The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

"What if? These words tantalize and haunt us. . . .Cynthia Swanson takes us on a startling journey where a woman is thrust into the alternative world that might have been, had she made different choices." -- Randy Susan Meyers, author of Accidents of Marriage

A provocative and hauntingly powerful debut novel reminiscent of Sliding Doors, The Bookseller follows a woman in the 1960s who must reconcile her reality with the tantalizing alternate world of her dreams..

Denver, 1962: Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She loves the bookshop she runs with her best friend, Frieda, and enjoys complete control over her day-to-day existence. She can come and go as she pleases, answering to no one. There was a man once, a doctor named Kevin, but it didn't quite work out the way Kitty had hoped.

Then the dreams begin.

Denver, 1963: Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They have beautiful children, an elegant home, and good friends. It's everything Kitty Miller once believed she wanted--but it only exists when she sleeps.

Convinced that these dreams are simply due to her overactive imagination, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. But with each visit, the more irresistibly real Katharyn's life becomes. Can she choose which life she wants? If so, what is the cost of staying Kitty, or becoming Katharyn?

As the lines between her worlds begin to blur, Kitty must figure out what is real and what is imagined. And how do we know where that boundary lies in our own lives?

Cynthia Swanson is a graphic designer and writer. Her short fiction has appeared in 13th Moon, Kalliope, Sojourner, and other publications; her tale in 13th Moon was nominated for a Pushcart Award. Her debut novel, The Bookseller, was named an Indie Next choice and is currently being translated into eleven languages.