Stay, Girl by Angelica R. Jackson: Reader Review Event & Giveaway

Today, I'm excited to announce a special reader review event with Angelica R. Jackson. She's been a frequent guest at WOW, and we're so honored to introduce her book to you. Our readers will share their thoughts about her incredible coming-of-age novel, Stay, Girl. 

Plus, a fun fact? She won runner-up in our Spring 2020 Flash Fiction Contest. This book is a reworked version of that story! We're so excited to have her with us. Best of all, you'll also have a chance to win a copy of this incredible book.

Before we share what our readers thought, here's more about her novel:

Who rescued who? In California’s Central Valley in 1953, the love of a neglected dog helps an abused girl find healing, and the caring family she never had.

Bet Carter’s stepfather is a conman with a history of violence, and he’s trying to force thirteen-year-old Bet into that life, too. His controlling ways make Bet’s world smaller every day, until the death of her ailing mother gives the girl an opportunity to flee to her Uncle Earl’s.

Bet only planned a quick stopover in Amberfields, but after her uncle welcomes her into his home, she keeps finding excuses to stay. Bet wants to help Uncle Earl’s foster dog, Penny, learn to trust again—but how can the girl mend Penny’s spirit when her own is so broken?

Joining a hilarious prank war with her new friend Georgie goes a long way to making Bet feel at home in Amberfields. As Bet’s emotional armor softens, along with her reasons to leave, she finally allows herself to dream bigger.

This heartfelt coming-of-age story will have you cheering for a girl whose determination and optimism help her rediscover the healing power of love.

Publisher: Crow & Pitcher Press

ISBN-13: 979-8986272139

ASIN: B0DNMXFHD7

Print Length: 287 pages

Purchase a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. Be sure to add it to your GoodReads reading list as well.

What WOW Readers Thought

"Sacramento, CA, 1953. Penny was one of the dogs seized by the county in a cruelty case. Thirteen year-old Lizabeth "Bet" Carter is on the run from an abusive stepdad after her addicted mom dies. She's heading to her Uncle Earl's. But only cuz Bet promised her mom she'd "go" to Earl's. Bet never said anything about staying with him. In fact, she plans on high-tailing it down to Oregon to work as a cook's helper in a lumber camp with her best girlfriend. As soon as she can make some plans.

But an unlikely yet heartwarming alliance begins to form in this captivating and compelling coming of age tale reminiscent of Where the Red Fern Grows, Marley and Me, and Shiloh.

Well. When Bet shows up at her Uncle Earl’s unannounced, she finds that her kindly uncle has been caring for the sick, skittish beagle on behalf of the county. Uncle Earl already has two dogs, Nap and Josie. But the canine fam soon includes the skittish, half-starved Penny. Just like big-hearted Uncle Earl’s human fam soon includes Bet. In fact, her uncle’s kindness and compassion begin to grow on her. There’s also the neighbor girl Georgie. She has more spunk than a stick of dynamite.

There’s also M & Ms. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Black Beauty. Meatloaf sandwiches. Triple berry pie. “Fartichokes.” Pillow babies. Socks. An underground Railroad. Prank wars. And that about Bet’s photo entries for the Yuba County Fair competition?

But when Bet and Penny wind up in jail…

Oh, wait. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens next. Dittot why Dog People Are The Best People. Not that I'm biased or anythin’.

Scene stealers: Doc Marsh the vet and Peggy the deputy. And that’s all I'm gonna say about that.

Beautifully written, Stay, Girl has a lively, homespun flavor to it that’s as warm as an August sun. Think The Waltons meets The Incredible Journey, with maybe a little Witness, too.

The author pulls you in from chapter one and keeps you turning pages till the very end. For example, descriptions of Uncle Earl, Bet and Georgie walking working a vegetable garden, Fae canning or stirring up a batch of jam. Or Bet and Penny cooling off in the local swimming hole on a hot summer day put you right in the think of things. Ditto Uncle Earl’s culinary creations and a couple run-ins with mean old Mrs. Ridgway.

Heartwarming, heartfelt, Stay, Girl brims with wit and warmth. It's the kind of book that’ll crawl inside your heart and set a spell. Captivating and compelling, this one’s a winner.

I loved it! So I’d STAY around and grab my own copy now  fize you. Oh yeah!" 

- Kristine of Pages and Paws

"The heartwarming story of the healing power of love.

Stay, Girl is a wonderfully heartwarming story of 12-year-old Bet and a fostered beagle named Penny set in 1953 California’s Central Valley. While timeless and with universal elements, Bet and Penny’s story comes alive in this nostalgic setting of a simpler time and place. Their tale is one of two wounded creatures re-discovering kindness, love, and safety. I couldn’t put it down.

Bet is a determined, capable 12-year-old, conditioned much too soon to depending on herself for her most basic needs. When her mother passes away, she takes off from her home in Sacramento and her abusive stepfather and makes her way, by foot, to her mother’s brother’s home in Amberfields, California, quite some distance away. Bet’s plan for escape had been to join a friend working in an Idaho lumber camp, but she’d promised her mother on her deathbed that she’d go to Uncle Earl’s, and she always kept her promises.

