Big News! Today, May 7, a great new novel is for sale in bookstores: CALL ME ZELDA by Erika Robuck. It’s about Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of famous American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (of The Great Gatsby), and about friendships and how they can help us heal.
CALL ME ZELDA is a very special book to me because Erika is my writing critique partner. Her friendship has been one of my life’s greatest gifts.
CALL ME ZELDA is published by Penguin / NAL and has been featured in some really great places:
Glamour Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, … and would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift, too.
I have an autographed copy of Call Me Zelda to give away to one lucky commenter at the end of this post (details below)!
What is it about? The story’s focus is on the friendship between Zelda Fitzgerald and a nurse named Anna, and it brings us into the years after the Fitzgerald party, after the Great Gatsby-like craziness. Scott notoriously used Zelda as his writing muse; Zelda famously fell into ruin, and after that, found her way into Phipps Psychiatric Hospital. From there, CALL ME ZELDA begins. Through the lens of friendship, we watch each woman grow and heal in different ways, and strengthen each other over the course of the novel.
I particularly like the way Erika has portrayed Zelda, as sympathetic despite her illness and her famous antics. I also love the tenderness with which she writes about the Fitzgeralds together.
It is a must-read novel, on the ways we fail each other and yet can redeem those losses and support each other as well. CALL ME ZELDA helps shine light and meaning into brokenness, and opens up a new dimension to the Fitzgeralds and their place in history. I believe in its theme, that through friendships, we can become a better version of ourselves.
Personal Rave: Erika is amazing. She is married and has three children (same as me, all boys), and has a passion for historical fiction. She is witty and sharp and compassionate. She has an incredible laugh. Erika is one of those friends I will always count as one of my life’s greatest blessings. Erika’s first novel with Penguin, Hemingway’s Girl, came out in September, which I blogged about here.
Watch: Erika on a beautiful video about CALL ME ZELDA:
To enter the drawing to win the personalized and autographed copy of Call Me Zelda, leave a comment (any comment) below, from 7 am to midnight Eastern time today, May 7. I will email the winner and announce it in the comments on Wednesday, May 8. And if you miss out on winning the copy here on May 7, we’ll be giving away another copy of Call Me Zelda at Great New Books on Wednesday, May 8. Thanks so much!
I am so excited about Erika’s new book. I love her writing and what a great character to write about!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Elizabeth
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It’s a great book about quite a character. I hope you love Call Me Zelda, Elizabeth!
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Thank you so much for sharing this Must Read, Jennifer. I loved what you said here, “It is a must-read novel, on the ways we fail each other and yet can redeem those losses and support each other as well.” Yes, yes, and yes. I’m also taken with the kindred spirit of a writing mom with three kids. We can do this! Thank so much for all you do and share with the world, dear Jennifer!
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Yes, writing is a tough endeavor, and I have so much admiration for everyone who completes a novel, has it published, especially with a large family to manage at the same time. Yes, kindred spirits! Thank you, Dawn!
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This book sounds wonderful
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I have never found a writer that had such a way with words! ! I love all of her books!!
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I LOVED Hemingway’s Girl and I know for a fact that I will love Call Me Zelda! Thanks for the chance to win.
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I’m really excited to read this one!
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I look forward to reading this Jennifer! I really enjoyed The Language of Flowers that you recommended.
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I read “Z” by Therese Fowler, and that just made me want to read “Zelda” more.
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This is great!!! Can’t wait to read!!
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I cannot wait to start reading this book. Zelda was such an interesting character, and Erika such a good writer. I am sure that it will be a pleasure to read this book.
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I can’t wait to read this…. whether or not my Winning copy or the one I’ll pick up at my local bookstore.
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I’m really looking forward to Erika’s sophomore novel. A signed copy would be fab, but I’ll also be content to pick one up at my local bookstore.
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I LOVED Hemingway’s Girl- and one of my Twitter friends said she thought Call Me Zelda was even better. So, needless to say, I’m so ready to get my hands on a copy of CMZ for 2 reasons: 1. to read and 2. b/c it will lovely next to Hemingway’s Girl on my bookshelf 🙂
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Having recently finished The Paris Wife and re-reading The Great Gatsby (again!), I would love to read a novel from Zelda’s pov/about her! Such a fascinating time in history!
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Looking forward to reading this book. You make great recommendations. Love following your blog. Keep up the good work.
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Thank you so much, Joyce. That means so much. 🙂
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I have been thinking about this book all day. I just tweeted that I wanted to read it so badly, but no book budget $ this week and my library system doesn’t have it yet. It would be lovely to win a copy!
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I love this, Carey! If you don’t win here today, tomorrow GreatNewBooks.org will be having a giveaway of Call Me Zelda, too. I love readers who love books, too. Happy reading!
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Aww, thanks for the sweet reply and info, Jennifer! I have entered over there as well!
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I have been so excited to read this book! I absolutely loved Hemingway’s Girl. I read it as a huge Hemingway fan, and just came to adore Mariella, Gavin and, of course, Erika’s writing. Wonderful post, Jennifer!!
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Huge Erika robuck fan can’t wait to read her new book.
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Sounds like a very interesting book.
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Congratulations to Jessica on winning the copy of Call Me Zelda! (Name chosen by classtools.net) And thank you to you all for your support and interest in a great book! Stop by GreatNewBooks.org today through Friday for another chance to win Call Me Zelda, and be sure to write a review at Goodreads and Amazon about what you thought about the book after you’ve read it.
Thanks to you all! Happy reading!
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Thank you for all of your comments, and congratulations, Jessica!
Many thanks to Jennifer for hosting me on the blog… 🙂
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