New Novel

Behind the Scenes of Sister Dear

April 19, 2016 by lauramcneill 4 Comments

My new book SISTER DEAR releases today!!!

In the upcoming weeks, I’ll be attending conferences, signing books at stores, and meeting with readers about how the story came to be, how I developed the characters, and why I decided to write the book. You can read about these details in this post.

Today, I thought it might be fun to offer a bit of background about how I chose the setting of the story.

After considering several locations, I decided that coastal Georgia and the city of Brunswick were the perfect backdrop for SISTER DEAR, with its traditional, tight-knit community, gorgeous scenery, and its Deep South focus on football, faith, and family values.

When the novel begins, single mother Allie Marshall is about to go to medical school, and can hardly wait until she can start her new adventure in the big city of Atlanta.

As excited as Allie is, she remains nostalgic about her hometown and will miss Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and the ocean, which all represent the special place where she grew up with her parents, her sister, Emma, and her boyfriend, Ben.

But when tragedy strikes, and Allie finds herself accused of a horrific crime, she goes to prison for ten years. Each day, she vows to return, clear her name, and promises herself she will find a way to reconnect with her teenage daughter.

Allie endures much hardship in prison, and in preparation for the writing of SISTER DEAR, I watched a lengthy documentary about life behind bars in Georgia.

I hope that in reading Allie’s story, you’ll get a true sense of Brunswick, a taste of Atlanta, the feel of the beauty of St. Simons Island, and the danger inside Lee Arrendale State Prison. I’d love to hear your thoughts about setting and your take on the “behind the scenes” details of SISTER DEAR.

If you haven’t yet read SISTER DEAR what are you waiting for?

CLICK HERE TO BUY:

Purchase your copy today:

xo,

Laura

The Story Behind “Sister Dear” (No Spoilers!)

March 8, 2016 by lauramcneill 4 Comments

It’s just six short weeks from the release of Sister Dear! I’m really excited to share Allie’s story with you. I hope that you find her journey compelling, challenging, and, ultimately, uplifting.

Though Sister Dear centers on a woman accused of a brutal crime she didn’t commit … the story behind the story is a bit different … but just as heart-wrenching.

Years ago, a close friend of mine shared an incident about her past, an experience which set her life on an entirely different trajectory than she ever expected. My friend grew up in a tight-knit community in the Deep South in a loving family. She was a good student, a star athlete, and had big dreams and goals. And just before she was able to spread her wings and start her life journey, she made a devastating mistake.

Caught with a small amount of illegal drugs in her car, she and her friend were brought in front of a local judge and asked to divulge the “supplier.” Believing she was doing the right thing, she and her friend refused. Angered, the judge decided to make an example of the two teenagers and sentenced them to six months in jail. To this day, my friend is haunted by that decision in every aspect of her life.

Sister Dear, at its core, center on how, despite the best laid plans, our lives can change in an instant. The story is about love and loss, jealousy and revenge, and right and wrong. It’s about betrayal from the people we love and trust, and the secrets that can save and destroy a family. And as you read the last few pages and close the book, I hope that you discover that the story is also very much about faith, hope, and forgiveness.

Please consider pre-ordering Sister Dear now, as this week I’ll be launching the first of several BIG giveaways, including a Kindle Fire, a Fit Bit, and signed copies of Sister Dear!

BTW, I’d love it if you added Sister Dear to your GOODREADS shelf:

Have a great day and stay tuned here and on social media for more details about the giveaways!

xo,

Laura

New Novel, “Sister Dear,” Available for Pre-Order!

October 5, 2015 by lauramcneill 3 Comments

I’m so excited to share that my new domestic suspense novel, Sister Dear, is available for pre-order (release date April 19, 2o16) from HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson! (Think Orange is the New Black meets Janet Fitch’s White Oleander.)

Here’s the summary:

All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But first she has to deal with the past.

Pre-Order on Amazon (Release Date: April 19, 2016)

Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

But Allie’s return to Brunswick, Georgia, sends earthquakes through the small, coastal community. Even her daughter Caroline, now a teenager, challenges Allie’s claims of innocence.

Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a campaign for the truth, digging deep into the past. Her investigation threatens her parole status, her own safety, and the already-fragile bond with her family.

What Allie uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret—one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.

Sister Dear is set in Brunswick, Georgia, just minutes away from St. Simons Island.

It would mean the world to me if you would pre-order Sister Dear or add it to your Goodreads Shelf today!

Behind the Scenes of Sister Dear

The Story Behind “Sister Dear” (No Spoilers!)

xo,

Laura

New Novel, “Sister Dear,” Available for Pre-Order!

xx, Laura

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