Becca Spence Dobias, Guilford Bonner Scholar '08, just wrote a novel titled "Rock of Ages." It tells the story of "an LA transplant struggles over whether to return to rural Appalachia after her father’s death and an abusive relationship. A feisty rule breaker and her abuelita, and maybe a little bit of magic, help her understand the meaning of home."
When her father’s sudden death shakes her sense of security and reality, Becca wonders: Can she maintain her connection to Appalachia from across the country or should she “come on home” as her family before her, who we meet through vignettes, have done?
An unplanned pregnancy and an emotionally absent partner leave Becca feeling lost in the sprawling Los Angeles metropolis, but Noeli, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, a self-possessed rule breaker, and a writer for a well-known feminist magazine, deepens her understanding of home, culture, and who she can love.
Rock of Ages is ultimately an ode to Appalachia, an exploration of the immigrant experience, an expedition to the very edges of birth and death, and a question—must the hero return home to complete her hero’s journey?
Strewn with bits of magical realism, including a black mountain cat who leaves trails of wildflowers in her wake, Rock of Ages would be at home shelved with Foer’s Everything is Illuminated and Horne’s The World to Come.
Becca needs to get need 443 more pre-orders (as of Jan 23) to secure a commitment from the publisher. Please take a minute to read about the book, watch a short video with Becca talking about her novel, and then pre-order your copy here: https://www.inkshares.com/books/rock-of-ages