‘Finding Fran’ subverts expectations on romance novels | Book Talk

“Finding Fran” by Austintown author Nancy Christie looks like a romance novel at first glance. Maybe it’s an un-romance. Fran Carter, a successful romance novelist in her 50s, has found that her readers have grown tired of her formulaic stories. Frankly, Fran is tired of them, too.

Fran’s publishers insists that she maintain the same old blueprint of a lonely married/divorced/widowed woman who meets a man who fulfills her needs and fantasies. The trouble is, Fran is utterly blocked and she has a deadline coming up. Her public image is that of a passionate fairy tale with her partner, John.

Fran’s self-confidence is further shaken when she receives a phone call informing her that John has been cheating on her. Shocked, she flees to a remote inn on the California coast, where she intends to finish her first draft and decide if she should forgive John (who hasn’t asked for forgiveness).

Fran has an idea for a different kind of book: One featuring a “successful, self-confident woman who never put up with less than she deserved,” instead of the weepy heroines of her previous books. The publisher isn’t interested, but the counsel of the innkeeper and other local ladies help her make some decisions.

The first book in the series, “Reinventing Rita,” is about an Ohio divorcee who works as an interior decorator but who is much better at baking, and brushes aside the evidence that’s right in front of her. Fran Carter faces similar self-doubt.

“Finding Fran” (289 pages, softcover) costs $16.99 from online retailers. A third book in the series, “Moving Maggie,” is scheduled for 2025. Christie also is the author of two advice books for writers and several story collections.

Events

MAPS Air Museum (2260 International Parkway, Green): Along with several other authors, Scott Malensek of Green signs his books, including “Tom Clancy: Between the Lines” and the forthcoming “Reparations and America’s 2nd Civil War, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the North Coast Military Collectors’ show, including museum admission, is $10.

Fireside Books (29 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls): Mary Conway Sullivan signs “What the Farm? Poignant & Profane Stories from My Unplanned Life,” 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland): Youngstown native Susan Wojnar discusses “White Darkness: Poetic Tales of the Schizophrenic Experience,” 3 p.m. Sunday.

Hudson Library & Historical Society (96 Library St.): Natalie Dykstra talks about “Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner,” about the Boston art patroness, 6:30 p.m. Monday. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thrity Umrigar talks about “The Museum of Failures.” Register at hudsonlibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Strongsville branch, 18700 Westwood Drive): Young adult mystery author JPC Allen (“A Storm of Doubts”) presents “Whipping Up a Great Story,” 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Brecksville branch, 9089 Brecksville Road): Helen Marketti discusses “The Long and Winding Phone,” a collection of Beatles-related interviews, 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch, 1876 S. Green Road, South Euclid): Mary Quade reads from her essay collection “Zoo World,” 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library: Xochitl Gonzalez (“Olga Dies Dreaming”) joins the Online Author Talk Series with “A Literary Examination of Power, Love, and Art,” 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Register at smfpl.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road): Susan Zurenda talks about “The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” and recommends other books, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday. From 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Mindy McGinnis talks about her new young adult novel “Under This Red Rock.” Register at cuyahogalibary.org.

Stark Library (Perry Sippo branch, 5710 12th St. NW, Perry Township): Gary Beckley talks about “Oh! Susannah,” his historical novel based on the life of his third great-grandmother Susannah Beckley and her life in Carroll County in the mid-19th century, 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Register at starklibrary.org.

Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (Coventry Village branch, 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights): Jim Sweeney talks about “What’s the Deal with Dead Man’s Curve? And Other Really Good Questions About Cleveland,” 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Register at heightslibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (North Olmsted branch, 27403 Lorain Road): Poet Haylee Schwenk reads from her work, 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Berea branch, 7 Berea Commons): Susan Beckham Zurenda talks about “The Girl from the Red Rose Motel,” 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Black Cat Books (420 S. Court St., Medina): Glenn Somodi launches “Olly & the Spores of Sapphire Creek,” 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Cleveland Public Library (325 Superior Ave.): Douglas Westerbeke discusses his debut novel “A Short Walk Through a Wild World,” 2 p.m. Saturday. Also at 2 p.m. Saturday, Cleveland poet Lindsay Turner (“Songs & Ballads”) and Noah Falck (“Exclusions”) of Dayton read from their work.

Walls of Books (7783 W. Ridgewood Drive, Parma): John Ward talks about his children’s Scareville Books horror series, including “Welcome to Scareville,” 2 p.m. Saturday.

Barnes & Noble (28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere): Former Scene Magazine writer Chris Lambert discusses “I’ve Scene It All,” 2 p.m. Saturday.

Advance notice for an event sure to sell out: Actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy joins the Speaking of Books Author Series on May 11 at the Canton Palace Theatre to talk about “Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain.” General admission free; premium options including a private reception start at $50. Register at starklibrary.org.

Email information about books of local interest, and event notices at least two weeks in advance to BeaconBookTalk@gmail.com and bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Finding Fran’ by Nancy Christie strays from formula of romance novels