キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 09.17.2007
Today I have an interview with mom lit author Kimberly Stuart about her latest novel, Bottom Line!
Heidi Elliott has joined the elite ranks of stay-at-home moms--a world of cartoons, toys, and a significant lack of grown-up conversation. When her husband's business experiences financial problems, Heidi decides to take a part-time job selling lingerie with her new (and very well-off) friends, Kylie and Russ Zimmerman. But in juggling the competing demands of home and high fashion, Heidi discovers that Kylie's faith may lack authenticity, while Russ's concept of marriage may lack fidelity. And with a precocious toddler distracting her--not to mention the niggling idea of having another!--she finds herself torn between living comfortably and standing on her principles.
Irreverent and entertaining (how can motherhood be anything but?), Heidi Elliott's happily chaotic world is filled with colorful characters, including a clog-wearing legalist, a best friend who skips town to travel the globe, and a sassy four-year-old who always says whatever she wants. Bottom Line provides a humorous and knowing look at a mom's life.
And now, here’s me and Kimberly!
How did you come up with the storyline for Bottom Line?
I like to think about what can happen when you put a well-adjusted, mostly sane character in nutty situations. I had grown to really like Heidi from her experiences in Balancing Act but wanted to see what she’d do with a sassy preschooler, a tight budget, and a multilevel marketing scheme. Add in that she’d sell “Christian” lingerie, and I had the nuts and bolts for a good story.
Bottom Line is comedic fiction. It’s supposed to make you laugh, preferably until something starts to hurt. But I also wanted a story that could tease out questions about more serious subjects, like body image, legalism in the church, the under-appreciation of stay-at-home parents. So when I’m thinking of a story, I want the possibility to take the reader on a journey of both laughter and poignancy. My mother assures me that in Bottom Line, I most certainly DID. All responses to the contrary can be directed to her.
If your heroine, Heidi, were a pet, what would she be, what would her name be, and why?
Heidi would definitely be a beagle named Bennett. A beagle because I’m pining for one but can’t quite take the plunge until my children are old enough to utilize the poop scoop with confidence. And Bennett because my husband is convinced this is the best name for a dog. It was the name of our air conditioning repairman this summer, a man we all grew to know and love, and my husband just won’t let it go. Poor Heidi would have some gender issues with a man’s name, but let’s not get into that.
You might or might not know that I LOVE FOOD. What’s your favorite place to eat in Des Moines and why? (And no, you can’t say McDonald’s because of their kiddie play area.)
Well. I’m so pleased you asked this question because I, too, am fond of food. Sometimes I fear I like it too much and would happily neglect more important things, such as my children, good hygiene, or fire safety, were there the opportunity to consume a bittersweet chocolate lava cake, for example. In Des Moines, I highly recommend Sage, which offers fresh and inspired seasonal cuisine all year round. The last time I was there, Marc and I shared selections from their summer tapas menu, all of which made me do internal backflips of joy. I also love Centro (great flatbread pizzas), Tandoor (fantastic Indian food, as well as a hummus good enough to make one’s eyes roll back into one’s head), and Café Su (delicious Chinese food in our historic Valley Junction neighborhood). My children love the tacos at Panchero’s. Homemade tortillas, people. Can you blame them?
So now when you’re visiting Des Moines to see the butter cow at the Iowa State Fair, to visit the Science Center of Iowa with your kids (very clean restrooms), or to participate in the bloodbath that is the Iowa caucus season, you’ll know where to go fill your belly.
If your children were desserts, what would each be and why?
Ana (nearly five) would be a flourless chocolate espresso cake with raspberry sauce. Perfect balance of sweet, depth, and sauce. Mitchell (nearly two) would be a warm toffee cake right out of the oven with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream. He’s the cuddler and one who can make you melt. He also tends to be sticky, for reasons I usually cannot explain.
You’re off the hot seat! Any parting words?
Thanks for the interview, Camy! And thanks for reading, Mom! Go ahead and click to http://www.kimberlystuart.com/ and drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!
Camy here: Thanks for being here with us, Kimberly!
