids with ARFID on their first overnight trip, which helped shape the plot of “Food Fight.” Although ARFID is a relatively new diagnosis, I continue to be surprised at how difficult it is for parents to find knowledgeable professionals to treat and support their kids. Despite awareness efforts, many people (and professionals) continue to dismiss ARFID as a willful stubbornness created by overindulgent parents who cater to a child’s whims. These attitudes contribute to feelings of isolation and stress for families living with ARFID.

4. What do you hope readers (kids and adults!) will take away from this story?

Although ARFID is a relatively rare condition, the types of challenges it presents are universal in the world of middle graders as they confront the never-ending question of How do I fit in? I set out to write a story in which kids living with ARFID will finally see themselves on the page and kids who are unfamiliar with ARFID can relate to a character who struggles to accept himself and be accepted by his peers. Ultimately, I hope “Food Fight” encourages people to react to extreme picky eating with empathy rather than judgment.

5. What’s next for you on your author journey?

I am currently working on a YA ghost story and plan to start research for a historical middle grade novel soon.

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 draws from Beatles to pen “touching, funny” MG novel 

NEW YORK, NY – Mark Goldblatt’s middle grade novel “Twerp” was a Junior Library Guild Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and a multi-award nominee that the New York Post called “reminiscent of ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower.’” Its sequel, Finding The Worm, was a three-time PJ Our Way selection. Now Goldblatt asks: What would you do if the ghost of John Lennon turned up on your doorstep? David Salmon, the 13 year old narrator of the story, needs more than a little help from his friends as his life spins out of control in “Might As Well Be Dead” (May 5, 2023, Phoenix Press/New Haven Publishing). 

Goldblatt, who writes for both young and adult readers, has been published in  The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, USA Today, and Time. He’s also a Sunshine State Award finalist, and he’s been nominated for the Georgia Book Award and the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Award. Professional psychotherapist Michael Leiman describes Might As Well Be Dead as “a touching, funny, highly readable story of a young man trying to cope.” Bestselling author Chris Grabenstein calls it, “a crackling good read filled with humor, heart, and hope.”

David Salmon is adjusting to his mom’s sudden decision to leave him and his dad. Except then a middle-aged British ghost named Winston shows up–bearing an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon. David is 99% sure he’s not real, but he’s a welcome distraction. Winston helps David with his struggles at home–his dad is having an especially difficult time with his wife’s sudden departure–while also guiding David through problems with his best friend and the new girl at school. Eventually, Winston shares his real reason for befriending David, forcing him to confront a dark truth he is desperate to avoid. 

With inspiration from The Beatles, sharp humor, and profound wisdom about the need to heal, Might As Well Be Dead is a hopeful story about the transformative power of love.

“Might As Well Be Dead”

Mark Goldblatt | May 5, 2023

 Phoenix Press/New Haven Publishing | Middle Grade Fiction 

Paperback | ISBN – 978-1-912949515-51-0 | $12.99 

MARK GOLDBLATT is the award-winning author of the middle grade novels Twerp and its sequel Finding the Worm (both from Random House), as well as a half dozen novels and nonfiction books for adults. He has been published in many popular and academic newspaper and magazines including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, USA Today, Time, National Review, Reason, Commentary, Quillette, New York Observer, Chronicle of Higher Education, Philosophy Now, and Sewanee Theological Review. He teaches developmental English and religious history at Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York. Find out more about him at markgoldblatt.com. 

Follow Mark Goldblatt on social media: 

Twitter: @MarkGoldblatt | Instagram: @anothertheologian

In an interview, Mark Goldblatt can discuss:

• The power of imaginative literature to convey and cope with childhood trauma
• The enduring legacy of the Beatles, the timelessness of their music, and the universality of their messages
• The role of humor in helping us through even our darkest days
• The blurring of reality and imagination in young people when their emotions are raw
• The themes of bullying in his previous works, Twerp and Finding the Worm
• The teachable themes in his fiction and how instructors have included them in their curriculum

Advanced Praise for Might As Well Be Dead

“Mark Goldblatt writes a crackling good read filled with humor, heart, and hope.  This story might be a little dark, but, sometimes, that’s the only way to see the light.” 

–Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

“Sometimes all we need to get by in the real world are friendly hallucinations.”

–Vince Vawter, author of the Newbery-honored, bestselling novel Paperboy

“With playful and creative liberty, Mark Goldblatt illustrates the extremes to which one may go to avoid feeling what one is not ready to face. As the protagonist’s Mom sagely notes, “Your heart has to understand what your head understands in order to feel better.” A lighthearted and entertaining exploration of the power of pain, this highly readable story may provoke inner reflection of the myriad ways we each run from, distort, and avoid our own ghosts, and the power of speaking our truths to begin to heal.”

– Dr. Deborah Vinall, LMFT, author of Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens

“Might as Well be Dead is the touching, funny, highly readable story of a young man trying to cope. Goldblatt uses creative and imaginative powers to move beyond self and create an atmosphere safe enough to look at, accept, and ultimately deal with unbearable hurt—so that there is, eventually, an opportunity for healing.” 

