The Ruins Of Us

This is the week.

The week my sister’s book, THE RUINS OF US, goes on sale.

Keija once equated writing and publishing a novel to giving birth and being a mother – an analogy I detested at the time, being pregnant and fairly certain that her hemorrhoids were smaller than mine.

But the fact remains that THE RUINS OF US is her baby.  A baby that took five long years to gestate and now it’s going out into the world.  And I’m not talking about a sweet little Montessori preschool kind of world.

I’m talking about a world where good books bloom and die on the vine of overcrowded shelves.  Where mother-authors dream of hog-tying Oprah and holding her for ransom until she lets little Suzy Novel into her precious Book Club.  Where hungry plots and characters are left to sing for their publicity and tap dance their way into the hearts of reviewers.

Fortunately, THE RUINS OF US is well prepared for this unforgiving world.  And I’m not just saying this because it’s my niece or because it can do a mean shuffle ball change.  I’m saying this because even after working in publishing, it utterly captivated my cold, jaded heart.  It is beautifully written.  The characters are compelling.  The plot leaves you breathless.

It is the tale of American-born Rosalie and her husband, the powerful Abdullah Baylani, and their life together in Saudi Arabia.  It is the tale of marital betrayal and the chaos that their children must endure.  It is the tale of Faisal, their son, and the decision he makes that could destroy everything his embattled family holds dear.  It is the tale of a family who must confront difficult truths as they fight to preserve what remains of their world.  THE RUINS OF US is a tale about intolerance, family, and the injustices we endure for love.

Having grown up in Saudi Arabia, this book brought back such visceral memories of the desert and the people.  Of my childhood.  Of Keija and I reading together and listening to my parents tell stories and creating our own stories.  A love of the written word has always been a part of who we are and Keija’s words beg to be savored.

Now.

How to savor these words for FREE!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  GIVEAWAY ALERT!

I would like to give you – yes, you, because I love you – a signed edition of THE RUINS OF US.  And when the movie of the book comes out and Keija ends up winning the National Book Award, you can day, “Damn, I gots me a signed edition from Keija, yo!  How can I sell this on eBay and make a shit load – oh, wait, I would never sell this because these words are solid fucking gold.”

HOW?  HOW CAN YOU WIN THIS?

You can leave a comment!  That’s it.  That’s all you have to do and I will randomly choose a number and announce the winner next Tuesday, 1/24 (shipping to continental US only).

Of course, I also recommend following @KeijaParssinen on the Twit Machine and liking her on Facebook at Keija Parssinen.  She’s a guaranteed good time and better than A-Word-A-Day for improving your vocabulary.

AND YOU SAY YOU’RE IN A BOOK CLUB?

Well hot diggity dog have I got a deal for you!  If your book club chooses THE RUINS OF US, Keija has generously agreed to Skype / FaceTime / call in for an Author Q&A.  Awesome, right?

AND YOU STILL DON’T BELIEVE ME THAT THIS BOOK ROCKS THE CASBAH?

Then maybe you’ll believe these highly intelligent souls:

“While she portays the physical and social landscapes [of Saudi Arabia] with the precision of an impassioned expat, Parssinen also limns – with a wisdom that belies her age – the culture-transcending contours of the human heart.” - National Geographic Traveler, Book of the Month

“Parssinen’s characters are richly conceived, and her evocative petrol universe of wealth, privilege, and intrigue is unforgettable.”  – Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead

“Parssinen’s gripping, well-crafted debut tracks the awakening of a Saudi Arabian family to the dangers that lurk within…Parssinen deftly illuminates Saudi Arabian family through a family locked in a battle over morality and cultural chasms.” – Publisher’s Weekly

The New York Times Style Magazine

And on the blogosphere -

Adventures of a Tired Coder

Tiny Library

I could go on, but I don’t want to abuse the Proud Sister Role.  Aw hell, that role was meant to be abused.

So comment away, dear readers!  I can’t wait to give this book to you.

And do me a favor?  Tweet this post wantonly?

(Just not From-The-Street-Corner-At-3am-In-Atlantic-City-Wearing-A-Red-Negligee-Wantonly.)

THANK YOU.