Debut Novel Captures Small Town Life – With Some Unexpected Twists

Feb. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Debut Novel Captures Small Town Life – With Some Unexpected Twists

Between raising four children and working full-time as a pharmaceutical executive, what was left for Frances Grote to do in her spare time? Pursue her dream of writing a novel. Fire In The Henhouse, which Publishers Weekly calls, “A debut novel brewing with tension, lightened by warm humor,” is set in the fictional town of Dooleysburg, PA. Local celebrities include a cross-dressing car dealer who doubles as the town mascot and a police chief who had to get his own juvenile record expunged. When widowed Maggie Rifkin returns here with her fourteen-year-old son and her New York attitude, she only wants to leave her past behind. But there is no such thing as anonymity in this quirky town, and when sudden tragedy strikes the thread of destruction might well unravel all the way back to Maggie's childhood secret.

Grote creates a memorable cast of flawed characters who say and do whatever they want, miring themselves in hilarious situations. But the many moments of outrageous fun serve to brighten a landscape that contains struggle, transition and finally, proof that life can be flawed and lovely at the same time.

Readers have taken Fire in the Henhouse to heart, giving five star reviews: "Full of great lines and laughs out loud. I felt a genuine affinity for these characters and their lives;" “A gripping story rich with insight. You will find this one hard to put down;” "The mystery woven through this story is so unconventional it makes this a book you have to get back to the minute you walk in the door."

Publishers Weekly went on to say: "Fans of large casts replete with eccentric and memorable locals will appreciate Grote's novel with its overlapping subplots, the strongest of which emphasize the importance of forgiveness and embracing the flaws of others. Clever banter and a flair for over-the-top scenarios.”

Book Information:
Fire in the Henhouse
Author: Frances Grote
Publisher: Rule Bender Press
ISBN: 9780983334101
Pages: 474
Published: February 2011

About The Author
Frances Grote is the author of award winning memoir, poetry and fiction. She was a Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers Finalist and her work has appeared in The Del Sol Review and First Person Arts. She is a graduate of Boston's Grub Street Master Fiction Workshop and the San Juan Writers Workshop. Fire in the Henhouse is her first novel.

Frances is also a psychologist with an MBA who supports her writing habit with a day job where she contributes to the effort to cure cancer. She has four amazing kids, one of whom is a writer for the hit TV series “SMASH”. When she finally realized she was never going to be able to achieve her goal of having a clean house she stopped trying and finally got around to writing those stories she was always talking about.

For more information, review copies, or interviews please contact the author at:

Frances Grote
Email: frances@rulebenderpress.com
Website: http://www.fireinthehenhouse.com

Fire in the Henhouse is available for purchase through http://IndieBound.org, Amazon.com, BN.com and other retailers. Bookstores should contact Ingram for wholesale orders.

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