A Love story about good bread, good neighbors, and the fickle winds of the mistral. (Recipes included). A chaotic week of mishaps and misunderstandings in Avignon, France. In this light-hearted story of family and love, Madame Reynaud reigns at the helm of her neighborhood. Her daughter Monique, who years ago was maimed by the violent mistral wind, is determined to break free from her mother’s tender, yet stifling care. But Madame Reynaud is quite oblivious to her daughter’s plan—she is preoccupied with planning Monique’s birthday celebration. When Madame Reynaud is tricked into inviting every one of her elderly friends to come to the house on Sunday for the surprise party, she learns that Monique has a surprise of her own. All Madame Reynaud’s problems come crashing down at the annual Fete of the Three Kings, when she finds herself in a compromising situation with the baker, Monsieur Boffard. In the end, the Gypsy Queen from the laundry sets the situation straight, for she sees the future and tells Madame Reynaud what she must do—the solution she really knew all along.

A Garden Wall in Provence

Literature & Fiction

Knowles, Carrie Jane

Literary

Owl Canyon Pr

Black Tie Optional is a book for the front of the store, and an excellent recommendation for book clubs. Carrie Knowles' short stories are spare, tightly woven narratives with crisp, compelling dialogue. They cut to the bone. The themes in this collection are far-reaching, touching on family ties and friendship, infidelity, loss, Alzheimer's and impending death, fear of terrorism, border patrol, and life after death. The stories are guaranteed to challenge perceptions and assumptions and to spark lively discussion. As a reviewer recently said about one of her earlier books: "If all writing were this good, I'd read more books."
Carrie Knowles was selected to be North Carolina's 2014 Piedmont Laureate for her work in short fiction. She has three novels: Lillian's Garden, Ashoan's Rug and A Garden Wall in Provence. In addition to fiction, she writes a regular Personal Perspectives column for Psychology Today, called "Shifting Forward." Glimmer Train, one of the top literary journals in the country, has given recognition to 6 of the 17 short stories in Black Tie Optional. 5 of the stories have been awarded honors by other literary journals.

Black Tie Optional: 17 Stories

Parenting & Relationships

Owl Canyon Press

As it passes from owner to owner, Ashoan's Rug tells the story of how the work of art is not in the creating, but in how the artwork changes lives. A literary magic carpet ride!

Ashoan's Rug

Contemporary

Roundfire Books

Carrie Jane Knowles provides sage advice, examples and exercises to inspire both new and seasoned writers. The author discusses writing and editing fiction and shows students where to place punctuation in dialogue, why internal and external conflict is vital for any successful novel or short story, and more.

A Self-guided Workbook and Gentle Tour on How to Write Stories from Start to Finish

Reference

Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

What if the life of your grandmother, even a grandmother you never knew, is somehow woven into the fabric of your dreams, your desires, and your destiny? Knowles' riveting novel, The Inevitable Past, challenges the notion of who we are and what compels us to make life changing decisions as it carries us from the past to the present through two cities, two centuries, and some terrible secrets buried in the past. It's a timely look at women's right to not only vote, but to have a voice. It's a story that will haunt you.

The Inevitable Past

United States

"A Musical Affair is a novel about divorce, deception, love affairs, expensive secrets, long overdue forgiveness, the power of beautiful music, and just how Celeste, with a little help from some new friends, manages to raise over $300,000 to fund an international music festival and turn her life around. Names have been changed in order to protect some men in the story who should have been ashamed. Sometimes its not the music that matters, but the money"--

A Musical Affair

Carrie Knowles’ collection of informal essays, written for her Psychology Today column, draws on a lifetime of self-reflection and people watching. A collection of delightful stories and quick insights into everyday life, Shifting Forward is a book that begs to be shared, ideally out loud, with those you love. Each piece stands alone; taken together, they have the power of memory and hope. Knowles puts a totally different spin on things that kicks us from complacency to joy and insight.

Shifting Forward: Fifty Reflections on Everyday Life

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Books by Knowles, Carrie Jane