G.P. Putnam's Sons Archives - Dear Mr. Hemingway, LLC

*Swan Dive*: *The Making of a Rogue Ballerina* by Georgina Pazcoguin (Henry Holt & Company)
*The Turnout* by Megan Abbott (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
*The Happiest Girl in the World*: *A Novel* by Alena Dillon (William Morrow)
*Head Over Heels* by Hannah Orenstein (Atria Books)

September 21, 2021

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

Like so many young girls, I wanted to be a famous ballerina AND an Olympic gymnast. I was little, so both professions seemed like reasonable career goals even though I could barely touch my toes. Images of me gracefully dancing across the stage in a white nightgown clutching a wooden nutcracker or sticking a round-off back handspring on a balance beam filled my wandering mind. I, of course, only saw what was directly in front of me. Beauty, elegance, strength, and perfection were what graced the stage and gym mats for all the dreamers like me who dared to dream. Little did I know what the making of an elite athlete indeed looked like. Today I am sharing four books that capture the fierce passion and wild side of ballet and gymnastics. Scandal, abuse, injuries, eating disorders, and love fill the pages of today’s reads. The lineup is dripping in all of the blood, sweat, and tears that we love to read about. And GUESS WHAT? Legwarmers and leotards are entirely optional. You can be captivated by these stories from the comfort of your living room couch wearing sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. How great is that!!!!

Point shoes and tutus, anyone??? I LOVED Georgina Pazcoguin’s memoir, Swan Dive. Pazcoguin was the first Asian American soloist in the New York City Ballet. Her story from leaving her small town in Pennsylvania at age 16 to train in New York City was mind-boggling. Pazcoguin’s memoir is a backstage pass into the making of a true ballerina. She is brutally honest with the highs and lows of the profession. From bloody toes to dancing with injuries to the abuse and racism she experienced, Pazcoquin’s story of dancing in the ballet to performing in the Broadway musical CATS is exceptionally enchanting. I could not put it down.

While we are still in the mood for tortured ballerinas and scandal galore, let’s move on to a work of fiction that takes place against the provocative backdrop of a ballet school and its yearly performance of The Nutcracker. The Turnout by Megan Abbott is one heck of a page-turner. Sisters Maria and Dara Durant run their family’s ballet school. Things unravel when they hire a contractor to rebuild part of their studio that recently caught fire. All I can say is that this man is more significant than he lets on. Nutcracker drama, family secrets, irresistible sexual encounters, razor blades in point shoes, and even a dead body fill the pages of this “un-put-downable” book. I officially know what a “turnout” is and OUCH! The Nutcracker will never be the same again!

All you gymnastic fans out there will love Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein. Avery’s Olympic dreams come to an end after an injury occurs during her Olympic trials. To make matters worse, she is newly single and moving back to her hometown in Massachusetts. In comes Ryan, Avery’s childhood acquaintance, and Olympic gold medalist. When Ryan discovers that Avery is back home, he eagerly asks her to take the job as his assistant coach to Hallie, an up-and-coming gymnast. As these two former gymnasts train the next Olympic star, sparks begin to fly on and off the mat. Picture twists and turns, switch leaps and layouts, and maybe just maybe, some steamy fooling around on a sticky pile of mats. Head Over Heels has it all…the love of gymnastics, the tension, the hot topics, and most of all, the romance. Can you say perfect 10!

Alena Dillon’s book, The Happiest Girl in the World is a work of fiction reminiscent of the recent sexual abuse scandals in gymnastics. Sera and her best friend Lucy are training for the Olympics. Everything changes for these two when Lucy reports to the authorities that the team doctor sexually abused her during treatment sessions. Sadly, Sera denies these facts to protect her career and destroys their friendship. Dillon’s book is overflowing with dusty chalk and intense training but also takes a deep dive into the byproduct of sexual abuse and the ultimate drive for perfection in the cutthroat gymnastics world. Reading this book felt very timely, especially with the 2021 summer Olympics still in the rearview mirror.

Now that I have filled your To Be Read pile with pirouettes, flips, and spins, it’s time to get reading!

Until next time my friend!

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. When I was little, my sister and I used to pretend the black lane lines in our community pool were balance beams. In between swimming around, we would put together gymnastic routines and perform them in the pool, making sure to always stick our landings on the lane lines. So much fun!

Click on the book pictures below to purchase!

