Fresh Fiction Blog | Sara Reyes | A visit with Claire Avery

Friday night and it's an author book signing night! And best of all, they had CAKE! Okay, maybe I'm a bit harsh, but let me tell all the authors touring out there, cake works! Have a signing, get the baby bottles of water and a HUGE cake. You'll get people out of the woodworks. Honest!

So, on a warm Friday night in June, we went to Legacy Books to meet the other half of Claire Avery. For background, Claire Avery is an author duo, two sisters: Michelle Poché and Mari Hilburn. Both sisters live in the area, which makes the cake more convenient. Am I talking too much about the cake? It was delicious by the way. A flat cake with two layers, very light and fluffy and Gwen gave the icing a thumbs up. She started checking out my slice to see if there was any left! She's addicted to icing! But back to Claire Avery.

Michelle is a screen writer and has worked in Hollywood as well as in Texas, Mari is an attorney. They left the chill of Chicago and settled in Texas, a familiar story for some of the people I know including me! It is warmer here and very friendly! They became interested in the story of the children of polygamy after watching an HBO movie and did their research into the young brides and lost boys. Although they did not talk to any people still in the FLDS (Fundamental Church of Later Day Saints) they did talk to many people who escaped and some of the support groups that help them. In fact, they have two endorsements from people within the support organizations for HIDDEN WIVES.

HIDDEN WIVES is a novel about two young girls in Utah’s secret polygamist Blood of the Lamb community, similar in some ways to the HBO series Big Love (starring Bill Paxton a native of Fort Worth), The sisters are expected to marry within the community and their journey is very emotional and gripping. It's a story that has also played out in the news over the past few years, terrifying to realize it happens in the 21st century in the United States.

The only thing that confused me is both Michelle and Mari are so upbeat and positive, how did they manage to write about such dark material? They stated that some of the chapters made them cry! Which is a good sign -- if the authors are emotionally moved, then chances are excellent the reader will be as well!

We bought two copies of HIDDEN WIVES so TWO lucky winners will get a chance to discover the gripping store by two very lovely ladies! Just comment below...

And later today, we're having our annual Boas & Tiaras Tea. It's bound to be a blast, we've got great authors (Dakota Cassidy, Michele Bardsley, Claire Avery, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Kimberly Frost, and Jaye Wells) visiting with us as well as lots of readers! We'll post photos as soon as possible.

Until next time...Get out there and READ a book... Sara Reyes

DFW Tea Readers Group Join us at Readers 'n 'ritas November 12-14, 2010! with Sherrilyn Kenyon and more guests

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Comments

Sounds like fun, cake is always a hit regardless of where you are!
(Barbara Hanson 12:56pm June 12, 2010)

Cake is always good. It goes with every occassion. Love your books!!!
(Kai Wong 1:38pm June 12, 2010)

You can't go wrong with cake. This one is very pretty! I have not read your books but this one sounds really good and I will have to start watching for them.
(Gail Hurt 1:50pm June 12, 2010)

You can never talk too much about cake. I know they got interested in the topic after watching the movie, I just wondered if one sister had to nudge the other one to say yeah let's write about this.
(Leni Kaye 2:09pm June 12, 2010)

Love cake!!! This book sounds interesting! Going on TBR pile for sure!
(JoAnn White 2:57pm June 12, 2010)

I will put this book on my wishlist. Thanks for the giveaway!
(Lisa Garrett 3:12pm June 12, 2010)

This sounds awesome, thanks for talking with us!!!
(Brandy Blake 3:43pm June 12, 2010)

Does anyone ever grow out of wanting cake? :)
Good luck with your book!
(S Tieh 4:45pm June 12, 2010)

Really enjoyed meeting the authors at the Boa and Tiaras Tea today. I'm looking forward to reading the book.
(Maria Munoz 8:39pm June 12, 2010)

I love my 3 layer home made Red Velvet Cake. lol
This book sounds very interesting and I would love to read. Thanks for giveaway.
(Brenda Hill 8:59pm June 12, 2010)

It is a treat to be given access to the goings on in a community and culture that is so foreign to mine but coexists side by each.
(Darci Paice 9:17pm June 12, 2010)

Please enter me in your fantastic contest and please let me know when I am a winner too! God bless everyone,
Cecilia
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:06pm June 12, 2010)

Cake, Boas, Tea...you guys have it made!
(Jessica Badeaux 11:17pm June 12, 2010)

Cake Is Always A Great Sugar Rush. But I Think Cake Goes Better With Milk.
(Raquel Vega-Grieder 11:33pm June 12, 2010)

There is always FUN when boas are around!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:45am June 13, 2010)

hello hope your summer is going well. Just entered your contest on fresh fiction. thanks for having it.
(Gloria Vigil 9:45am June 13, 2010)

Hidden Wives sounds very good. I loved the concept
(Liz Cranage 10:54am June 13, 2010)

HIDDEN WIVES deals with a topic that we have all heard about, but really don't know how it effects the woman/girls involved. I am anxious to read their story.
(Rosemary Krejsa 2:33pm June 13, 2010)

Looking forward to reading Hidden Wives. Have a great summer with lots of ice cream and cake!
(Teresa Ward 3:45pm June 13, 2010)

book sounds great; putting it on my list:)
(Barbara Studer 4:07pm June 13, 2010)

Hidden Wives sounds like a book I would want to read
(Chris Burd 4:59pm June 13, 2010)

I'm sorry I missed your cake! At least I didn't miss "Hidden Wives" - it sounds teriffic!
(Deborah Rosen 5:33pm June 13, 2010)

I wouldn't need cake to get me to come
out to see you!
(Deanna Boocock 5:59pm June 13, 2010)

I've heard so much about this topic, and would love to read more!! What a great giveaway!! Thanks so much!! Hope you had a great time at your tea!! Wish I could have been there, too!!
(Peggy Roberson 6:00pm June 13, 2010)

The cover for Hidden Wives is beautiful. A must read I say.
(Mary Preston 6:41pm June 13, 2010)

The book sounds so great and I want to wish the best on it. Thank you for the chance to win.
(Cynthia Plaza-Harney 7:35pm June 13, 2010)

Oooh, cake & books! Life doesn't get much sweeter than that!
(Gail Martin 7:47pm June 13, 2010)

This story has a setting of interest. Few stories deal with this topic. A secretive abd closed society that keeps outsiders away. I am looking forward to reading HIDDEN WIVES.
(Patricia Barraclough 7:54pm June 13, 2010)

Sounds like a compelling story
with more meat to it than some
have! Can't wait to give it a
try!
(Janece Suarez 7:57pm June 13, 2010)

Sadly, this is a topic that seems to be ever topical. It's good to explore it in a novel.
(Sigrun Schulz 12:40pm June 14, 2010)

Another great read to add to my wishlist. Yes... let the Diabetic read about cake at 1:11 a.m. when she can't have it... make me suffer! LOL
(Donna Holmberg 1:11am June 14, 2010)

love the cover and sounds like a great
read! thanks for the chance to win!
(Tina Werner 10:31am June 14, 2010)

I love to read and you can usually see me doing that in my spare time.
(Belinda Wolf-Whitaker 7:27pm June 14, 2010)

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