Big thanks to the American Booksellers Association, independent bookstores, and Sunriver Books in Oregon.
“The Sandcastle Girls” is an August 2012 Indie Next selection.
Here is what Sunriver’s Deon Stonehouse wrote in her review:
The Sandcastle Girls: A Novel, by Chris Bohjalian
(Doubleday, $25.95, 9780385534796)
“Evil thrives in dark and secret places, spots where the world has turned away and forgotten. In 1915, there are many distractions as a world war rages. While attention is focused elsewhere, the Turks unleashed horrific cruelty and death on the Armenians. A young American, Elizabeth Endicott, travels to Aleppo, Syria, to work with Armenian refugees. Her life will never be the same. Armen has lost everything a man holds dear, his family destroyed in the genocide. He befriends the young American and is moved by her zest for life and commitment to helping his people. These are characters you will root for, full of spirit and a desire to make a difference. Epic in scope, this is on my list of favorites for the year!” —Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books, Sunriver, OR
Really, I am very, very grateful.
Hey Chris! Congratulations on the Indie Next selection. Didn’t you used to have a message board on your website? I guess you got rid of it. I remember you encouraging me there. I sold my first full length novel this year to Samhain Publishing. 🙂
You have a great memory. I did! But it was not an especially popular feature. And facebook and twitter quickly made it obsolete. Thanks for the congrats on Indie Next. I really appreciate it!