I haven't done one of these in awhile, so I'm especially happy to welcome Isla Morley to BBB today. Her recently published debut, Come Sunday, has received a great deal of acclaim. She's a fascinating person, as you'll see in just a moment. Be sure to read all the way to the end, because that's where the real fun is - a giveaway!

Me: Hi Isla. Welcome to Bloggin' 'bout Books.

IM: Hi Susan. Thanks for inviting me to your wonderful blog.

Me: Tell me a little about your path to becoming a writer. Did you enjoy reading and writingas a child? When did you decide you wanted to write a book? How did your work as an editor prepare you for writing your debut novel?

IM: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was the book that first captured my imagination as a child, and ever since I have loved to read. Not so with writing. In my teens, I really wantedto be that girl who kept a tell-all secret diary. But I kept losing interest after the third of fourth entry. When I worked on a magazine, writing was not all that much thrilling for me either. Bythe time I got married and came to the US, I’d pretty much decided writing was not for me. Ten years went by, and then the character of Abbe Deighton appeared to me one night with a story that needed telling. Subsequently, writing has become exciting and immensely fulfilling. Turns out, those editorial skills are in handy in the rewrites.

Me: You obviously have great empathy for the suffering of women and children. I assume thisis, at least partly, a result of your extensive non-profit work. What kind of impact did thoseexperiences have on your life? How do they influence your writing?

IM: The empathy extends to the downtrodden too, and I’ve had it since I was a little girl. Nobody in my family was surprised I was drawn to those organizations that seek to help others. I think a lot of it had to do with my upbringing in apartheid South Africa. At the age of five, I woke up one night to the sound of terrible screaming. My grandmother’s maid was in the garden, attacking her boyfriend with a whip. I’ve thought about her many times over the years and wondered what drove her to the point of violence, and then what pulled her back from the brink of madness the next day when she served us tea and toast. I’ve seen women suffer in terrible ways, and I’ve seen them turn their suffering into something good, something that benefits not only themselves, but others too. It’s this sacrificial element that inspires much of what I write.

Me: What causes are you passionate about now that you're a wife and mother living in urban America?

IM: I grew up in a society where prejudice and fear went unchecked. It was handed down from one generation to the next, and children were taught to be suspicious of those whose skin was of a different color, whose traditions were different, whose beliefs were different. What I want for my child, and for all children, really, is to live free of the tyranny of fear, and to respect and love others.

Me: COME SUNDAY has received a great deal of acclaim/award nominations, something that's quite unusual for a first novel. How do you feel about all the accolades and awards?

IM: I am completely in awe. Humbled, really. If the book receives a glowing review, I tend to think, “That’s nice, but I bet this reviewer gives everyone five stars.” But if it’s a harsh review,I think, “See, this proves I really should put the writing aside and take up macramé.” An award, like the Kafka Prize, really silences the critics in my head. More than anything, it is an affirmation, an encouraging “You can do this; keep going.”

Me: I loved the exotic settings in COME SUNDAY. I understand why some of the story needed to be set in South Africa, but why did you choose Hawaii for a secondary setting? What does that particular location add to the story?

IM: I lived in Honolulu for seven years, and it was there that I started writing this story. Most people are afforded such a limited view of Hawaii. It’s paradise, and so it’s hard to imagine anything bad happening there. But the story takes you deep into the valleys, literally and figuratively. South Africa, on the other hand, is usually viewed in terms of its ugly past, and its violence. It’s the antithesis of Hawaii in many ways, and yet it’s in the midst of this that the promise of resurrection lies.

Me: COME SUNDAY is about a mother's profound grief over losing her child. How did you channel that kind of pain into such an authentic portrayal of suffering?

IM: That’s a good question, and to this day I haven’t really come up with a good answer to it. “Channel” is exactly the right word, though. I would sit down at my computer and close my eyes, and Abbe would present herself. It would be her voice in my head, her heart beating in my chest. I felt like her story came through me, rather than from me.

Me: Ultimately, Abbe (the MC in COME SUNDAY) has to rebuild her faith/belief system, since whatever she thought she believed was shattered by the death of her daughter. Why is going home so often a necessary part of this healing process?

IM: The gift of suffering, in Abbe’s case, is that it cleared out everything that wasn’t authentic. Much of what was part of her life she had layered in, sort of as a way to cover up past traumas. All of that gets ripped aside and she is left with the gaping wound of her childhood. Going back to the place of her birth parallels her return to a very painful period of her past, which is her only hope of having old wounds healed. But I don’t know that I’d call it going home. As an expatriate, I have returned many times to South Africa and while in transit I always think of it as “going home.” And yet the minute I step foot off the plane, I feel more like a visitor. Home becomes something we carry within. Abbe’s journey is finding her home.