We can only imagine what Bet expected Uncle Earl to be like, considering her experiences with the adults, especially men, in her brief life, but Earl is not that. A former Navy cook, now working at the small town’s diner, he’s a giving and gentle soul and the caretaker for the county for three rescued dogs. A recent addition to his home is a very sick red and white beagle that had been removed from a deplorable situation. Bet feels a kinship with the small, frightened dog she names Penny, and it becomes her goal to heal her and become Penny’s “person.”

The plot covers the summer of 1953, and Bet and Penny’s slow but steady recovery as both become a part of their new home and new community, seeing a side of people they had been denied up to this point in their lives. The author’s vivid descriptions of the setting drew me in so completely I could almost feel the heat and hear the sounds of that long-ago summer, a time when telephones, television, and cars weren’t a part of every household yet. Bet’s story was compelling, with plot twists that changed its trajectory in unexpected ways and kept me glued to its pages.

I recommend STAY, GIRL to readers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy coming-of-age stories."

-- Karen S.

"What a fun read. The small-town charm, interesting characters, and, of course, the dogs give this book a warmth and loveliness. While the story made me turn the pages quickly, the heart-felt descriptions and well-developed characters made me want to linger. I loved the surprise twist at the end. While not entirely unexpected, it was perfectly placed and well-resolved. This book would make a great gift for anyone who loves small towns, teenagers, and dogs."

-- Nita S.

"I enjoyed all of the characters in this wonderfully written story. I find myself craving a small town, a pack of dogs, and country cooking. I want meatloaf, grilled cheese, pancakes, and all the goodies lovingly written about in this charming novel. Perhaps a cookbook to follow?"

-- Maria W.

"I was immediately drawn into Bet’s world. I was saddened and humbled by her mother’s passing. Angelica R. Jackson writes with great attention to detail, and the visuals are immersive. I was captivated by the novel. I felt wary about Bret’s uncle Earl, and was both concerned for, and proud of her for trying to follow her mother’s advice.

I was very concerned for the dogs’ welfare, and hoped that Bret would be ok too.

Stay, Girl is a novel about hard circumstances, yet it’s both heartwrenching and heartwarming, yet enjoyable."

-- Katherine H.

"Thirteen-year-old Bet escapes from her controlling stepfather after her mother dies. She plans to stay with her Uncle Earl only a short while then move on, but there’s this little dog Penny that needs to heal from abuse. And she’s making friends. Maybe she can stay a little longer. The book is set in 1953."

-- Susan F.

"This book is described as a "coming-of-age" story but after reading, I'm thinking that an unexpected twist. It's the story of a young girl who has been forced to act like an adult, gradually learning how to be a child again. The character's emotions (and at times, lack of emotions) make this a strong book that grabs your attention. It starts out with fear and secrets but eventually finds its way to normality. I felt the writing was powerful, really evoking memorable scenes. I think this is a great choice if an adult and teen want to choose a book to read and discuss - sort of a parent-child book club."

-- Jodi W.

Congratulations to Kristine of Pages and Paws!

We held a random drawing via Random.org for all reviewers who participated in this event, and it picked Kristine as the winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card. We will be sending that out to you via email today, Kristine! 

About the Author, Angelica R. Jackson

Angelica R. Jackson, in keeping with her scattered Gemini nature, has published articles on gardening, natural history, web design, travel, hiking, and local history. Other interests include pets, reading, green living, and cooking for food allergies (the latter not necessarily by choice, but she’s come to terms with it). Ongoing projects include short fiction, poetry, novels, art photography, and children’s picture books.

She’s also been involved with capturing the restoration efforts for Preston Castle (formerly the Preston School of Industry) in photographs and can sometimes be found haunting its hallways. 

​She shares a home in California's Gold Country with a husband, a Miniature Pinscher/Nibblonian mix, and far too many books (if that's even possible). She is the author of the award-winning Faerie Crossed young adult urban fantasy series, and her photos are collected in Capturing The Castle: Images of Preston Castle (2006-2016). Her latest book is Stay, Girl, a literary coming-of-age novel about an abused girl and a dog finding healing in each other.

You can find her online at https://www.angelicarjackson.com/, You can also follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

--- Interview With Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your novel, Stay Girl! What inspired this book?

Angelica: While waiting for my energy to come back after cancer treatments in 2021, I immersed myself in comforting reads with characters facing hardships, whose own resilience and ability to see joy help them get through life. I reread classics like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and nostalgic titles like Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt and The Shy Ones by Lynn Hall. Stories that are ultimately hopeful and heartwarming.

Falling into these books reminded me why stories like those resonated with me, whether I’d read them as an adult or a child. I wanted to write Stay, Girl for that vulnerable inner child in all of us, the one who feels lost and lonely. This book would be a throwback to those beloved titles—with no dogs dying! These dogs could live forever within my pages.

I had already started Stay, Girl a few years before, but the focus was darker and the trauma more heavy-handed. I knew it could be lighter in tone and still let Bet feel things strongly, and to give her a safe place to look back on her mistreatment before she moves forward. The dogs—Nap, Josie, and Penny—remind her not to get stuck in loss, and to look for the joy around her. These canine characters were inspired by my own dogs, and writing this book also dropped me back into warm memories of them. I created a page on my website just to feature them.

