Casting Lily

Remembering her lines is the least of Ava's worries.

A Critical Companion to Lynn Nottage places this renowned, award-winning playwright's contribution to American theatre in scholarly context. The volume covers Nottage's plays, productions, activism, and artistic collaborations to display the extraordinary breadth and depth of her work. The collection contains chapters on each of her major works, and includes a special three-chapter section devoted to Ruined, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize. The anthology also features an interview about collaboration and creativity with Lynn Nottage and two of her most frequent directors, Seret Scott and Kate Whoriskey.

‘A compelling saga that will hold you fast from the first page to the last. Loved it’ VAL WOOD, author of The Lonely Wife Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Gracie Hart, The Dressmaker’s Secret is a moving and heartfelt family saga from the talented author of The Shop Girl’s Soldier. Dorset, 1876. When young Beatrice Cullen shows up in the local church with her illegitimate child in her arms, Reverend Michael Redfern takes it upon himself to help her. He finds her daughter, Lily, a home with a kindly couple. But when, at the age of 9, Lily loses her adopted parents, she is forced to live with her awful Aunt Doris and cousin Jez, who treat her no better than a slave. Lily can only seek solace in her dream of one day escaping her aunt and becoming a seamstress. Five years later, now aged fourteen, Lily makes a startling discovery: that her birth father is none other than local aristocrat Sir Frederick Copperfield. Lily is stunned. And when she gets the chance to work for the Copperfields, she can't pass up the opportunity to get to know her half-sister Eleanor. But will Eleanor ever really get to know her, or will Lily’s true identity forever remain a secret? 'This rollercoaster of a novel draws you in from the first page. Expertly researched and a fabulous storyline with real heart at the centre... I devoured this in one sitting and look forward to more from this author. In short a gem of a read' FIONA FORD, author of Wartime at Liberty's 'A delight to read... Lily Hayter is a wonderful heroine whose resilience and integrity shine through as she struggles to claim a life of her choosing and find a family. At the heart of the story is a warmth and humanity that makes it a truly uplifting read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when I reached the end because I wanted to linger in Dickson’s world. I eagerly await more from Karen Dickson' VICKI BEEBY, author of The Ops Room Girls 'The characters in this novel are so believable that I cared deeply about them from the first chapter. A heartfelt, hopeful account of one young woman’s fight to keep her child safe when all the odds are against her. Atmospheric and beautifully written' JAN CASEY, author of The Women of Waterloo Bridge ‘An exciting, fresh and talented new voice – a five-star read!’ CAROL RIVERS on The Shop Girl’s Soldier

Lily Dahl, the young heroine of Siri Hustvedt's riveting novel, The Enchantment of Lily Dahl, is a strong, beautiful and daring nineteen year old girl poised on the brink of womanhood. In the small town of Webster, Minnesota, Lily's life revolves around the Ideal Café. She lives above the café in a rented room and works there as a waitress. This is the stage Hustvedt sets for a bizarre cast of characters who frequent the café and populate Lily's life. Weaving a fascinating spell of mystery and suspense, Hustvedt recounts the erotic adventures, unexpected friendships, and inexplicable acts of madness that usher Lily into womanhood. By skillfully mixing reality and dreams, fact and fiction, past and present, Hustvedt creates a powerful world not quite real, but altogether truthful.

In "Lily and the Hidden Magical World," embark on an enchanting journey into a world where whimsy and wonder collide. Follow young Lily as she stumbles upon a secret realm brimming with magic and mystery. As she unravels the secrets of this hidden world, she discovers her own extraordinary powers and a destiny she never imagined. Filled with heartwarming friendships, daring adventures, and spellbinding discoveries, these captivating children's stories are sure to ignite the imaginations of readers young and old alike. Enter a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and where the power of belief can work wonders.

Lily is a toddler who through the meanders of her early life becomes a young adult propelled by her travels on a quest of what we all humans long for. That is, not only to be desired or loved, but merely to be valued and to find one’s own sense of belonging. Lily learns to trust her actions and faith and eventually to lean forward into her destiny. A kaleidoscope of endeavors and emotions awaits the reader on every page, fostering clarity and joy and profound musings on human nature.

A bundle of books #2 (STILL HOPE) and #3 (STILL ALIVE) in Ava Strong’s Lily Dawn FBI Suspense Thriller series! This bundle offers books two and three in one convenient file, with over 100,000 words of reading. FBI BAU Special Agent Lily Dawn, half Dutch, half Hispanic, raised in the Caribbean, knows the isles like the back of her hand. When a surge in serial killers in the region prods the FBI to assemble a task force, Lily is the natural choice. But Lily is reluctant to face the demons of her past, including her missing sister. “The plot has many twists and turns, but it is the ending, which I did not see coming at all, that totally defines this book as one of the most riveting that I have read in years.” —Reader review for Not Like Us In STILL HOPE (Book #2), when a new serial killer strikes, leaving victims on a series of remote islands, Lily gears up for a deadly game of cat and mouse. Will Lily be able to map out the killer’s twisted mind? In STILL ALIVE (Book #3), when victims of a new serial killer appear at high end resorts on the Caribbean coast, it is up to Lily to uncover the truth. Who is this killer targeting? And why? A complex psychological crime thriller full of twists and turns and packed with heart-pounding suspense, the LILY DAWN mystery series will make you fall in love with a brilliant new female protagonist and keep you turning pages late into the night. Future books in the series are now also available.

A bundle of books #1 (STILL ALIVE), #2 (STILL HOPE), and #3 (STILL AWAKE) in Ava Strong’s Lily Dawn FBI Suspense Thriller series! This bundle offers books one, two, and three in one convenient file, with over 100,000 words of reading. FBI BAU Special Agent Lily Dawn, half Dutch, half Hispanic, raised in the Caribbean, knows the isles like the back of her hand. When a surge in serial killers in the region prods the FBI to assemble a task force, Lily is the natural choice. But Lily is reluctant to face the demons of her past, including her missing sister. “The plot has many twists and turns, but it is the ending, which I did not see coming at all, that totally defines this book as one of the most riveting that I have read in years.” —Reader review for Not Like Us In STILL ALIVE (Book #1), when a bloated body is found floating in international waters, twenty miles out at sea, Lily Dawn is called back to the Caribbean. But this is not a happy homecoming. She hasn’t seen her parents since moving to Miami ten years ago, and now her sister has been declared legally dead. Can Lily stop the killer before he strikes again? Or will she sink under the weight of her past? In STILL HOPE (Book #2), when a new serial killer strikes, leaving victims on a series of remote islands, Lily gears up for a deadly game of cat and mouse. Will Lily be able to map out the killer’s twisted mind? In STILL AWAKE (Book #3), when victims of a new serial killer appear at high end resorts on the Caribbean coast, it is up to Lily to uncover the truth. Who is this killer targeting? And why? A complex psychological crime thriller full of twists and turns and packed with heart-pounding suspense, the LILY DAWN mystery series will make you fall in love with a brilliant new female protagonist and keep you turning pages late into the night. Future books in the series are now also available.