Nick Patch of the Canadian Press follows the debut of Amy S. Foster's novel When Autumn Leaves: "It's not often that an aspiring first-time novelist gets the benefit of direct feedback and advice from Oprah Winfrey. So when the talk-show queen and publishing-industry saviour recommended Amy Foster change the setting of her first book, When Autumn Leaves, from Massachusetts to her native British Columbia, Foster listened. "You can't deny Oprah," Foster said in a recent telephone interview. "When Oprah tells you to do something, you do it."
Then again, Foster isn't your typical first-time novelist. The daughter of Canadian superproducer David Foster, Amy is an accomplished songwriter in her own right, having penned tunes for Josh Groban, Diana Krall, Destiny's Child and Andrea Bocelli. Her most famous collaborations have been with Michael Buble, including "Haven't Met You Yet," the first single from his latest record, "Crazy Love." That album was released Oct. 9 and has been No. 1 on the album charts in the two weeks since in both Canada and the United States.
When Autumn Leaves was released Oct. 6. So yes, Foster has had a pretty good month. "It's like a whirlwind," said the 36-year-old. "It's the best time. It's amazing. I couldn't have planned it any better." She would certainly seem to be off to a good start in her publishing career.
When Autumn Leaves is just the first in a series that Foster says will ultimately number 14 books. She's nearly completed the next three books. The first novel centres on Autumn, a shopkeeper and member of a sisterhood of witches who oversee Avening, a quaint little fictional town nestled off the coast of British Columbia. A promotion within the sisterhood means Autumn needs to select her successor from a group of 13 local women, each of whom possesses a latent magical ability.
"I think that is really the big overarching metaphor, is that we all have these gifts, and sometimes it just takes a spark to let the magic inside of us - god, that sounds so cheesy - but to let the magic inside of us, to reveal it to the rest of the world," Foster said. "I really hope it is empowering for women. I really hope that women read this and feel like there's potential inside of them that's lurking that they might not have known. That they're stronger than they think they are." And
Avening, an impossibly picturesque hamlet, is an integral part of the book's charm. "The idea for the town was I wanted to create a place that if I went there, I would want to stay there and live there forever," she said.
That's where Winfrey came in. Foster met her once, in scenic Desolation Sound, B.C. ("I blurted that I was writing a book, and I acted like a complete moron because it was Oprah," Foster recalls.) Winfrey, admiring her sweeping surroundings, couldn't understand why Foster chose Massachusetts for the book's setting. "She said: 'So you wrote a book about magic that takes place in New England. I thought you said you were from here. Did you go to school in New England?' I said no," remembered Foster, who moved back to B.C. from Nashville earlier this year. "So she said, 'So you wrote a book about magic and you didn't set it here, in the most magical place on earth, where you're actually from?' "It wasn't like lightning bolts or anything came out of the sky when she said it - it wasn't threatening at all - but it was a very kind suggestion." Foster's father, on the other hand, doesn't have much advice for her as she enters a new stage of her career. "He gives me lots of advice, but he's a musician, he's a rock star, I don't know how much of a reader he is," she said.
Amy S. Foster, author of When Autumn Leaves, will appear at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on Saturday, October 10. Amy will discuss her new novel on a panel - "Pilgrims, Saints, and Mystics" - with authors River Jordan and Karen McElmurray on Saturday, oct. 10 from 1:30-3 p.m. with book signing to follow. Already being heralded as one the best debut novels this season, When Autumn Leaves is a magical book that reading groups and book clubs across the country will enjoy.
From reviewer Linda White in the current issue of BookPage: "Autumn has been the resident sage of the town of Avening for longer than anyone can remember (some may call her a witch or a shaman, but really she is more of an old-fashioned wise women). When Autumn is called to find a replacement, she decides to hold an essay contest for would-be candidates. While the entries themselves prove to be both surprising and illuminating, this is not merely the story of Autumn finding her replacement—it is also a multifaceted tale of the women (and in some cases, girls) vying to take over for their beloved Autumn. Each candidate’s specific experiences unveil—or in some cases, release—the power that is deep within each of them. Above all, this magical book is a testament to the power of women. There is a great preponderance of beautiful people in the book— almost all of the women are striking, and you start to wonder if there must be something in the Avening water. But beyond that, Foster’s overall message is clear: each of us has a gift. Whether we choose to exercise it or how we choose to do so is ultimately up to us. Foster has a facility for the poetic, and her characters feel comfortable and real from the beginning. When Autumn Leaves is a fantastical coming-of-age story, but mostly, it reminds us of the importance of faith—both in ourselves and in that which we cannot see.
