Monday, March 25, 2013

Book Tour--THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE

Goddess Fish Book Tour

THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE by Lee Fullbright
A historical psychological mystery

BLURB
Raised in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all. There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured, suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence, his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.

For years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster, local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and Francis’ stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as powerful as it is troubling.

While Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real Francis Grayson.

For Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse and her grandfather.

Ultimately, as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel. —Kirkus Reviews

"A very human story . . . a fine read focusing on the long lasting dysfunction of family.” -the Midwestern Review

"There is something fascinating in labyrinthine plot twists, which is what we have here, and I must applaud Fullbright for her keen and magical ability to pull it off with such aplomb."-Norm Goldman, Montreal Books Examiner and Bookpleasures.com

EXCERPT
“I’ll tell you what I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The third floor of Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”

“I don’t think I understand—“

“Please, Aidan.” I emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”

I turned and walked out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me, I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside stairs.

I’d been able to pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the things and people nobody thought I’d see.

I hesitated, not feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when he caught up with me. We were ready, in position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.

I turned the doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.

ABOUT LEE

Lee Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.

The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’ pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first published novel.

"Secrets and lies suffuse generations of one Pennsylvania family . . . in a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three very different people . . . a superb debut that exposes the consequences of the choices we make and legacy's sometimes excruciating embrace." –Kirkus Reviews

Visit Lee’s website, and connect with her on Facebook.

Find THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE and Lee on amazon and Goodreads.

---
Hey readers,

Oof, intense.

For more from Lee and THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE, follow the Goddess Fish tour.

And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at a prize.

Lee will award a $50 Amazon card to one randomly drawn commenter.

22 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for hosting me and The Angry Woman Suite.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It sounds like a fascinating book!

    lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lyra-- hope you get a chance to take a look at it!

      Delete
  3. I like how there is a build up in the suspence, it reminds me a bit of a horror movie.

    moonsurfer123 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anas, I get that ... though it is more suspense than horror. Thanks for the comment!

      Delete
  4. Hi Lee,

    Congrats on your Kirkus Reviews rating. The title and ceover grabbed me.

    morgankwyatt (at) juno (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Morgan, Thank you-- though I can't *really* claim either, darn. The title came about via my agent at the time, and the awesome front cover is by the equally awesome artist, Laurie Fuller. I can only claim what's between the covers (the print book back cover is also nice!).

      Delete
  5. How did you go about the research for this book, did you visit some of the places?

    shadowrunner1987ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did, Ami. All of the locations, in fact (Chadds Ford, PA; Biloxi, MS; Sacramento-- and I'm from San Diego, so that one was easy :)

      I was traveling in PA when I got the idea for the story, while at a Revolutionary War battlefield, when a thought about a girl looking for her own freedom took hold--and I went with it (and added murder and a nutty family to give it meat).

      Delete
  6. What a suspenseful sounding story. Really fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Hope you'll give it a try and send me some feedback on it--thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  7. Sounds intense and intriguing!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds good to me :)

    lennascloud(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice excerpt

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is going to be quite a fascinating read I'd say.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Seems like there's a lot going on beneath the surface of this book.

    andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the chance to win! Really excited now that I've read the excerpt!

    Kate

    hense1kk@cmich.edu

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Kirkus review really ups the stakes of this one and there are also quite a few 5 and 4 star reviews in Amazon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like a great read!!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete