Backstory to Liar’s Diary Blog Day

A writer’s life never follows a straight, well-paved road. Does it?

Last spring, Patry Francis launched her haunting, debut novel: The Liar’s Diary. The word 'debut' is misleading, though. Patry spent years writing novels, not getting them published, working as a waitress on Cape Cod, raising four kids. Finally the culmination of patience and perseverance paid off.  She published Liar's Diary. 

Then, the road curved. Again.

Within a few months of her debut, Patry was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, which you can read about on her blog: Simply Wait. Since November, she's had two surgeries and a third scheduled.

But then magical things began to happen.   The writing community learned about her illness and wanted to help.  The result?   More than 300 bloggers have united to promote the paperback release
of Liar’s Diary on January 29^th.

Talk about it, read it,  blog about it, recommend it, buy it here or at Penguin Group USA, where they're offering 15% off the paperback edition of The Liar’s Diary when purchased online from us.penguingroup.com until 2/15/2008. On the shopping cart page enter PATRY in the Coupon Code field and click "update cart" to activate it.

And please take another look at Patry Francis’s backstory that we posted last spring (see post below). You can also view a new video trailer on You Tube by Circle of Seven Productions as well as this 3-minute audiocast by Brilliance Audio excerpted from Liar’s Diary. You should also check out Laura Benedict's blog, Susan Henderson's Lit Park for complete details, Karen Dionne's Backspace, and Tish Cohen's website--four indefatigable players who've helped make this stellar event happen.

Backstory is honored to be part of this celebration of Patry Francis, an artist temporary thwarted by a medical crisis, who has risen to the demands of her craft--Jessica Keener.

P.S. For more Liar's Diary Blog fun go to Red Room.

Patry Francis's Backstory

Like a lot of novels that deal with a violent crime, The Liar's Diary began with a story from the headlines that I couldn't forget. An adolescent had committed a particularly gruesome murder in his neighborhood. The community rose to his defense. He was a "good boy" from a "wonderful family." There was no way he could have committed such an act. The evidence, however, proved otherwise.

It was a story that drew on many of my personal obsessions as a writer: the way the face we present to the world often hides a different reality, the frequently unreliable mask that respectability makes, and most of all, the secret lives of families. Did these parents really know so little about their son? Hadn't there been signs? Surely, a thoughtful, well-balanced child doesn't wake up one morning and kill. Or does he?

In the end, the novel I wrote had nothing to do with the case that first inspired it. Why? Because the hearts and minds of the teenager involved remained as closed to me as it was to the many neighbors and friends who stepped forward and testified to his gentleness. I can never know why he did what he did; or what his parents may have known and concealed. I cannot enter their kitchen and listen in on their dinner table conversation, or penetrate their late night dreams and fears. It would be a travesty to pretend I could.

But as a fiction writer, I can build my own house and invite a family to live inside it—a mother who's fiercely organized and eager to please, a father admired by everyone but those who know him best, and a son with a crippling assortment of insecurities beneath his outward confidence.

And then I can sit back and wait for them to tell me their story. Every startling detail.

Please visit Patry's website.

 

Comments

[Joanne Levy]

I am loving this campaign and have been reminded again and again how writers and others in this crazy business can pull together to help one of their own. Here's to a very successful day, Patry!!!

[Jessica]

Joanne-you've won the first complimentary copy of Patry's book.
Congratulations!! and thanks!! Jessica

[Rachel Green]

Me please! I've already plugged it on Jasfoup's blog (jasfoup.blogspot.com) today.

[Jessica]

Rachel! Thank you. You've won your copy. Please send your mailing address to: backstory1@yahoo.com and put Patry Francis in the subject line. Thank you for joining this wonderful effort! Jessica

[Aimee]

I don't need the free copy as I am buying it. But I wanted to stop by because this day is so amazing!

[Jessica]

Thank you Aimee! Then I'll wait for the next taker. Thanks so much for your comment and for taking part in this. Jessica

[Terri Molina]

I read this a couple of times and just feel blessed to know such a person. And I'm proud to be a part of this promo.

Sending hugs your way, Patry!

[Jessica]

Terry, you're officially winner #3. If you want your free copy, send me your mailing address to backstory1@yahoo.com

Thank you for participating! To all others, surf the internet for lots of fun and heartstopping stories about Patry. In addition to the links in my post, check out Robin Slick's post: inherownwrite.blogspot.com
Thanks a bunch. Jessica Keener

[Maria]

Robin's post is amazing! This is such an incredible day!

[jessica]

Yes. Thanks for stopping by, Maria. Check out Peter Coyote's post: http://www.redroom.com/blog/peter-coyote/patry-francis-and-little-site-could

And Kahled Hosseini! http://www.redroom.com/blog/khaled-hosseini/patry-francis-and-liars-diary

You'll flip out.

Jessica Keener