THE ROAD HOME
Autumn, 2001. In a surreal and subdued New York City, in which many workers are taking time off or opting into therapy, thirty-three-year-old software engineer and film fanatic Stephanie Willis is coping in her own unique way – by chain-watching classic VHS movies in her one-bed midtown apartment.
Once bedazzled by the bright lights, Stephanie is bewildered as to how she has ended up so alone in such a big city. But the time has now come to throw herself back into her career: a game in which she, as the sole woman at a male-dominated table, is already bending under the weight of a loaded deck.
Fortunately for Stephanie, help is on hand. She is aided by an unparalleled support network – one comprised of fictional characters, summoned from her favourite movies – to help her navigate her personal and professional crisis. Rose from Titanic is showing her how to be a survivor; Tess from 1988’s Working Girl is giving her (questionable) career advice; Vivienne from Pretty Woman is providing (even more questionable) dating tips; while Gregory Peck and Shirley MacLaine have stepped in to offer the parental wisdom missing throughout her upbringing in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
And so when a hopeful career opportunity and handsome new colleague both present themselves, and she is once more faced with the expectations and limitations of sex and society, Stephanie must decide who she wants to be, how she demands to be treated, and just where she wants to call home…
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ABOUT LAURA
Laura Tonwe is a writer who has spent over twenty years working as a solutions architect and technical program manager for large technology firms, often as the lone woman on her team.
Laura worked in New York City for much of her career and was in Tower 2 on 9/11/2001 when the towers were hit.
She currently lives and works in the Detroit suburbs, and spends her free time writing fiction, reading, dabbling in photography, and cultivating her current technological passions. The Road Home is her first novel.
REVIEWS
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Review
Laura Tonwe's The Road Home is a well-crafted, creative novel revolving around a young career woman's life in the months following the 9/11 attacks...Tonwe takes familiar material to interesting heights with ponderings about love, relationships, family connection and the inclusion of the wisdom of characters from memorable films.
--Blueink Reviews
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Review
...Stephanie's novel use of iconic films to cope with trauma makes her a relatable, appealing character. A moving narrative...
--Kirkus Reviews
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Review
In the evocative novel The Road Home, a traumatized woman starts the long process of belonging.
Set in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Laura Tonwe's rich novel The Road Home is a story about healing...
--Clarion Reviews