Hi All!
My name is Marie Bostwick. I’m the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including my latest, ESME CAHILL FAILS SPECTACULARY, recently published by William Morrow.
I am also the new women’s fiction columnist here at Fresh Fiction. I’ll be here with you every month, talking all things women’s fiction, sharing roundups and recommendations, and bringing you interviews with some of the best authors writing within the women’s fiction genre.
This month, I thought I’d start by explaining what the term women’s fiction means and why so many writers are uncomfortable with the genre. (Spoiler alert – I’m among them.)
Let’s go right to the source. The Women’s Fiction Writers Association (of which I am a proud member) says that in women’s fiction, “the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey”, and then goes on to list several other common elements of the genre, such as….
- Writing is high quality and accessible
- Layered stories about one or several characters, often multigenerational
- Upmarket fiction often falls within this category, and is appropriate for book clubs
- Story tackles adult character’s struggle with world issues, resulting in emotional growth
- Can include elements of mystery, fantasy, and romance but cannot be driven by romance
Confused yet? I don’t blame you.
Can you think of any other literary genres that cast a net quite this wide, including so many disparate elements? Would a definition of romance, mystery, thrillers, fantasy, or steam punk require an overarching requirement followed by five bullet points? I don’t think so.
And yet, as someone who has been happily and prolifically writing within the genre for nearly twenty years, I’d argue that this definition still isn’t wide enough. Many excellent, emotionally-driven women’s fiction novels also contain elements of historical fiction, or inspirational fiction, or suspense, or quite frankly, almost any genre you can think of.
Given that there are so many directions to go here, you may be asking yourself, “Why is women’s fiction even a genre? Why not just call it, you know…fiction? After all, there’s nothing called men’s fiction, is there?”
Right you are, my friends. There is nothing called men’s fiction. And that is why so many women’s fiction authors are uncomfortable with the existence of this single-sex genre; because it feels like somebody is trying to pigeonhole us, which they are.
But why?
I think it comes down to this: though most women are willing to read about a male or female protagonist, most men only want to read novels featuring male protagonists. By categorizing a book as women’s fiction, publishers are essentially placing a big sign on a whole bunch of books that says, “Move along, men. Nothing to see here.”
And that’s a shame.
Because the insightful, compelling, emotionally rich, page-turning novels that are being penned by so many authors writing within the women’s fiction genre have such a lot of offer, to everyone.
In the months to come, I look forward to introducing you to many of those wonderful authors, and their wonderful books. As they say in the news business – watch this space.
ESME CAHILL FAILS SPECTACULARLY by Marie Bostwick
From the author of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, comes a novel about the meaning of family and the places we call home. If you love “southern summer” fiction authors like Mary Alice Monroe and Kristy Woodson Harvey you’ll love this delicious novel about family, friendship, and finding your true path in life.
Esme Cahill thinks she has failed spectacularly: fired from her New York City publishing job, divorced from her husband, and possessing little more than a broken-down car and a pile of unfinished manuscripts, she drives home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother, Adele, who had begged her, just before she died, to return to the place she grew up.
There she discovers the once-charming lakeside retreat run by her family is sliding toward financial ruin, so with the help of her grandfather, George; estranged mother, Robyn; and a travelling chef Dawes (maker of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich) they set to work. In the attic, Esme unearths a trove of museum-worthy art quilts, sewn by Adele. Piecing together the inspiration behind them, Esme discovers a forgotten chapter in her family history and her grandmother’s untold story, that of a gifted artist who never received her due.
This is an always-emotional, sometimes humorous, very human novel of what it means to be family—the ties that bind us together and the unintentional hurts that can rend us apart. And, along the way, Esme learns that failure can be the first step toward the life you’re meant to find.
Women’s Fiction Contemporary [William Morrow Paperbacks, On Sale: May 30, 2023, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780062997319 / eISBN: 9780062997326]
A splendid summer read of family, friends, and not quite failures
Buy ESME CAHILL FAILS SPECTACULARLY: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Libro.fm | Audible | Walmart.com | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Marie Bostwick
When not curled up with a good book, Marie Bostwick can usually be found in her office, trying to write one.
A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eighteen uplifting works of historical and contemporary fiction, Marie’s books are beloved by readers across the globe.
Drawing on her lifelong love of quilting and her unshakable belief in the power of sisterhood, Marie’s popular Cobbled Court Quilt series has been embraced by quilters and non-sewers alike. Her standalone books have also found a passionate following among lovers of women’s fiction. Marie’s novel, The Second Sister” was adapted into the 2018 Hallmark Hall of Fame feature film “Christmas Everlasting”, starring Patti LaBelle. Marie’s most recent novel, Hope on the Inside, was published in March 2019 and was chosen as a Reader’s Digest “Select Editions” book.
Marie’s latest endeavor is Fiercely Marie, a lifestyle blog that encourages women to live every minute and love every moment. She is currently working on her next novel, “The Restoration of Celia Fairchild”, which will be published by William Morrow in the spring of 2021.
Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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