Edmonton historical fiction writer gets big boost from online book club
An Edmonton author is thrilled to have her historical fiction novel chosen for Big Library Read, a digital program connecting readers around the world to the same e-book at the same time.
Jaima Fixsen co-wrote The girl in her shadow with her colleague Regina Sirois from Kansas, under the pseudonym Audrey Blake.
Fixsen met Sirois through an online writing contest. Both authors share an interest in medical history and were inspired.
“I’ve always been intrigued by a lot of real women who have played unconventional roles throughout history,” Fixsen said.
While studying to become an occupational therapist, Fixsen’s course involved dissecting a human cadaver.
She relied on her own experience and personal knowledge when researching the novel.
Active radio5:41Local author gets big boost from North American book club
We hear from Jaima Fixsen and find out how you can read the latest The Girl in His Shadow book here which was called Big Library Read.
Set in Victorian London, the story is about aspiring surgeon Nora Beady, who has spent most of her life studying anatomy and working with her adoptive father in his clinic. She tries to balance who she is with society’s expectations of women.
Big Library Read is a digital book club run by OverDrive, a digital lending service used by most libraries in North America, on its app called Libby.
Each year, the book club chooses three books to highlight under the Big Library Read banner. Selected books are made available to all registered members of the book club without waiting lists.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be old-fashioned to have just one person reading your book and enjoying it. But the idea of so many people reading is kind of exciting,” Fixsen said.
Fixsen said about two million people would see his book when they opened the Libby app, and potentially 100,000 people could read the story.
“What’s exciting about this is that anyone at any participating library can read the book,” she told CBC Edmonton. Active radio.
“There is no hold or waiting period for the audiobook or e-book.”
When Fixsen began writing, she struggled to find representation and opted to self-publish instead.
The girl in her shadow now has a sequel, The surgeon’s daughter. It came out in May.