Me: How connected are you now to South Africa (your birthplace)? What did you enjoy most about growing up there? What do you miss?

IM: Both my parents died in the last few years, but I am now connected to the place through a brother I never knew I had. I also correspond with several friends and family friends with whom I am very close. But I am connected in other ways too, by memories, by language, by the land which somehow has knit itself to bone and sinew. I only have to open my mouth for South Africa to come pouring out. I grew up with a deep appreciation of nature. I miss the beauty of the country, the varied landscapes, the beaches, the wildlife. But I also grew up in a multicultural society with so many different artistic and musical expressions. I miss the slang, the satire and humor, African harmonizing, Saturday afternoon barbecues, my friends.

Me: What are you working on now? Will South Africa show up again in future novels? Please say yes :)

IM: It’s hard for me to discuss what I’m working on because I try to give myself permission to fail. This project may fly or it may end up in the compost pile, who knows. But I do want to write about South Africa again at some point, and I really appreciate your enthusiasm about this special location.

Me: Lastly, I ask this of every author I interview because I'm so fascinated by the variety of answers I receive. How do you write? Do you write every day or just when the muse comes to visit? Do you make meticulous outlines or start writing and see where it takes you? Where do you write? Where do you find ideas? Is there anything you have to have by your side in order to write (food, good luck charm, music, etc.)? What makes you, as a novelist, unique from other writers?

IM: I write (or rewrite) every day, after my daughter leaves for school (in summer, all writing therefore comes to a grinding halt). Instead of a muse, for me there is a great, invisible river running above my head, and when I sit down to write, it’s like sticking my finger in the current and letting the energy travel through me and out onto the page. If I want to interrupt the flow of creativity, all I have to do is start working on an outline! I wrote Come Sunday in a closet, and I now write by hand at the patio table on the deck that overlooks the mountains. I am not superstitious, but I can’t seem to part with a little crystal a friend gave me several years ago which is supposed to have good writing juju. I usually say a silent prayer before I start writing. I don’t know what makes me unique. I would say that if I am any good at writing it must be because I have so much in common with other people.

Me: Thanks so much, Isla!

Ever since polio broke out across the U.S., 11-year-old Georgie Mason's been fascinated with the disease. She's read up on its history, causes and treatment. New deaths are chronicled every day in the newspaper, statistics she carefully records in her notebook. As much as she blames polio for the incredible boredom fest that is the summer of 1952 (no swimming pools, no movie theaters, no public events, no nothing), Georgie's obsessed with the epidemic. So, when her family moves next door to a girl in an iron lung, she can hardly believe her luck. When the girl turns out to be a beautiful teenager who welcomes visits from Georgie and her brother, well, Georgie's pretty much over the moon with delight.

According to Georgie's good friend Noah (as in, Webster), an iron lung is "a device for artificial respiration in which rhythmic alternations in the air pressure in a chamber surrounding a patient's chest force air into and out of the lungs" (from Merriam-Webster online). To Georgie, it's a tentacled, glinty-eyed beast straight out of a sci fi film. Even though she knows the contraption is breathing for her new friend, Phyllis, it looks to all the world like the wheezing monster has swallowed her whole. Georgie's as intrigued with the machine as she is repulsed by it.

Georgie's teenage brother, who doesn't notice anything he can't find through a telescope or shoot through a hoop, is suddenly showing a whole lot of interest in not just the artificial lung, but its occupant. It's easy to see why - Phyllis is bright, pretty and as flirtatious as any high school girl. She may view the world only as reflected through the iron lung's mirrors, but she sees clearly enough, apparently, to know what she wants. Since Emmett's a lot smoother on the court than off, Georgie's all for this "starter kit" romance. That is, until the couple stops including her in their star-gazing sessions. Her jealousy makes her tune into things she never noticed before, like how Emmett's completely at Phyllis' beck and call; how, despite the girl's condition, she's got a chilling hold on the people around her; and how her seemingly innocent flirting has a decidedly sinister feel. Is it just the envy talking or is Phyllis up to something? The Kellers' give their daughter everything, so what is it that Phyllis wants from Emmett? Maybe it's just teenage lovey-dovey stuff, the kind of thing Georgie loves to read about in her Archie comics, or maybe it's something much, much more frightening ...