Library Journal has a rave review for When Autumn Leaves, the debut novel by Amy S. Foster: "In the tiny town of Avening in the Pacific Northwest, life hums with a peculiar sort of energy. Some call the town enchanted; others call it quirky. But all would agree that it is a special sort of hamlet, populated by some rather intriguing people. Perhaps the most intriguing is the town witch and wise woman. An individual of extraordinary, even magical talents, Autumn Avening is ready to retire—and must find a replacement from among the local denizens. With one year to choose, Autumn begins keeping an ever closer watch on her friends and neighbors, looking for just the right candidate. Through her eyes, we get intimate glimpses of the locals of Avening—strong men and women whose stories are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Loose ends in Foster's strong debut indicate sequel potential for those who enjoy following characters from book to book. Fans of Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic) and Joanne Harris (Chocolat) will love getting to know the residents of this cozy, charming little town. Highly recommended."
Foreword Magazine takes a sneak preview of When Autumn Leaves, a new novel by Amy S. Foster that will be published in October:
"When Autumn Leaves, the title of Amy Foster's debut novel, refers not to Johnny Mercer's song of lost love, but to the gentle and wise witch Autumn Avening, who has been notified of a promotion and has to select her successor from a list of thirteen names. It's no easy task, for each person on that list holds a special power, which may or may not benefit the town. Autumn decides to hold a contest for an apprentice and choose her disciple.
This is the first book in a series about the town of Avening and its magical inhabitants. Foster introduces the main characters that readers can assume will be making their appearances in subsequent books with an expanded storyline. Each one has a whimsical quality that might be seen as personality quirks or traits in mere mortals; these qualities bring a unique twist to Foster's story about the splendor and wonder of everyday life.
Foster captures Avening in delightful prose, putting the reader right in the center of the quaint Northwestern town. Her lyrical imagery brings to life the town and its people; readers can imagine enjoying tea with Autumn in her homey kitchen at Demeter's Grove, and can laugh along with the mischievous Justy, whose shoe-making wizardry can turn a seemingly shy and invisible person into a songbird.
Foster's eccentric characters make readers giggle with their foibles, but there are bittersweet moments, too. Love and betrayal, illness and death all make their appearances. In the second half of the book, for example, readers are introduced to Piper Shigeru, who is dying from a brain tumor. Piper is like many of the town's inhabitants and has mysterious talents. Her special gift is the ability to travel to another dimension. There, she'll spend the rest of her life without physical pain and in peace, but the trade-off is that she'll never see her husband and daughters again.
Primarily known as a songwriter, Foster writes beautiful, narrative prose. While the dialogue can seem a bit forced, the characters and the richness of Foster's material carry the story along. When Autumn Leaves is a sweet fable of life's twists and turns which reminds us of the wonders of life and death, friendship and love, disappointment, and failure." - Rebeca Schiller
BEA is here and The Overlook Press is ready, set, go. We're throwing a party tonight for the photo exhibition and book launch of Allan Tannenbaum's New York in the 7os - pics will be posted if you can't make it. On Friday through Sunday, you can meet and greet us at Booth 3552 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Meet Rachel DeWoskin, author of Repeat After Me at our booth on Friday (5pm) and at a Saturday Autographing Session (12:30-1pm). Meet the lovely and talented Overlook Editor Juliet Grames at the Indie Buzz Editor's Panel on Saturday at 11am; and Amy Foster, author of the forthcoming When Autumn Leaves at the Downtown Stage on Saturday at 3:30pm, and at the Overlook booth at 5pm.
Nick Patch of the Canadian Press follows the debut of Amy S. Foster's novel When Autumn Leaves: "It's not often that an aspiring first-time novelist gets the benefit of direct feedback and advice from Oprah Winfrey. So when the talk-show queen and publishing-industry saviour recommended Amy Foster change the setting of her first book, When Autumn Leaves, from Massachusetts to her native British Columbia, Foster listened. "You can't deny Oprah," Foster said in a recent telephone interview. "When Oprah tells you to do something, you do it."
