How much do you know about your own family? That question is explored in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that is ZoomerMag.com's second official Z-Book Pick — Joy Fielding's 'Now You See Her'.

Related: [GROUPS] Official Zoomer Book Club: February 2011 Zoomer Pick: Andrew Pyper's 'The Guardians'

When Marcy Taggart goes to Ireland after divorcing her husband of twenty-five years, a chance encounter catapults her entire life into turmoil. Years earlier, her daughter, Devon, disappeared in the icy waters of Georgian Bay after a canoeing accident, her body never recovered. But on a day trip to Cork, Marcy is certain she spots Devon walking down the street. When her daughter disappears into a crowd, Marcy begins a desperate search to find her — and to uncover the disturbing truth that might, in the end, be her only salvation. Exhilarating and engaging, this is Joy Fielding at her best — delivering a pulse-racing, tension-filled read.

(Source: JoyFielding.com)

Video Trailer Synoposis

Who is Joy Fielding?

Joy Fielding is a New York Times bestselling author of popular psychological novels.

'I think I’m successful at depicting real women because I understand women, mostly because I understand myself quite well… You can tell a pretty fantastic tale, but if you populate it with real people feeling real emotions, your readers will follow you anywhere.'

— Joy Fielding

Born and raised in Toronto, Fielding graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966 with a BA in English Literature. Even though she had long had aspirations to be a writer, so actually got into acting: she appeared in Twelfth Night at Stratford, and even moved to Los Angeles to land a role in an episode of Gunsmoke (not to mention travel to Los Vegas to kiss Elvis Presley!).

Eventually, she returned to Toronto, and focused on her first love, writing. She wrote her first novel, 'The Best of Friends', at her parents' kitchen table and it was published in 1972.

Less than ten years and several other books, she published in 1980 'Kiss Mommy Goodbye', which the New York Times called a 'knockout'. 

In 1995, her novel 'See Jane Run' was adapted into a television movie and sold 1.5 million copies in Germany alone. With the publication of 'The First Time', a love story, and 'Grand Avenue', which follows the lives of four women over the course of twenty years, she allowed herself the luxury of focusing more on how human relationships develop over time. 

She still lives in Toronto but has a house in Palm Beach, where she spends as much time as possible. 'I think I have a fairly American sensibility, although this is very much tempered by my Canadian upbringing.' She works on her golf handicap, plays bridge, and travels when she has time. She has been married for 30-plus years and has two daughters, one an actress and the other working behind-the-scenes in film. She is also — as she's noted in her popular letters — a new grandmother.

Fielding’s terrain as a writer is the day-to-day problems facing modern women. Often, her characters are forced to face their worst nightmares, when sudden discoveries change their seemingly untroubled lives.

In the suspenseful 'Don’t Cry Now', a woman with a rewarding job, happy marriage, and large suburban home finds her secure world crashing around her when her three-year-old daughter’s safety is threatened. A destructive ex-husband leaves a woman in terror when he kidnaps their children in 'Kiss Mommy Goodbye'. Seemingly fragile heroines face the challenge of a lifetime, and often fight back ferociously.

Although her primary concern is telling a good story, she consciously tries to raise awareness of issues that affect women’s lives, such as domestic violence and sexual harassment, disease and infidelity.

She is also committed to creating more believable female characters in commercial fiction. 'I think I’m successful at depicting real women because I understand women, mostly because I understand myself quite well… You can tell a pretty fantastic tale, but if you populate it with real people feeling real emotions, your readers will follow you anywhere.'

(The above biography is an adaptation of Random House's author spotlight)

Related: [GROUPS] Official Zoomer Book Club: Jodi Picoult Calls 'New York Times Book ...

'Now You See Her' Excerpt

Part 1 of Joy Fielding's February 2011 Authors at Harbourfront Centre reading from 'Now You See Her'. You can watch the second part here.

Interviews

I think that with a character like Marcy, she needed to have a certain life experience. She is of the age where women tend to start falling off the map and to suddenly be in a foreign country, to find herself at loose ends, alone and there are men who find her attractive and we are not always sure of their motives and Marcy is as astounded as anybody else. But I wanted to show that woman really of any age are sexual beings and it’s unfortunate that some people stop seeing them that way.

— Joy Fielding on the neglected subject of sexual awakenings for wome... (Zoomer Magazine)

• Joy Fielding and Roberta Rich discuss the writing life (National Post)
• January Interview: Joy Fielding (January Magazine)

Reviews

'An engaging read that will keep you turning pages' - A Bookworm's World  [FULL REVIEW]

'NOW YOU SEE HER is an intriguing and suspenseful tale that is likely to make readers squirm, even as they compulsively turn the next page' - BookReporter.com  [FULL REVIEW]

 
Related: [FORUMS] Site Announcements: ZoomerMedia Announces Partnership With Kobo Books | [GROUPS] Official Zoomer Book Club: 'Writer's Bloc' February 2011 Recap: Official Zoomer Book Club webc...

Buy 'Now You See Her' as an eBook read on Kobo

Joy Fielding will be available to take YOUR QUESTIONS in an exclusive 'Writer's Bloc' live interview webcast on ZoomerMag.com on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 4PM EST.

What do you want to ask her? Comment here with your question and you could win a free Kobo e-Reader!