Heather Frimmer's prescription for good reading...plus a book giveaway

We are thrilled to have Heather Frimmer here to celebrate the publication of her debut novel, Bedside Manners. Melissa A read the book and enjoyed it (reviewed here). She also connected with Heather on social media and learned that they share a love for musical theater. She's here today to talk about her novel and some other fun topics. Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, we have one copy to give away!

Heather Frimmer is a physician by day, specializing in diagnostic radiology and breast imaging, and an avid reader and writer at all other times. A published book reviewer across multiple websites, including Books, Ink and Booktrib, and a member of the Westport Writers’ Workshop, she lives in Connecticut with her husband and two sons.

Visit Heather online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
As Joyce Novak’s daughter, Marnie, completes medical school and looks ahead to a surgical internship, her wedding, and a future filled with promise, a breast cancer diagnosis throws Joyce’s own future into doubt. Always the caregiver, Joyce feels uncomfortable in the patient role, especially with her husband and daughter. As she progresses through a daunting treatment regimen including a biopsy, lumpectomy, and radiation, she distracts herself by planning Marnie’s wedding.

When the sudden death of a young heroin addict in Marnie’s care forces Marnie to come face-to-face with mortality and her professional inadequacies, she also realizes she must strike a new balance between her identity as a doctor and her role as a supportive daughter. At the same time, she struggles with the stark differences between her fiancé’s family background and her own and comes to understand the importance of being with someone who shares her values and experiences.

Amid this profound soul-searching, both Joyce and Marnie’s futures change in ways they never would have expected.

Which authors or books inspired you to become a writer?
Lisa Genova, the author of Still Alice and Every Note Played, along with several other wonderful novels, has been my major inspiration. I love how she uses her expertise as a neuroscientist to explore the details of a specific neurologic disease, its emotional ramifications and the ways the disease impacts everyone in the patient’s sphere. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite—her books are all that good. I also admire Jennifer Weiner’s writing—I read her novels the day they release. The way she can make a story compulsively readable and hilarious while still addressing serious topics is incredible.

Who do you relate to more in Bedside Manners: Joyce or Marnie?
I almost feel like I am part of the Novak family after spending so much time with them over the past few years. Marnie is similar to me in a lot of ways and some of her experiences during medical training are based on things either I or my friends encountered on the wards. Joyce’s character was inspired by many different patients I’ve interacted with over the years. Though I didn’t do it on purpose, she also has a lot in common with my own mother. The creative powers of the subconscious can be scary.

If you could cast Bedside Manners as a movie, who would play the lead roles?
Marnie would be played by Emmy Rossum. I think she’s one of the most talented actresses working today. Her performance as Fiona Gallagher on Shameless is truly masterful. Barbara Hershey could play Joyce. She’s about the right age and could look the part. The two actresses also look like they could be related. I hate when family members on TV shows/movies look like there’s no way they could possibly share genetic material.

What is something about you that would surprise us?
I was a competitive figure skater up until ninth grade. The insanity of that world makes an appearance in my novel in progress, a family drama about a neurosurgeon who makes the questionable choice to operate on his sister-in-law. It’s a complex story of addiction, love and survival on the operating table. The surgeon’s teenage daughter is on a figure skating team.

What new TV series do you plan to watch this fall?
I am definitely going to watch the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I love the creative story and gorgeous sets and costumes. The final season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend drops in October and I can’t wait. The show is hilarious and irreverent and the tongue-in-cheek nods to Broadway are right up my alley.

Since your book is focused on medical situations, what is the strangest injury you've ever experienced (or seen someone you know experience)?
I have been very lucky to be relatively healthy so far. But I do have a mild case of psoriatic arthritis (similar to rheumatoid arthritis). On a family trip to Disney World a few years ago, my right knee blew up to five times its normal size and my husband had to push me around the park in a wheelchair. My sons were thrilled they were allowed to bypass the lines with their very own personal FASTPASS!

Thanks to Heather for visiting with us and Suzy Approved Book Tours for sharing her book with our readers. Visit the other stops on Heather's tour.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends October 14th at midnight EST.