Narrative theme: interior life / psychological fiction

Book SynopsisThe multimillion-copy New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris returns to her heartland of gripping psychological suspense in The Therapist-a powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret.When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they've dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive...As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem...

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFor most of his adult life, the only place he felt at peace was at home in Silver Lake, Ohio with his parents—but after their sudden death, he is left on his own. Eager to help their brother, Steve’s siblings, Scott and Sylvia, who both live in Los Angeles, scramble to find someone reliable to live with Steve. The answer to their problem comes in the form of Sylvia’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is desperate to find a place to live; within days, she moves in with Steve. This is the story of Steve and Nancy, who, as virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity, forge a way to live in fragile harmony. Sometimes dark, sometimes humorous, Just in Time is a hopeful, firsthand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic.Trade Review2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in Second Novel 2018 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary "Jackson effectively represents the overwhelming nature of caring for a loved one with schizophrenia, which is seldom seen in fiction. She offers readers an expert understanding of the pitfalls of such a life: the revolving-door culture of caregivers, a mental health system that often leaves families at a loss, and the social stigma that constantly threatens to derail healing progress.” —Kirkus Reviews “Finally, finally, our culture is talking about mental illness and the suffering it brings to those it strikes and those who love them. In this addictively readable, well-written novel, based on her own true story, Joan Jackson humanizes—and even humorizes—the impact of schizophrenia.” —Meredith Maran, author of The New Old Me “I loved it. An honestly told story of a family coping with a situation that they have inherited. So beautifully written. It will resonate with many readers.” —Liz Murphy, former owner of The Learned Owl Book Store, Hudson, OH “What a lovely book! Your characters jump off the page and into our hearts. Steve lives and breathes. Thank you for letting me read it.” —Carol Burnett, author, comedienne, and actress “Joan Jackson delivers a pitch-perfect account of a family in crisis and the complex challenges of mental illness. With delicate intimacy, humor, and heart, Jackson seamlessly weaves reality into fiction in this moving document of the resiliency of the human spirit.” —Alexia LaFortune, MA Developmental Clinical Psychology, MARI, FAMI, author of Sex, Love, and Spirit: A Memoir “This remarkable book is an illuminating experience that brings a schizophrenic’s world to life. Bold and uplifting, Just in Time is a heartfelt, valuable contribution for families and professionals dealing with mental illness as well as an entertaining read for all.” —Ellen G Ruderman, Psychotherapist, Encino, CA "An intimate and lovely book about the messiness of a life lived with schizophrenia; filled with kindness, and quirkiness and a generosity of spirit; at times you feel like a voyeur; other times a family member. Joan L. Jackson weaves the story with a precise needle and thread; you feel exasperated, joyful, hopeful, worried, a bit anxious, and in one exquisitely drawn chapter toward the end of the book - waiting to exhale as you hold on to the seat of your pants. But, mostly, because of the beauty in Ms. Jackson's writing, you feel the power of resilience and love.” —Amy Ferris, author, Marrying George Clooney, Confessions from a Midlife Crisis, and editor of Shades of Blue "Just In Time is both a compelling & sensitive narrative, an emotional roller coaster that chronicles the journey of a family confronted with a loved one diagnosed with a mental disorder—in this case schizophrenia. Jackson is a good storyteller and Just In Time captures the emotions, challenges, successes, and failures that are part of siblings Steve & Sylvia’s complex relationship that evolves over the years. Its underlying premise is uplifting, because it is a story about hope. Sometimes it's not about tough love – it's just about love – that can make that which seems impossible, possible." —Jim Vidakovich, media strategist and best selling author "As the novel moves forward, it feels like reading a diary. The moments are intimate, the dialogue sincere, and the conflicts real . . . The book is a perfect read for anyone interested in the authentic struggles of a family trying to move forward, because, as Nancy says, eventually, “We’re all moving on.” —San Francisco Review "Joan L. Jackson has written an important and realistic novel about schizophrenia and its impact on a family. The characters were well developed, and the plot, though simple, kept the story moving with brisk pacing throughout the novel. Its strength was the depictions of Steve's symptoms and thought processes." —Storybook Circle Reviews

