Represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency. For foreign rights or other inquiries, please contact: Mandy@d4eo.com
IF YOU FIND ME
(formerly titled THE PATRON SAINT OF BEANS)
Available from St. Martin’s Griffin, March 26, 2013
Violin prodigy Carey Blackburn spent the majority of her fifteen years hidden away in the Obed Scenic and Wild River National Park with her mute little sister, Jenessa, and their bipolar mother, Joelle. She didn’t expect Mama to go into town for supplies and vanish off the face of Tennessee, leaving the girls no choice but to return to the father who abandoned them long ago … or did he?
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS:
THE 27th LETTER OF THE ALPHABET
(Originally known as: hollyrusken@yahoo.com)
Which world is real?
After the death of her best friend, Holly Rusken, her mother’s descent into a pill addiction, and her parents’ divorce, Mickey takes the edge off by smoking pot, restricting her food intake, and acting out. While grounded in her room, the most amazing thing happens: she receives an email from Holly. Now sixteen-year-old Mickey Whitby has a choice to make, and it’s a matter of life and death.
You can read the first five pages of this YA novel, here:
The Girl Next Door Series:
BRAVE NEW GIRL
Brave New Girlis a YA novel that explores the bonds of sisterhood and family. Not only was it fun to write, but I’m excited about the storyline and the twists and turns it promises.
You can read the first five pages of Brave New Girlhere:
THE BUMBLEBEE PROJECT
The Bumblebee Projectis dear to my heart. Like millions of other girls and women, I struggled with an eating disorder in my younger years. Along the way, I lost a close friend and several acquaintances who died due to complications of their eating disorders. I knew if I ever found a way out, my first priority would be to help in any way I could. My writing on this topic is my way of reaching as many sufferers as possible.
Recovery from eating disorders is a long, hard process, oftentimes with permanent damage sustained along the way. Somehow, I was lucky to have lost only time and opportunities. As I enter my twelfth year of recovery, my greatest wish is for The Bumblebee Project to one day offer a hand up to those still struggling. Through the main character’s hopeful and emotional journey, I strive to shine a light into the miserable darkness known as an eating disorder and prove to others that recovery IS possible.
Five to ten million people in the United States alone suffer from eating disorders. Perhaps you, your sister, your mother, your wife, your daughter, your neighbor, struggles too. Every journey to recovery is different, just as every sufferer is different. It may take years, tears, persistence and hard work, but you will grow stronger and wiser in the process. Just don’t quit before the miracle.
Is this personal information? You bet. It’s important to SPEAK LOUDLY about those issues that affect today’s teens.
It just might save a life.
Writing the dark into the light …
© 2008 Emily Murdoch All Rights Reserved.
You have so much to share, Em. I really hope you have great responses to your book.
Thank you, Steph, especially for what you wrote above. This novel and all that goes with it — therein lies my life’s huuuuuuge stretch.
I’m a happy desert hermit and a very private person, yet I know it’s the right road to travel. I feel I was born to write this book. I can’t not help; I know how hard it is to recover from eating disorders.
I’ve sent out ten queries, so far, and I’ve even had two personalized rejection letters. I most likely have many, many rejections to go, but I’m doing fine with the rejections. EVERYONE gets them. What is important is to continue writing, and to continue submitting.
Right now, I’m enjoying the trip! Querying is a trip. And, like the quote we were talking about on your blog, ready or not, time to shine! : )
Em
I don’t think I’ve made it to this page before, I probably got side tracked by the photos.
I haven’t finished reading it because It’s made me cry so much I had to stop.
Sometimes for all my flippancy, ranty spiels, and positive quips, I just can’t stuff down the loneliness of an eating disorder. Your writing puts it so well Em. I’m going to come back one day soon and read some more.
I’m so glad to have found this page, and you.
Lola x
{{{{{{{{{{{{ Lola }}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Awwwww. Ditto to you, too — I’m so glad our worlds collided.
You left me speechless all day yesterday, when it came to replying to this — which, as those who know me irl can tell you, is a near-impossible feat! : )
Thank you for all you wrote. I’ve been doubting myself in regards to the Bumblebee ever getting out there to help people, and your comment above resurrected exactly why I wrote it in the first place — and why, no matter what, I just need to keep on trying to get it out there.
It’s too important.
I think we all need to feel understood and known and SEEN in our lives, especially people with eating disorders. I always knew this would be my first novel (even if it isn’t published first) because I’ve always felt a deep obligation to help with my writing.
I just want to say most of all, that you’ve made my day. : ) Two days now.
Em : )
Don’t mention it Em, I just say what I see
x
I couldn’t stop reading the fragment…I esp. like the movement from doc/office to internal talk as well as the God figure.. It hasn’t been a problem of mine (a / b) tho overwgt has lifelong… but aside from the power of how you’re presenting it, it gives me ideas of how I might think diff’ly re my own eating – an even more holistic approach than I’ve conceived before. But mostly I wanted to say it drew me in and swept me along… Keep sending it out – the reviewer’s comments that you twitted suggested to me (untried save with one non-f once and profess. journals) real admiration along w/ refusal – Wow! Callira
Thank you so much, Callira.
Your wonderful comment (twofold — first, thank you for your compliments on my writing/poetry, and secondly, that what I wrote helped you : ) made my day and buoyed me up on one of those Mad Tea Party kind of writers’ days.
As for weight, I guess whatever exact issue it poses for someone, whatever the label is, it’s part of society for most women. It’s an unfortunate accent on looks versus being beautiful for who we are and what we do in the world.
Show me a happy, content woman who loves herself, flaws and all, and that’s a beautiful woman, regardless of size.
It’s what we do, not how we look. And mostly, we all do the best we can.
Em
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