Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.
But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.
Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s is thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.
Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.
Did You Know This About …. Pie Girls ?
1. The setting, Fairhope, Alabama, is a real place. It’s a lovely city on the shores of Mobile Bay, just 30 minutes from my house.
2. The main character, Searcy, is named after a good friend of mine’s sister. It’s so, so Southern!
3. The pies I mention in the book are all inspired by my grandmother, a fabulous baker! Four of her recipes are in the back of the novel.
4. I love Atlanta and Buckhead. I’ve ridden the MARTA several times, but never had a cherry Icee dumped on me!
5. I named Searcy’s best friend, Tobi, after one of my blogger friends who has supported my novels from the very first one (Stay Tuned).
6. Just like Searcy, I once lost my luggage on a direct flight and had to wear my old 80s clothes for a week.
7. I’ve seen Matt Nathanson, Searcy’s favorite singer/songwriter, in concert twice.
8. My favorite accessory has to be shoes, although I can’t afford anything that says Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin.
9. I’ve done lots of painting, just like Searcy, and once knocked half a can of paint onto my nose (it was perched on top of a ladder). Thank the Lord I didn’t break my nose, though it was pretty bruised and ugly for a while.
10. I’ve always wanted to write about a bakery and coffee shop, and Pie Girls gave me the perfect opportunity.
1. The setting, Fairhope, Alabama, is a real place. It’s a lovely city on the shores of Mobile Bay, just 30 minutes from my house.
2. The main character, Searcy, is named after a good friend of mine’s sister. It’s so, so Southern!
3. The pies I mention in the book are all inspired by my grandmother, a fabulous baker! Four of her recipes are in the back of the novel.
4. I love Atlanta and Buckhead. I’ve ridden the MARTA several times, but never had a cherry Icee dumped on me!
5. I named Searcy’s best friend, Tobi, after one of my blogger friends who has supported my novels from the very first one (Stay Tuned).
6. Just like Searcy, I once lost my luggage on a direct flight and had to wear my old 80s clothes for a week.
7. I’ve seen Matt Nathanson, Searcy’s favorite singer/songwriter, in concert twice.
8. My favorite accessory has to be shoes, although I can’t afford anything that says Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin.
9. I’ve done lots of painting, just like Searcy, and once knocked half a can of paint onto my nose (it was perched on top of a ladder). Thank the Lord I didn’t break my nose, though it was pretty bruised and ugly for a while.
10. I’ve always wanted to write about a bakery and coffee shop, and Pie Girls gave me the perfect opportunity.
Chapter 1
This cannot be happening.
This cannot be happening.
I steal a glance at the clock. Where is my husband? And my anniversary gift, for that matter. The robin's egg blue box, the crinkle of the white tissue paper. The gasp of surprise, well-practiced, when I lift the diamond-encrusted pendant from its nest.
Alton, always the gentleman, will insist on helping. He'll clear his throat, looking rather pleased with himself, stand up, and sweep my long blond hair off to one side. With flourish, he'll ever so carefully drape the platinum chain around my neck, plant a soft kiss on my bare shoulder, and ease the clasp into place.
When my eyes blink open, the room’s still empty. Alton, who's been on a business trip for a full week, promised he'd make it home for our anniversary. If he doesn't, he’s going to be in huge trouble.
I fold my arms across my chest and walk over to our huge picture window. Elegant skyscrapers glow in the dark night, windows twinkling white and gold. Below them, steady streams of traffic wrap like ribbons around the maze of interstate highway.
Away from the roadways, Atlanta is surprisingly lush and dense, with rolling hills and trees—beautiful magnolia, dogwoods, old Southern pines, and magnificent oaks. The expansive green space, well-manicured parks, and flower-lined sidewalks remind me a bit of home.
Buckhead—where I live—is a mecca for shoppers, visitors and businesses, with its upscale boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. Trendy bars, dance clubs, and bistros all come to life when the sun melts into the horizon. A place to see and be seen. It truly is the Beverly Hills of the South, as my friend Phillipa likes to call it.
This cannot be happening.
This cannot be happening.
I steal a glance at the clock. Where is my husband? And my anniversary gift, for that matter. The robin's egg blue box, the crinkle of the white tissue paper. The gasp of surprise, well-practiced, when I lift the diamond-encrusted pendant from its nest.
Alton, always the gentleman, will insist on helping. He'll clear his throat, looking rather pleased with himself, stand up, and sweep my long blond hair off to one side. With flourish, he'll ever so carefully drape the platinum chain around my neck, plant a soft kiss on my bare shoulder, and ease the clasp into place.
When my eyes blink open, the room’s still empty. Alton, who's been on a business trip for a full week, promised he'd make it home for our anniversary. If he doesn't, he’s going to be in huge trouble.
I fold my arms across my chest and walk over to our huge picture window. Elegant skyscrapers glow in the dark night, windows twinkling white and gold. Below them, steady streams of traffic wrap like ribbons around the maze of interstate highway.
Away from the roadways, Atlanta is surprisingly lush and dense, with rolling hills and trees—beautiful magnolia, dogwoods, old Southern pines, and magnificent oaks. The expansive green space, well-manicured parks, and flower-lined sidewalks remind me a bit of home.
Buckhead—where I live—is a mecca for shoppers, visitors and businesses, with its upscale boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. Trendy bars, dance clubs, and bistros all come to life when the sun melts into the horizon. A place to see and be seen. It truly is the Beverly Hills of the South, as my friend Phillipa likes to call it.
She is the author of four award-winning novels, Dancing Naked in Dixie, Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Pie Girls, as well as a short story, A Very Dixie Christmas, published in the Merry & Bright holiday collection. Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association and the Mobile Writers Guild. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.
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ReplyDeleteLauren - Thank you so very much for hosting Pie Girls today and being a part of the Goddess Fish tour! I really enjoyed coming up with a list of "Did you know" facts about the story for your blog, especially the parts about my painting debacle and definite adoration for cute shoes!
ReplyDeletexx, Lauren
Enjoyed the fun excerpt. I loved your comments about the source of some of the things in the story.
ReplyDeleteI like the fun facts. These things happens to the best of us. Deb P
ReplyDeleteSuch a great excerpt.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bio
ReplyDeleteThose fun facts where interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteThe Fun Facts were interesting. Thx for the giveaway :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt.
ReplyDeletesounds good - thanks for the hosting the giveaway
ReplyDeleteLove that it's southern!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, put it on my must read list.
ReplyDelete