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Book SynopsisSometimes the most enviable life is really a private hell. On the surface, Sarah Jenkins appears to have it all: a handsome, wealthy and successful husband, a precocious five-year-old daughter, and a beautiful home in an affluent Seattle neighborhood. Her quirky best friend and fellow high school teacher, Maggie, marvels at her luck—and envies her happiness. But Sarah is far from happy. She feels empty and on edge, harangued by a critical inner voice—and as the truth about her marriage and details of her past emerge, her “perfect” life begins to crumble. But just when it seems all is lost, a long forgotten, unopened letter changes everything, and with the support of friends, Sarah begins to rebuild her life. Can she quiet the critical voice in her head and learn to value herself instead?Trade Review2019 IPPY Silver Medal Winner in Popular Fiction 2019 IBPA Ben Franklin Award Silver Medal Winner in Popular Fiction “A well-executed tale of abuse, empowerment, and healing.” —Kirkus “A heartfelt journey of a woman truly coming into her own and discovering who she really is and what she's worth." —Mia March, author of The Meryl Streep Movie Club and Finding Colin Firth “Cathy Zane has written a compelling tale of love, manipulation, self-doubt and the power of friendship in overcoming all odds. Better Than This is a page-turner with unexpected twists that will stay with you long after you put it down.” —Phyllis J. Piano, Award-winning author of Love Reconsidered and Hostile Takeover: A Love Story “An honest portrayal of the power of friendship and the struggles many women face in love and life. Zane is a welcome addition to the world of women’s fiction.” —Emily Liebert, Bestselling author of Some Women and Those Secrets We Keep

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Book SynopsisBoston, 1984. Even in a world without cell phones, messages come through loud and clear if one is listening. When thirty-something Nora Forrest travels to Manhattan to see a Broadway play starring her idol, an aging Irish actor named Hugh Sheenan, she doesn’t know whether what happens in the theater that night should be credited to witchcraft, extrasensory perception, synchronicity, or simple accident—and she knows that many people would tell her nothing had happened at all. Told through the voices of four people, Gillyflower is a story about intersections and connections—real, imaginary, seized, and eluded. It’s a book about everyday magic, crystalline memory, and the details that flow through time and space like an electrified mist. It’s a detective story, a love story, and a coming-of-age story—for the never really young and for the almost old.

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Book SynopsisKEY SELLING POINTS • The Contract was a fiction finalist for the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award • Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest arms importer, and 61% of those imports come from the US, supporting tens of thousands of American jobs. Conflict between the US and Saudi Arabia could send repercussions around the globe. • The author's first book Appetite (2016) was a 2016 USA Best Book Awards General Fiction Finalist, and the author was listed on “100 creatives you should know in metro Phoenix” by the Phoenix New Times in December 2016. The book was also reviewed favorably by Booklist and received a blurb from New York Times best-selling author Mary Mackey. • In the ongoing forefront conversation about diversity and the Middle East, the book's themes of religious intolerances, ideology, communication between cultures, and women's roles in different societies are very timely. • There are few novels that address what feminism looks like in Saudi Arabia. • In the US, children’s museums alone serve more than 31 million visitors a year, and American museums receive more visits each year than all major league sporting events and theme parks combined. • In the 20th century, women’s participation in the US workforce rose to 61% but has been stagnating. While the wage gap between men and women has fallen over the past several decades, it’s still significant. • Women's Fiction comprises of almost half of all fiction sold in the US. AUDIENCE: • Career women • Feminists • Museum aficionados • People interested in the Middle East • Business consultants

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Book SynopsisWhen Crystal’s husband, Brian, suddenly announces that his company is sending him to manage its Bangkok office and that he expects her and their children to come along, she reluctantly acquiesces. She doesn’t want to leave the job she loves and everything familiar in their small Oklahoma town; it’s 1975, however, and Crystal, a woman with traditional values, feels she has to be a good wife and follow her husband. Crystal finds beauty in Thailand, but also isolation and betrayal. Fighting intense loneliness and buffeted by a series frightening and shocking events, she struggles to adapt to a very different culture and battle a severe depression—and, ultimately, decide whether her broken relationship with her husband is worth saving.

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Book Synopsis?A fast, fizzing cherry bomb of a debut? (The Observer [UK]) about power, intimacy, and the internetI stalk a woman on the internet who is sleeping with the same man as I am. Sheena Patel?s incandescent first novel begins with the unnamed narrator describing her involvement in a seemingly unequal romantic relationship. With a clear and unforgiving eye, she dissects the behavior of all involved, herself included, and makes startling connections between the power struggles at the heart of human relationships and those of the wider world. I?m a Fan offers a devastating critique of class, social media, patriarchy?s hold on us, and our cultural obsession with status and how that status is conveyed.In this unforgettable debut, Patel announces herself as a dynamic, commanding new voice in literature, capable of rendering a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences viscerally on the page. Sex, brutality, politics, work, art, tenderness, humor?Patel tackles them all while making the reader complicit in the inescapable trap of fandom that seems to define the modern condition.