WOW: I love that you transformed this book to appeal to our inner child. I also loved hearing that this novel is a reworked version of a flash fiction story, "The Devil You Know" (it won runner-up in a WOW contest!). What led you to feel this was ready for novel-length?

Angelica: Almost all my stories start as dreams, which often come to me complete with backstory and emotional weight. Stay, Girl started with the scene in “The Devil You Know” playing out in my sleep, and I knew I needed to write about this resilient girl. I jotted down what I remembered and then went back to work on my series, so the notes stayed forgotten on my computer for a while.

I picked it up again later and had written a few chapters when I got the email reminder for the latest WOW contest. I immediately thought of the original scene and how compelling it was to experience it through dream, so I thought it would be an interesting challenge to shape it for the word limit without losing the impact. And seeing the scene through the lens of flash fiction, where every word has to work overtime, made the same events tighter in the novel, too. 

WOW: What an interesting fact that your stories start out as dreams. I was moved to hear that you wrote this story while undergoing cancer treatments. How did you overcome any obstacles in the writing process during this time?

Angelica: It was definitely a difficult time! First, I was an early adopter of a severe COVID infection, and when my breathing never really cleared up, we found the lung cancer. And discovered it was not a recurrence of my previous thyroid cancer, but a separate primary cancer. Thankfully, my husband was working from home then and his employer gave him the flexibility to arrange his hours around caring for me and driving me to chemo treatments. We also lost two of our pets to pre-existing heart conditions, and tried fostering another dog before realizing our Miniature Pinscher preferred to be an only dog.

I went through a lot of physical and mental changes during that time, as you can imagine. One change that seems to be sticking around, whether it’s an aftereffect of Covid or chemo, is memory issues related to language. I “lost” words, both in speaking and in writing, to the point where my doctor referred me for some cognitive testing. No dementia or anything like that, fortunately, but I continued to struggle.

Online thesauruses became my go-to while writing, because I could often remember related words or concepts, even if I couldn’t immediately bring up the specific word I wanted. “Hmm, it’s a word like ‘power,’ but not that—oh, I was thinking of ‘agency’!” Working that way helped me remake those connections for my speech, too, but not with names. I’m helpless with those now, ugh.

WOW: I've never been great with names, either! You told me recently writing this novel helped you immensely during that time. Mind sharing with our readers why that is?

Angelica: I mentioned above that writing helped me with some issues with memory and language, but writing from Bet’s point of view also allowed me to reflect on surviving a childhood with my own mom. As an adult, I finally learned to prioritize my own mental health over trying to excuse or accommodate hers, and to set up healthier boundaries for myself. Bet comes to that realization a lot earlier in her life, and will have a brighter future for it, I think.

For anyone else who has decided to go no-contact with a parent, they will recognize that I ended up grieving for the mom I never had as much as grieving the loss of a relationship with my actual mother. That’s another parallel between myself and Bet, and something that has helped me find peace of mind.

WOW: That's excellent insight. What advice do you have for writers who are undergoing stressful times and have a hard time focusing on their writing?

Angelica: My advice is that you can’t wait for things to settle down, because there will never be a perfect time to write. In my younger days, it was always, “I’ll wait to really commit to this project when I finish school, or once we’ve moved to a quieter place, or…”

But the truth is, your writing time will not wait for you. You have to make an effort to carve it out around all the other things life throws at you. It’s not new advice, but maybe this is the one more time someone needs to hear it to actually make a difference in habits.

With all that said, my personal bane is social media. I will click on Facebook without even realizing I’ve done it. I am retraining myself to take mental breaks out in my garden, rather than to lose myself in reels or clickbait. Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life by Dani Shapiro is an excellent collection of reminders of why we write, in spite of…well, everything.

You can see samples of my garden on my Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/angelicarjackson/

WOW: You are an incredible gardener! What are you working on next that you can tell us about?

Angelica: I’m working on a Gothic or horror short story that is a reworking of a full-length historical novel. And I do mean full length—Spirits From The Vasty Deep was the first book I ever wrote, and the manuscript was over 160,000 words, since I indulged myself with developing every side plot and minor character. I had whittled it down to about 95,000 words by the time I queried agents with it, and it got a lot of attention, but no one took it on.

I reworked it several times over the years, but during the lockdown I gave it a complete overhaul and cut 2/3 of the manuscript. Then I changed gears to work on Spellmeet, the last book in my YA UF series, and didn’t come back to Spirits until I finished Stay, Girl. I had every intention of tackling it as a novel-length project again, but as I read through the pages I thought were worth saving, I realized these core scenes could possibly stand on their own as a shorter work.

I’m currently moving some things around and creating new framing, and hoping that it will all come together in a new and worthwhile way. Even if it doesn’t, I never feel like I’m wasting my time, since I learn something about myself and my writing with each attempt.

WOW: I love that and that you are still learning. Thank you so much for joining us today! We look forward to seeing more of you again.

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a print copy of Stay, Girl by Angelica R. Jackson! Fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends March 30th at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!

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