How a Modesto author will make sure her #metoo literary moment helps local women
A Modesto author's fourth published novel tells a fictional story, but it's one that's eerily timely given some of today's real, most explosive national headlines.
Paula Treick DeBoard said her new book "Here We Lie" was written mainly in the summer and fall of 2016, "when it was hard not to be influenced by politics and the constant circus of the presidential election." Still, she's somewhat amazed by its continued relevance.
"I was surprised to see that in some ways life was imitating art," Treick DeBoard said. "This isn’t a spoiler because it happens at the beginning of the story, but one of the characters comes forward to publicly accuse a man running for political office of sexual assault. Over these last few months, it’s been surreal to see this scene played out in national media, to say the least."
Some early reviews have pointed out the book's timeliness to today's #metoo women's empowerment movement, she said. "Again, my work is fictional, but I’ve been humbled to add my voice to this cause."
Treick DeBoard is embracing that #metoo connection as she promotes "Here We Lie" ― all the author proceeds for an upcoming book launch in Modesto will go to Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus, which provides advocacy and shelter for abused women.
"I wanted to give back to the community in some way with this book launch, as so many members of the community have been so generous with their support of me as a writer," she said. "Haven is a natural fit given the territory of this book. It provides exactly the sort of resources that could have been valuable to the character in my book, and which help hundreds of women in our community annually."
The book launch on Thursday, Feb. 1, will be hosted by the author and the Modesto Barnes & Noble bookstore; it will be held at downtown's Tresetti's Restaurant where Treick DeBoard will sign and sell copies of "Here We Lie." All of her books have had Modesto launches at the restaurant with assists by Barnes & Noble.
"We love supporting the local authors we have here in the area, said Josh McKay, community business development manager at the Modesto bookstore. "I'm new to my position here and it's definitely something I'm trying to focus on."
A full-time lecturer in writing at U.C. Merced, Treick DeBoard splits her time as author and teacher. "Here We Lie" will be released on Jan. 30 by Park Row Books, a new imprint of Harlequin/Harper Collins. It comes after national success with her three previous novels, "The Drowning Girls" (2016), "The Fragile World" (2014) and "The Mourning Hours" (2013), all also released by Harlequin.
At the center of the story, she said, is the complicated friendship between two very different women — one from a small town in Kansas, the other the daughter of a US Senator from Connecticut — who meet randomly when paired as college roommates. They become close friends until their relationship suddenly one night is shattered. "It takes years for them to come to grips with what happened that night," Treick DeBoard said.
Inspiration came from her fondness for “fish-out-of-water stories." She also enjoys writing from the perspective of young protagonists.
"When I began the story, I was writing from the perspective of Megan, the character from small-town Kansas. My work isn’t autobiographical, but I’m from a small town in Ohio, and her character really rang true for me," she said. "Lauren, the senator’s daughter, is from a family where wealth and success are givens, and when someone messes up, there’s enough money and privilege to hide behind."
McKay said Barnes & Noble just got its first shipment of the book this past Thursday and it will be ready for release at Thursday's launch. In addition to the Tresetti's event, Treick DeBoard will promote her book as a guest on Capital Public Radio’s "Insight with Beth Ruyak" on Wednesday, Jan. 31; she will offer readings from "Here We Lie" at UC Merced as part of the university’s Faculty Author Series on Thursday, March 8, and at the Ripon Memorial Library on Tuesday, Feb. 27. More information on the events is at www.paulatreickdeboard.com.
With her fourth book about to be celebrated, Treick DeBoard already is working on a fifth one ― although she's not releasing details just yet. "I’m in the early stages of a new project, something set in the same world of 'The Mourning Hours'," she said. "This is the fun 'getting-it-down' phase, where I’m not always certain what’s going to happen next, or what twists and turns the story might take."
"Here We Lie" Book Launch
WHEN: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1
WHERE: Tresetti's Restaurant, 927 11th St., Modesto
ONLINE: www.paulatreickdeboard.com or www.facebook.com/events/171835690114445
This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 3:27 PM with the headline "How a Modesto author will make sure her #metoo literary moment helps local women."