*Lily and The Octopus* by Steven Rowely (Simon & Schuster)
*The Editor* by Steven Rowley (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
*The Guncle* by Steven Rowley (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

July 17, 2021

Dear Mr. Rowley,

Now that sounded weird. Since we are so close in age I toyed with just calling you Steven, but because we do not know each other personally, I’m keeping it “profesh” and using your last name with a big old MR. right in front of it. For the past three years, I have exclusively written my letters of bookish love to Hemingway…you know, that famous American writer who is beyond controversial in his professional and personal life, and who is also DEAD! Today, however, I am not only trying my hand at writing to someone new, but also to someone who is actually alive for that matter (AKA…YOU). But please do not panic. I assure you that I am not changing my Blog name to Dear Mr. Rowley. I know, I know, I know it would be so fantabulous to have me as a pen pal gushing (yes I just said gushing) about our favorite books, authors, and other shenanigans on the regular, but I promise to curb my enthusiasm.

Let me start by saying that I have read and loved all three of your books immensely. In Lily and the Octopus, you basically shattered my heart into a million pieces, then without fail, assembled it back together again with your magical writing and approximately 3.5 boxes of tissues (we can talk later about how fantastic my puffy and tear-stained eyes looked upon completion of this book and what future remedies you recommend for these casualties that come from your brilliant writing). I digress. In your sophomore novel, The Editor, you completely roused me with how you mindfully placed THE Jackie Kennedy Onassis in the midst of James Smale’s story to offer truth and wisdom to his writing and personal life in the most ingenious manner. But what I really want to chat with you about today though is your latest creation, The Guncle. The second you mentioned Cassie’s solo in this work of art, I knew I had a friend in you.

When I first read the premise of The Guncle, I was ready for a light and funny tale of Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) prancing around in his Kaftans and cocktails taking in his niece and nephew for the summer in his Palm Springs home after their mom died and their dad went to rehab. I mean, a single and gay forty-something-year-old/ex-sitcom star taking care of two small kids has to be funny, right? Obviously, you know the answer to this, but I am announcing to you out loud that it was truly hysterical. I mean, as a mom to three kids, I have been to hell and back with that Blue Lizard sunscreen you cleverly mentioned. This thick pasty white lotion can repel the sun’s harmful rays and any other toxins lurking in the air, but it also has the unique ability to push parents to the edge of their sanity while leaving children with white stained faces to frolic about in the pool. Funny, funny, funny. And while I loved Patrick’s chucklesome side with his Guncle rules to live by and daily interactions with the wee ones, I loved him most for his oversized heart and profound emotions he slowly revealed.

You see Mr. Rowley, you did something pretty damn special in The Guncle. You brought out the unexpected beauty that is sometimes embedded in the walls of grief. You wholeheartedly wrote a story that captured the unimaginable feeling of hope after a tragic loss. You showed how experiencing grief through the lens of a child can be the ultimate lesson in healing for an adult’s aching heart. You tackled grief, loss, addiction, family and so much more by infusing laughter and love throughout the pages of your book, making life’s challenges a little less scary to read about. You wrote a book that captures the human spirit in more ways than I could ever count. For that, I am eternally grateful.

So here’s the scoop Mr. Rowley. It is pretty obvious that I admire your writing. You have dazzled me on three different occasions by keeping me up way past my bedtime reading your splendid tales. You have moved me to a rainstorm of tears and to a belly full of laughter all in the matter of a few pages. But most importantly, you have provided me with stories that continue to keep my love of reading alive and thriving.

One last thing before I go. Because we grew up more or less during the same time period, I will always be in tune with your subtle jokes and pop culture references. Your sarcasm and wittiness are totally my jam. For the record, when you said “Dance 10 Looks 3”, I immediately shouted, “And I’m still on unemployment”.

On that note, I will gracefully end my letter to you. I wish you health and happiness and many more books to come. Feel free to write to me any time! Your words are always welcome here!

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly Fredericks

P.S. If you ever want to watch A Chorus Line (the movie version) with me, I will happily make you an incredible mimosa (minus the orange juice plus the Veuve) with an organic orange slice placed on a nearby cocktail napkin for your drinking pleasure. We can critique the dancers while giggling how Michael Douglas was such a “baby” back then and WHERE DID THE TIME GO!

Nutcrackers & Handsprings: Books About the Cutthroat World of Ballet and Gymnastics

A Letter To Steven Rowley

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