Polio's a disease about which I know very little, so Chasing Orion by Kathryn Lasky fascinated me from the get-go. Lasky's description of the panic that spread along with its outbreak is unnerving as is her depiction of the not-so-helpless Phyllis. As horrifying as the idea of living life in an iron lung is, it's Phyllis' calculating manipulation of the people around her that makes the story so disturbing. Although the book is recommended for ages 9 and up, I would never hand a tale so dark to someone that young. While the book discusses issues that are important for everyone to contemplate - What constitutes a life? Is it right to keep someone alive by artificial means, if all it means is prolonged suffering? Whose happiness is more important - the patient's or her family's? - they're questions that confound even the aged. So, while I recommend this book for the compelling subject matter and skilled writing, it's not something I would pass on to every reader. I'm not even sure how I felt about it. Riveted, yes, but horrified, too. And so very, very relieved to be living in 2010.

(Readalikes: A little like We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language, vague sexual innuendo, and mature topics (see discussion in last paragraph of review)

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Chasing Orion from the generous folks at Candlewick Press. Thank you!

Iron lung image from Wikipedia.

Wow, so somehow, it's Friday again. Not sure how that happened. The week has just whizzed by. I spent last night finishing Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel. Although it's filled with warlocks, demons, vampires, etc., it's not really scary - still, it made me a little jumpy last night with the husband out of town. Let me just tell you, this big ole house makes a lot of noise after the kids go to bed and it's dead quiet inside. Anyway, Clockwork Angel didn't hypnotize me quite as much as the books in The Mortal Instruments series (maybe because of the steampunk elements?), but it's still an absorbing, quick-paced thrill ride. I definitely enjoyed it, just not quite as much as Clare's other novels. And really, you should be able to get through it even if you're home alone at night. I'm just a wimp. Anyway, look for that review this week.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is in full swing, if you haven't noticed (and how could you not?). I was too lazy to get myself signed up for it this year. I'm not wild about the nominations/award setup this time around, but I'm interested to see how it all plays out. Click over the the BBAW blog and check out all the fun!


It being Friday and all means it's time for the Book Blogger Hop. This weekly meme, hosted by Jen at Crazy-For-Books is tons of fun. It's a great way to get to know other book bloggers as well as drive traffic to your site.

This week's question is not really a question, but we're supposed to talk about our favorite book blogs in honor of BBAW. I could never name favorites. Seriously, I have hundreds of them on my Reader. With the Hop and Follow Friday, I'm constantly adding more. How about if I list my oldest and newest fave? Will that suffice? Okay:

The first book blog I ever visited is A Patchwork of Books, written by the lovely Amanda. She's a voracious reader as well as a wonderful person. I'm glad to have found her all those years ago. She's been both a friend and an inspiration to me ever since.

Although I added a ton of new blogs to my Reader last week, the one that stands out most is Parajunkee's. She blogs mostly about paranormal books and hosts Follow (My Book Blog) Friday. Be sure to check out her fun reviews.


FF works like the Book Hop. This week, ParaJunkee asks, "Are your favorite books YA or do you stick to adult reads?" My answer: both! Why limit myself, you know? I love adult, YA, middle grade, picture books, etc. As long as it's a book, I'll consider reading it!

Okay, now, click on over to ParaJunkee's blog and start checking out all the fabulous book blogs out there in Cyberspace.

Lastly, I'm only 6 entries away from my 700th post! Can you believe that? I'll surely have to celebrate that milestone with a contest of some sort. I'm still hammering out the details, but you'll definitely want to stay tuned for this one.

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody. Happy reading!

"I wanted to tell a story in which there are no heroes or villains, just shades of gray, real people trying to recover from their stumbles with grace."

- Chandra Hoffman, Author's Note

First, a warning: If you are contemplating an adoption, are in the process of adopting, or think you may want to adopt at some time in the future, stop reading now. Just trust me on this one - you don't want to read Chosen by Chandra Hoffman. Why not, you ask? Well, you know all those nightmares you've been having? The ones where your 100% for sure birthparents change their minds in the end, or your cokehead birth couple hunts you down demanding more money for "their" baby, or you're forced into adopting a newborn with a shady health history because you're too old/poor/impatient/unattractive to wait for the robust Caucasion newborn for whom you've been praying? Basically, Hoffman takes all of your worst fears and twists them into a story that's as can't-look-away compelling as it is please-God-tell-me-this-could-never-happen horrifying. Disturbing doesn't even begin to describe it.

Still with me? Okay, but remember, I told you not to proceed.

