Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Meet the Author -- Bethlehem Plays a Part in Her Newest Novel


Curling up with a good book and a cup of tea is one of life’s simple and satisfying pleasures. Even better is being able to meet the author of a “really good read.” At Adair Country Inn & Restaurant, we wanted to give our Lupine Festival visitors, guests, and local residents the opportunity to meet author Lois Mathieu, who set part of her new novel in Bethlehem. She’ll be at the Inn at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, for a Tea & Book Signing, and we’d love to have you join us for refreshments and conversation.

Lois has just penned her latest book, “Debut,” the story of a mother and child whose bond is broken when the mother gives her child up for adoption. The two live much of their lives secretly yearning for each other. More than 20 years pass before they meet and come to realize how deeply they have both suffered from their irrevocable loss.

As in any good book, the plot reveals the challenges and obstacles the characters must confront: the birth mom, a New Hampshire girl bound for college, who gives up her first born, and goes on to marry and have three more children, but remains burdened by sorrow and guilt for giving up her first child; the adoptive parents who assume that unconditional love for their daughter is sufficient to keep her from opening the door to the past; and the adoptive child, who wonders about her biological heritage when her extraordinary singing voice becomes evident. The novel opens when she is preparing for her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House and is also hoping to receive a reply letter from her birth mother, after having contacted the adoption agency.

We’re intrigued that Lois chose Bethlehem as the home of the birth mother. “I chose it for two reasons,” she says. “The name evokes the feeling that something special will take place, and I wanted the birth mother character to live in a White Mountains town, in a rural community that would rub against the sophisticated lifestyle of Manhattan and Westchester County. I had a feel for the rural northern New Hampshire setting because my husband and I had hiked in the White Mountains on numerous occasions many summers ago. I was not familiar with Bethlehem, but when I discovered its remarkable history I felt that Bethlehem had chosen “Debut.”

Mathieu holds a B.A. degree from Syracuse University in New York and a Master's of English at Trinity College in Connecticut. She is also the author of the novel “Quiet but Dangerous,” and her poetry has been published in a variety of literary journals.

Join us at the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant on June 18 at 4 p.m., and enjoy a cup of tea and chat with Lois. She’ll be happy to answer your questions about the book and her writing process. It’s a great opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with an author. Copies of her novel will be available for purchase and Lois will inscribe a personal message for you, if you’d like. For more information contact the innkeepers at (603)444-2600

No comments:

Post a Comment