–Michael Leiman, CSW, Psychotherapist

Praise for Twerp

“Reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. . . . You don’t have to be a twerp to read this book.” 

—New York Post

“A vivid, absorbing story about one boy’s misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself.” 

—Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me

“Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer.” 

—Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

“[Fans of] Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian.” 

—School Library Journal

“Reminiscent of movies like The Sandlot. . . . Well-written and funny.” 

—The Advocate

“Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance.” 

—Kirkus Reviews

“A timely book.” 

—New York Journal of Books

“Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility.” 

—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Julian Twerski’s honest, self-deprecating and waggish voice finds its way to your heart before he’s uttered as much as a sentence. And by the time he’s finished unburdening his conscience of the highs, lows and hilarities of his year, he’s right up there on your favourites shelf with Spinelli (Stargirl), Palacio (Wonder) and Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me). This sixth-grader really has a way with words….To sum up, there’s so much in this book it’s impossible to do it justice. Funny, endearing, character building; it will be mighty hard to top this for the year.” 

—Good Reading Guide

“An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy.” 

—The Florida Times-Union

“Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences.” 

—The Horn Book Magazine

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 lawyer shows there are multiple truths in marriage and divorce

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Founding partner of an all-women law firm, Margaret Klaw uses her experiences as an award-winning family lawyer to pen her first contemporary women’s fiction. Recognized by  Best Lawyers in America and designated a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” in the area of family law, she’s written for prestigious outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and The Washington Post on her expertise. “Every Other Weekend” (She Writes Press, May 23, 2023) is Klaw’s first novel using her extensive professional experience to create an engaging and darkly humored multi-perspective look at one family’s journey through the complexities of divorce and custody.

On the outside, fortyish hipster dad  Jake lives the perfect life, happily settled down in a politically progressive, urban and notably self-satisfied community, working at his not-so-demanding job, playing guitar with his band, and enjoying domestic life with his beautiful and accomplished wife Lisa and their two charming daughters. Until Lisa blindsides Jake by telling him she wants a divorce. From there, perspectives shift, and Jake’s world tilts out of control as the story unfolds from multiple points of view–those of other family members, Jake’s  self-absorbed divorce lawyer, the cranky family court judge who presides over his custody case, his polyamorous millennial girlfriend, and even the beloved family dog. 

For fans of “Little Children” by Tom Perrotta, Klaw’s dark humor and deep bench of experience in family law gives readers a bird’s eye view of the ripple effect caused by one family’s divorce, while making it clear that there is never one truth about a marriage.

“Every Other Weekend”

Margaret Klaw | May 25, 2023

She Writes Press | Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Paperback | 978-1-64742-479-4 |$17.95

Ebook | 978-1-64742-480-0 | $9.49

MARGARET KLAW is a writer, lawyer and founding partner of BKW Family Law, an all-women law firm in Philadelphia. Named a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, she has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and designated a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” in the area of family law. Starting with day-in-the-life vignettes about practicing family law published in HuffPost, she has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time and Salon, and is the author of “Keeping it Civil: The Case of the Pre-nup and the Porsche & Other True Accounts from the Files of a Family Lawyer” (Algonquin Books, 2013). “Every Other Weekend” is her first work of fiction. Find out more about Margaret at her website.

Follow Margaret Klaw on social media:

Twitter:  @margyklaw | Instagram: @margyklaw

In an interview, Margaret Klaw can discuss:

• Her passion and background as a family lawyer and founder of the all-women law firm, BKW Family Law
• How her experience as a family lawyer has been the inspiration for both “Every Other Weekend” and her first book, “Keeping it Civil: The Case of the Pre-nup and the Porsche and Other Accounts from the Files of a Family Lawyer”
• Moving from writing nonfiction to writing fictional stories and what she’s learned in the process
• Her process of writing a fictional story using vignettes from real-world cases
• Her observations as a family lawyer that led to writing a multi-perspective narrative
• The lack of one true story behind any family law case, and Klaw’s unique observations from the courtroom

An Interview with

Margaret Klaw

1. While you already have a career as a successful lawyer and published author, what made you decide to create a fictional story this time?

During the editing process with my first book,  KEEPING IT CIVIL: The Case of the Prenup & the Porsche and Other True Accounts from the Files of a Family Lawyer (Algonquin Press, 2013), which was based on a blog I wrote about the daily life of a family lawyer (i.e., me), my editor asked me to create a story that would run throughout the book to make it feel more cohesive and less like a series of short essays and that would serve to create dramatic tension and keep readers reading.  We settled on a custody trial, which I had to fictionalize because I was actually making up courtroom dialogue, unlike the clients and judges and opposing counsel I mentioned in the short vignettes, whose identities I protected but whose actions were (painstakingly) accurately retold.

It turned out that putting together that trial – I got to completely make up what the judge would say to the annoying opposing counsel! – was the most enjoyable part for me of writing Keeping it Civil. So about a year after the launch of that book, when I was thinking about what else I wanted to write, I had the not-so-bright idea that I could write a novel, which I figured would be super fun and easier than the first book because I could go wherever my imagination took me and not have to worry about protecting people’s identities. For some reason, the fact that I had never taken a creative writing course in my life and had absolutely no idea how to put together a novel didn’t seem like an impediment when I started. But of course it was, and learning, painstakingly, how to write a novel, was a profoundly humbling and challenging experience. 

2. As a family lawyer, you of course drew from some of your professional experiences. How much of this story draws from real life? 

A lot. Both the legal parts, e.g. what goes on at Jake’s lawyer’s office on a daily basis, what his lawyer thinks about him as a client, what happens in the courtroom during trial, what the relationship between opposing counsel is like, and what goes on behind the scenes in chambers with the judge’s clerk and court staff, etc., and the community aspect of the book as well.

“Every Other Weekend” is the story not just of an individual family but also of a cohesive urban/suburban neighborhood where all the characters live and everyone’s lives are constantly – and sometimes inappropriately – intersecting. “Greenwood,” as I call it, is a very thinly disguised version of the neighborhood in Philadelphia where I’ve lived for decades and raised my kids. The scenes at the kids’ school where Jake’s band-mate’s kid also attends and knows what’s going on with his daughter, at the dog park where Jake runs into his lawyer and meets her daughter who he then hires to babysit his kids, the various groupings of moms and daughters who meet at the coffee shop gossiping about different version of the same events, the dry cleaners where the judge runs into Jake’s lawyer, all of these are lifted from my experience with living in a community where many of my clients are my neighbors and many have become my friends. And where I have had to constantly keep secrets from my family and friends to protect client confidentiality, so I often feel like I’m navigating a sea of private information while everyone is gossiping around me and I can’t say anything.

3. The story is told through multiple narratives and you’ve talked about the fact that there’s never really just “one truth” in family law. What was the reason to tell the story this way?

I am acutely aware, after decades spent in courtrooms, that people telling different versions of the same events are not necessarily lying. Sometimes they are of course, but very very often, perhaps more in the family law context than in others, people will tell different versions of the same events because they actually perceive those events differently when they happen or perhaps remember them differently afterwards. It’s a terrible oversimplification to think that there is always a “true” account. 

In “Every Other Weekend” there is one particular scene, involving Jake and his lawyer’s 18-year-old daughter who is (probably inappropriately) babysitting for his kids, which appears one way when we first hear about it from Jake, a different way when we later hear about it when the daughter is telling her friends about it, and a third way when the daughter is confronted by her mother (Jake’s lawyer) about it toward the end of the book. I have been asked by many of my early readers what actually happened in that scene, and my answer is, sincerely, I’m not sure. I really don’t know! That’s the point. And so much of what we learn about Jake and Lisa during the course of the book contradict how they see themselves and each other. All of this is fascinating to me, and it’s why I set the book in this one place where all my characters’ personal and professional lives overlap and where everyone is talking about their neighbors, and where I periodically added “choruses” – the women at the yoga studio, the guys at band practice, the teenage girls at the cafe – talking about the events unfolding around them, which give yet a third version of events as told by those on the outside looking in.

4. What are some reasons why people get divorced? Any surprising stories you can share?

I’d say in my very unofficial (but voluminous) observation, not what you’d think. Infidelity is quite low on the list – people often weather that.  I’d say the greatest number of divorces are caused by various addictions (alcohol, drugs, occasionally gambling) or other mental health issues. And usually people have tried hard to make it work before deciding to pull the plug on the marriage. Financial issues are also big – which are incidentally a major part of the demise of Jake and LIsa’s marriage but you don’t really learn the scope of it until late in the book, since Jake doesn’t place much importance on it.  

Domestic violence is also unfortunately pretty common, and that is certainly a reason marriages end but often not until it’s been going on a long time because the dynamic of abuse is that the person being abused is scared of standing up to the abuser. And sometimes the abuse is mental, not physical. 

One thing that used to be a reason marriages ended which we never see now is because one spouse was gay, and either they or the straight spouse decided they just couldn’t live with that lie to the outside world. Fortunately now gay people don’t need to have sham heterosexual marriages. Now they can get married and get divorced for all the same reasons straight people do! 

5. You mention being married to your teenage sweetheart. Would you mind telling us that story?

I met my husband on my second day of college. I was seventeen. He was nineteen and had taken a year off between high school and college, doing things like hitchhiking to Mexico and crewing on a sailboat being delivered to the Caribbean (all of which turned out, amazingly, to actually be true.) He took courses like pottery and “Self-Concept.” I was a very serious conservatory student (violin) and spent most of my freshman year in a practice room. I transferred to a different school, he followed me, I had an identity crisis at the age of 20 and realized I didn’t want to be a professional musician, he supported me,  I ended up in law school, he supported me, then he went to architecture school, I supported him, we had our first child and our lives have been successfully intertwined ever since.

One of the most popular pieces I wrote when I blogged for HuffPost was about divorce lawyers being romantics who stay married. I really do think my career has helped me appreciate the relationship I have with my husband and kept me from sweating the small stuff. 

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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.

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