Hoffman's debut novel opens on a drizzly Thanksgiving Day in Portland, Oregon, with a tireless social worker banging on the door of a seedy apartment, clutching a soggy bag of turkey and all the trimmings. Chloe Pinter, who's working her almost dream job at the Chosen Child adoption agency, is determined to bring a little holiday cheer to a young couple about to place their baby for adoption. Not that it's appreciated. All the violent, ex-con birth father seems to want is more money, whether it be from the agency or the wealthy couple waiting anxiously for his infant's birth. Chloe can't wait to be rid of him, but she's worried about his girlfriend, so vulnerable at 8 months pregnant. Especially when Chloe spies a bassinet tucked away in a corner of their apartment. Jason and Penny can't really be thinking of raising their child, can they? With no money, no job prospects, no nothing? If the placement falls through, Chloe will be disappointing not only her demanding boss, but one of the biggest cash-cow clients the agency's ever had. Not to mention damning a baby to the same miserable life her birth parents lead. As much as she loves bringing families together, it's situations like these that make Chloe question her choice of career.

Since she's not quite stressed enough at work, Chloe also gets to deal with pressure from her boyfriend. A consummate wind maggot, who lives for blowing down the Gorge on a stiff wind, Dan's not exactly cut out for the 8-to-5 gig. He longs to leave the rain behind and set up a kiteboarding business on Maui. Chloe's not about to bring up the marriage idea again, especially when he seems bent on leaving Oregon - with or without her. She adores the Pacific Northwest, but with all the chaos at work, Hawaii's looking more appealing every day. There's only one problem: She loves her job.

While Chloe sorts out her love life and keeps an eye on Jason and Penny, Francie McAdoo prepares to welcome their child into her spacious Tudor. Finally. She and her husband, John, have waited for this moment for so long she can hardly believe it's happening at last. She knows her obsessive pursuit of adoption is at least partly responsible for the distance she's been feeling between her and John, but, she feels sure, he'll come around once the baby's home. A few streets over, Paul and Eva Nova, acquaintances of the McAdoos, are also getting ready for an impending birth. After a dozen miscarriages, Lucky 13's about to make his appearance. Paul should be on top of the world, so why is he feeling so discontented? Why does his body tingle with apprehension? None of them know it yet, but very soon all of them - Chloe, Jason, Penny, Francie, John, Paul and Eva - will be thrown together in a frightening case of kidnapping, an event that will change all of their lives. Forever.

Chosen lacks the pacing to truly be called a thriller, but it remains a riveting, heart-pumper of a drama. In a setup that will be familiar to Jodi Picoult fans, Hoffman examines the adoption issue from all sides, letting us feel, if not completely understand, the experience from several different perspectives. Because of this device, I usually come away from a Picoult novel aching for all of its narrators, even those with whom I disagree. Not so with Chosen. While each of its cast members is flawed, some of them are so much so that my disgust trumps my ability to empathize, making it difficult to care what happens to them. Even the most settled of the main characters are, on the whole, unhappy, which creates an all-around depressing story, despite its ultimately hopeful ending. Add in frequent profanity, graphic sexual content and constant drug/alcohol abuse and the story becomes more dismal than a Portland rain shower.

As someone who's worked extensively with adoption, Hoffman knows her stuff. She's no doubt experienced the situations of which she writes. Still, I found in Chosen a curious juxtaposition of adoption myth and reality (at least as I've experienced it). Although the author goes to great pains to show that few parents "give up" their children without mourning the loss, she still makes her birth couples as stereotypical as they can be - poor, greedy, unmarried, unstable, uneducated, etc. The adoptive parents, especially Eva, are similarly cliched. There's the prospective mother who's so obsessed with finding a baby that she can't find happiness anywhere else, the woman who collects the world's orphans in an effort to assuage her own guilt, the lady who aches from wanting a child, but is outraged when she learns he's of a different race, etc. I'm not saying I've never encountered these cliches - they wouldn't be cliches if they never occurred - I'm just surprised to find so many of them in a book by someone once so connected to the adoption world. As the adoptive mother of a bi-racial daughter, who supports the process wholeheartedly, I may be a tad biased. Still, I wanted Hoffman to show more of the complexity that exists in the adoption triad (birth parents/adoptive parents/child).

On the bright side (because even in the Northwest, there's occasional sunshine), Hoffman writes with great skill and authority. She knows how to hook a reader, keep her reading, and surprise her with twists, turns and an unexpectedly satisfying ending (not the Epilogue, though - there's nothing satisfying about that). Having grown up in the Columbia River Gorge, I loved the setting, especially references to windsurfing, Mt. Hood, Powell's Books, and other Northwest delights. The premise of the book fascinates me as well, I just wish it had been executed in a warmer, more nuanced manner. As is, Chosen is one of those books that captured my attention, but not my heart.

Okay, you adoption-ers, you can open your eyes now. Wait a minute, what are you still doing here? Don't say I didn't warn you ...

(Readalikes: reminded me of books by Jodi Picoult and Anna Quindlen)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, graphic sexual content, frequent depiction of drug/alchohol abuse, and violence

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Chosen from the generous folks at Harper Collins. Thank you!