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Book Synopsis“My brain was famous, but I was not. Not every gifted child invents a pollutant-free fuel, paints a masterpiece, or finds the cure for cancer,” Jack MacLeod tells us. “Some of us just live out our lives.” Jack died in 1974; now, he’s ready to narrate his story from beyond the grave. Jack’s prodigious memory, which allows him to memorize books, and his penchant for psychic connections give him unusual insights into the events of his past life and make him fiercely curious about his current state of existence. Jack immerses us in interconnected tales of his childhood participation in a research study on the intellectually gifted, his dual career as a clinical psychologist and university professor, his participation in the unmasking of an unscrupulous colleague, his long-term health issues, his brief but life-changing love affair with a student, his deep friendship with another man, and his eventual acceptance and celebration of the circumstances of his fate. How Jack dies, and how he deals with the murder of someone close to him, mirrors how he has lived and grown, and marks the significance of everyone and everything that ultimately brings him to yet another level of brilliance.Trade Review2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner in Fiction (Visionary)2022 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in New Fiction and Visionary Fiction2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in General Fiction/Novel2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Paranormal2022 IPPY Awards Silver Winner in Visionary/New Age Fiction 2022 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Fiction 2022 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite in Visionary Fiction 2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary 2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Visionary 2021 NYC Big Book Awards Winner in Visionary Fiction 2021 Firebird Book Awards First Place Winner in New Adult Fiction 2021 Firebird Book Awards First Place Winner in Speculative Fiction 2021 Firebird Book Awards First Place Winner in Visionary Fiction 2021 Firebird Book Awards Second Place Winner in Paranormal 2021 Foreword Indie Bronze Winner in General “Wald’s evocative novel manages to deftly capture the mood and myriad voices of the academic world; however, it also narrows its focus to delve deeply into the sensitive mind of its introspective protagonist . . . [Wald is] a writer who understands timing as much as she does a beautifully crafted sentence. A sensitive and moody take on personal connections between loved ones.” —Kirkus Reviews “Author Diane Wald has crafted a truly intriguing slice of life drama which chronicles some quite incredible events and teaches us the value of observation of others and the effects caused to other people by how we live our lives.” —Readers’ Favorite “Impressively original, extraordinarily clever, inherently fascinating, and deftly scripted . . . an extraordinary fictional biography laced through and through with elements of the metaphysical . . . highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review “Masterfully combining the human and soul experience in one voice, Diane Wald brings to life a character from the beyond who knows how to be present in his past with the wisdom and insight of the afterlife. A must-read for anyone needing a reminder of the preciousness of life.” —Christina Rasmussen, best-selling author of Where Did You Go? “Diane Wald is a fantastic storyteller with the ear of a poet. My Famous Brain is an enthrallingly complex, layered story where relationships and loves are like feedback loops in a fallen-down house of time. Deceased narrator Jack MacLeod suffers a brain tumor and exists between headache and heartache, where, he says, “the mysteries of the universe open up to me like waterlilies in the sunlight.” He shuffles his memories, loves, and fears, searching for communion, connection, and empathy. This is a novel about what it is to be alive or dead, and to experience time as it moves through the body.” —Patrick Lawler, author of Rescuers of Skydivers Search Among the Clouds and The Meaning of If “Diane Wald’s literary ability lifts the reader into an empathic relationship with each character. Her development of these characters’ relationships, not only with humans but also with precious animals, gives the reader the ability to feel—something our society desperately needs. This novel tells the story of a most intriguing man, and the plot twists and turns never fail to show how various lives come together to create the fullness of one life.” —Annette Daloia Scanlon, Social Worker in Hospice & Palliative Care in Human & Veterinary Medicine “A compelling, challenging, and utterly gripping tale. . . . Wald’s prose is lush, and she beautifully humanizes her characters.” —The Prairies Book Review “Wald’s unique art of storytelling will immerse you in this witty, profound, and heartbreaking tale. A simply inspiring read . . . original, real, and poignantly memorable.” —Lukanyo Mbanga, Reedsy Discovery “[P]oignant and utterly engrossing . . . cunningly plotted and told in a fascinating, irresistible voice . . . a highly enthralling and complex tale . . . deft and balanced . . . nuanced and filled with wisdom.” —The Book Commentary

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