Description

 Marilou is Everywhere

Consumed by an insatiable desire for a life different from her own, a young teenager makes a daring escape from her family and seamlessly slips into the existence of another girl who mysteriously vanished, leaving the town haunted by her sudden disappearance.

“This novel reads like a miracle”.-NPR

“Finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize for First Fiction” -One of NPR’s favorite books of 2019

Living in a remote area of rural Pennsylvania, fourteen-year-old Cindy and her two older brothers endure a life of scarcity, sporadic access to electricity, two fierce dogs as their only companions, and a mother who frequently disappears for extended periods. With no adult supervision, the siblings rely on each other for sustenance in every sense. However, as Cindy’s brothers assume greater responsibility for her well-being, the looming threat of danger becomes more palpable, and the stagnant status quo becomes increasingly unbearable.

In a bid to escape the clutches of poverty that have plagued her family, Cindy seizes the opportunity when a glamorous teenager from a more privileged and cultured background goes missing. Assuming the identity of the missing girl, Cindy, now known as Jude Vanderjohn, finds herself immersed in a world of literature, art, exotic cuisine, and unfamiliar customs. Most importantly, she discovers a newfound sense of hope and endless possibilities. In this borrowed life, she also grapples with the complicated love of a mother who fails to recognize the truth about her real daughter’s disappearance. As Cindy experiences the overwhelming embrace of maternal affection for the first time, she must confront her web of lies and, in the process, unravel the true meaning of being a daughter, a sister, and a neighbor. “Marilou Is Everywhere” is a captivating and compelling tale that sheds light on the transformative power of choice for a young girl who has long been overlooked.

About The Author

Sarah Elaine Smith hails from Greene County, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. She has an impressive educational background, having studied at renowned institutions such as the Michener Center for Writers at UT-Austin, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and Carnegie Mellon University. Her passion for literature and writing led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, followed by two Master of Fine Arts degrees, one in poetry and the other in fiction.

Throughout her career, Sarah has explored various professional avenues, showcasing her versatility and adaptability. She has worked as a metadata analyst, where she undoubtedly encountered intriguing and confidential information, as indicated by signing a non-disclosure agreement. Additionally, she has excelled as a college teacher, proofreader/copyeditor, design consultant, waitress, and ghostwriter. Her diverse experiences have undoubtedly shaped her writing style and provided her with a unique perspective on life.

Sarah’s literary talent has not gone unnoticed, as her work has garnered recognition and support from esteemed organizations. She has received support from the MacDowell Colony, the Rona Jaffe Wallace Foundation, and the Keene Prize for Literature, among others. Her upcoming novel, “Marilou Is Everywhere,” is set to be published by Riverhead Books in the summer of 2019. Furthermore, she has already established herself as an accomplished poet with her book “I Live in a Hut,” which won the Cleveland State University Poetry Center’s first books prize in 2011.

Sarah’s writing is a captivating blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Her work delves into a myriad of intriguing subjects, including a goat named Panda Jane, a cam girl known as xVapeQueenx, and the haunting allure of Appalachian country-time sadness. She weaves together vivid imagery, such as the pony of darkness and gin staircases to the moon, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences. Her stories also feature unique characters, like angels struggling to free themselves from a hole and seers residing in a halfway house, who trade their artistic talents for Red Bull. Sarah’s writing is a testament to her boundless imagination and ability to transport readers to extraordinary worlds filled with beauty and darkness.

“Sarah Elaine Smith has thrown down a tale that transcends place. The dexterity of her writing and the intricacy of the story makes ‘Marilou Is Everywhere’ deserving of another familiar tag in the book world: a stunning literary debut.”—Pittsburgh Quarterly

“Sometimes a story haunts you. The prose leaves you raw, defying you to articulate what the book is because it feels too immense. Sarah Elaine Smith’s debut novel, Marilou Is Everywhere, is such a book. . . Written in Smith’s evocative prose, Cindy’s voice is remarkable . . . Smith succeeds in capturing the intricacies of poverty empathy, which makes the novel a particularly heartbreaking read.“—Paste 

“Beautiful debut novel. . .one of the most unforgettable books I’ve read this year, offering a uniquely haunting, but also disarmingly funny and lyrical look at loss, love and the desire to be seen for who you know yourself to be.” –Nylon 

“Smith’s writing is feral. It’s alert, skittish, and hungry. . .A poignant story of accountability.”– Bust Magazine 

“This is a mysterious and strangely exciting debut. Smith is a poet, and writes in sensory-driven, soul-tapping prose . . . Literary-minded teens will find a kindred heroine in the wonderfully weird and wry Cindy.”—Booklist 

“Hauntingly gorgeous… Spare and sensual and surprisingly funny… Smith’s characters are as rich as her prose.—Kirkus, starred review

“Sarah Elaine Smith has one of the most likable and delightful writing voices I have encountered recently – funny, lyrical, sexy, sad, humane, and just a total pleasure to read.” – Elif Batuman, author of The Idiot

“Sarah Smith’s debut, Marilou is Everywhere, is one of the most exquisitely written books I’ve read in a long time. Page after page I was struck by lines so unbearably beautiful and wise that by the final sentence, I’d underlined most of the book. She manages to do this while also telling a firecracker of a story about what happens when 14-year-old Cindy slips into the life of the missing girl next door proving Smith a master. A haunting novel about craving escape so badly you’re willing to erase yourself, by a writer I would follow anywhere.” – Julie Buntin, author of Marlena 

“Marilou is Everywhere is everything. A missing girl story turned on its ear. That ear is so close to the rural Pennsylvania ground that you’ll know every goddamn goat and swimming hole, every derelict heart and jar of homemade blackberry wine. The fullness of Sarah Smith’s prose will you leave feeling like you’re hiding in plain sight–just like Cindy Stoat standing in for the missing girl. And as Smith plumbs what it means to disappear, you’ll find yourself in such fullness that you’ll ache and disappear too. This is the rare book that wants for nothing.” – Smith Henderson, author of Fourth of July Creek