Today I have an interview with mom lit author Kimberly Stuart about her latest novel, Bottom Line!
Heidi Elliott has joined the elite ranks of stay-at-home moms--a world of cartoons, toys, and a significant lack of grown-up conversation. When her husband's business experiences financial problems, Heidi decides to take a part-time job selling lingerie with her new (and very well-off) friends, Kylie and Russ Zimmerman. But in juggling the competing demands of home and high fashion, Heidi discovers that Kylie's faith may lack authenticity, while Russ's concept of marriage may lack fidelity. And with a precocious toddler distracting her--not to mention the niggling idea of having another!--she finds herself torn between living comfortably and standing on her principles.
Irreverent and entertaining (how can motherhood be anything but?), Heidi Elliott's happily chaotic world is filled with colorful characters, including a clog-wearing legalist, a best friend who skips town to travel the globe, and a sassy four-year-old who always says whatever she wants. Bottom Line provides a humorous and knowing look at a mom's life.
And now, here’s me and Kimberly!
How did you come up with the storyline for Bottom Line?
I like to think about what can happen when you put a well-adjusted, mostly sane character in nutty situations. I had grown to really like Heidi from her experiences in Balancing Act but wanted to see what she’d do with a sassy preschooler, a tight budget, and a multilevel marketing scheme. Add in that she’d sell “Christian” lingerie, and I had the nuts and bolts for a good story.
Bottom Line is comedic fiction. It’s supposed to make you laugh, preferably until something starts to hurt. But I also wanted a story that could tease out questions about more serious subjects, like body image, legalism in the church, the under-appreciation of stay-at-home parents. So when I’m thinking of a story, I want the possibility to take the reader on a journey of both laughter and poignancy. My mother assures me that in Bottom Line, I most certainly DID. All responses to the contrary can be directed to her.
If your heroine, Heidi, were a pet, what would she be, what would her name be, and why?
Heidi would definitely be a beagle named Bennett. A beagle because I’m pining for one but can’t quite take the plunge until my children are old enough to utilize the poop scoop with confidence. And Bennett because my husband is convinced this is the best name for a dog. It was the name of our air conditioning repairman this summer, a man we all grew to know and love, and my husband just won’t let it go. Poor Heidi would have some gender issues with a man’s name, but let’s not get into that.
You might or might not know that I LOVE FOOD. What’s your favorite place to eat in Des Moines and why? (And no, you can’t say McDonald’s because of their kiddie play area.)
Well. I’m so pleased you asked this question because I, too, am fond of food. Sometimes I fear I like it too much and would happily neglect more important things, such as my children, good hygiene, or fire safety, were there the opportunity to consume a bittersweet chocolate lava cake, for example. In Des Moines, I highly recommend Sage, which offers fresh and inspired seasonal cuisine all year round. The last time I was there, Marc and I shared selections from their summer tapas menu, all of which made me do internal backflips of joy. I also love Centro (great flatbread pizzas), Tandoor (fantastic Indian food, as well as a hummus good enough to make one’s eyes roll back into one’s head), and Café Su (delicious Chinese food in our historic Valley Junction neighborhood). My children love the tacos at Panchero’s. Homemade tortillas, people. Can you blame them?
So now when you’re visiting Des Moines to see the butter cow at the Iowa State Fair, to visit the Science Center of Iowa with your kids (very clean restrooms), or to participate in the bloodbath that is the Iowa caucus season, you’ll know where to go fill your belly.
If your children were desserts, what would each be and why?
Ana (nearly five) would be a flourless chocolate espresso cake with raspberry sauce. Perfect balance of sweet, depth, and sauce. Mitchell (nearly two) would be a warm toffee cake right out of the oven with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream. He’s the cuddler and one who can make you melt. He also tends to be sticky, for reasons I usually cannot explain.
You’re off the hot seat! Any parting words?
Thanks for the interview, Camy! And thanks for reading, Mom! Go ahead and click to http://www.kimberlystuart.com/ and drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!
Camy here: Thanks for being here with us, Kimberly!