Tara Benwell
 
Inspired by the true life Connecticut circus fire of 1944 and the popular music of American superstar Neil Diamond, The Proper Order of Things opens with narrator, CAROLINE sitting in her mother's closet, discussing the division of her family.  Unsure why she is the only child (of 9) who gets to choose between moving with her dad to an apartment in the city (Kitchener, ON) and staying with her mother in her remote hometown (Mitchell County, ON), pre-pubescent Caroline receives an answer that she will contemplate throughout her adolescent years: "You are the lucky one."       With parents whose secret past haunts every limb of the family tree, and siblings who range from rats to copycats, Caroline is sure to have a difficult journey no matter which household she chooses. While her compulsive mother SHERRY allows the Quartz family to multiply exponentially in hopes of erasing the past, her superstitious father PETER is petrified of history repeating. Misbelieving that her parents are orphaned siblings rather than serendipitous lovers, Caroline's only hope is to move closer to CHESTER—the one person who truly understands the importance of a pinkie swear.       Failing to reconnect with her confidante, Caroline stands out in her new schools, church, and community, drawing more attention to her family's quirks with every effort she makes to blend in. While Caroline is on the verge of coming-of-age, her younger sister DESIREE seems destined to get there first. And, whether it's nightmares and dreams spilling over into a sister's bunk below, or an older brother lurking in her shadow, Caroline's job of protecting the family’s reputation continues even after lights are out and visitations are over.        In a family where a birthday is seemingly more sacred than life itself, only a mother's death can reveal the truth about its members. Leaping in for the final act, it is Chester who proves to Sweet Caroline once and for all that the show must go on.
THe SYNOPSIS
I decided to take things into my own hands. The talented Alethea Spiridon edited my novel! I got tired of letters like these. (Though this one was my favourite.) http://www.tarabenwell.com/Tara_Benwell/Blog/Entries/2010/11/11_Not_your_ordinary_moment_of_silence.htmlhttp://www.tarabenwell.com/Tara_Benwell/Blog/Entries/2010/11/11_Not_your_ordinary_moment_of_silence.htmlshapeimage_5_link_0shapeimage_5_link_1
While writers who go with traditional publishing don’t get to pick their own book covers, they do get to create their own work- in-progress covers and this is the one I created long, long ago (before digital cameras) when I was just getting to know my craft. Despite dozens of revisions and overhauls, this image still represents the essence of my story. NEW: I am extremely thankful to Karen Thompson for her amazing cover design.
“Sorry it’s taken me forever to answer you about Tara Benwell’s novel. I’ve really been agonizing over it! What a great book! Crazy family, really fine writing, good narrative. I loved every minute of reading it! But I’ve been swamped with exceptional manuscripts. And we can publish only four or five novels per year. After struggling my way to several really difficult decisions, I find myself, unfortunately, having to say no. Please tell Tara how impressed I am with the novel and her writing, and congratulate her. And please do keep me in mind for any of her future projects.”
Name: Tara Benwell Home: Ontario, Canada Website:www.tarabenwell.com Twitter: @tarabenwell Contact Tara http://www.tarabenwell.comhttp://twitter.com/tarabenwellmailto:benwell.tara@gmail.com?subject=email%20subjectshapeimage_9_link_0shapeimage_9_link_1shapeimage_9_link_2
THe Writer
THe DREAM
THe Editor
#properorder (use this hashtag to discuss the book on twitter)