Table of Contents
Praise for the Novels of Laura Fitzgerald
Dreaming in English
If you want to stand up and cheer, read Dreaming in English. I loved the compelling, sweet love story. And I loved the way Laura Fitzgerald, through the eyes of an Iranian immigrant, made me fall in love with America all over again.
Cathy Lamb, author of Such a Pretty Face and Julias Chocolates
A delight sweet as a sugar cube melting on your tongue as you sip hot tea, Dreaming in English beautifully showcases Fitzgeralds trademark charm and grace in illuminating cultural differences and human universals.
Monica Pradhan, author of The Hindi-Bindi Club
A warm, winning novel. Laura Fitzgerald elegantly crafts a story that will tug on your heartstrings while making you smile. Fans and new readers will be delighted.
Mia King, author of Good Things and Sweet Life
Youll cheer through every page of this enchanting book for the kind and beautiful Tamila Soroush as she fights to hold on to the man of her dreams and her newfound American freedom (not necessarily in that order). Once you know Tamis story, youll never again take for granted the simple joys of wearing a sleeveless dress on a sunny day or of publicly kissing someone you love.
Claire LaZebnik, author of Knitting Under the Influence and If You Lived Here, Youd be Home Now
What a delight to dive back into the world of Tami Soroush, an artistic and charming young Persian woman intoxicated with America and the possibilities for a new life. Laura Fitzgerald has given us another beautiful, heartfelt tale about love, family, and freedom.
Carol Snow, author of Just Like Me, Only Better
A warm, gentle, yet unsparing story of one immigrant womans quest for her inner strength and worth in America. Sprinkled with unexpected revelations and twists, Tami Soroushs funny and moving journey to find her place in a foreign landand the formidable obstacles she must facewill keep readers turning the pages late into the night. Dreaming in English is an endearing tale of family and love that made me laugh, cry, and at times sent a chill across my skin. I rooted for Tami all the way through to the last tension-filled scene.
Anjali Banerjee, author of Haunting Jasmine
Dreaming in English is exactly the kind of book Im always hoping to find and rarely do: a generous, honorable, illuminating tale about family, love, and a womans journey to her truest self. If there is a more winning character in recent memory than Tamila, I have not met her. If only we could be friends in real life!
Barbara ONeal, author of The Secret of Everything
Dreaming in English is the insightful story of a young Iranian immigrant navigating love, prejudice, and her own conflicting emotions as she assimilates to Western culture. With compassion and wisdom, Laura Fitzgerald imbues Tami with hope and charm in this bittersweet look at what it means to be Iranian in todays America.
Jennie Shortridge, author of When She Flew
Veil of Roses
Every mother, every daughter, and anyone whos ever been in love should read this book! Grab the tissues. Its a triumphant tearjerker!
Vicki Lewis Thompson, author of A Werewolf in Manhattan
With simple but heartfelt prose, this book is a marvelous read for any woman who has had to choose between love and family or has watched her freedom and choices dwindle before her eyes.
The Tampa Tribune
Evocative, poignant, and truly lovely. Laura Fitzgerald gives us a glimpse of a culture thats terrifyingly differentand yet heartbreakingly the same as our own.
Alesia Holliday, author of Seven Ways to Lose Your Lover
A fun, romantic, and thought-provoking debut novel from a promising author.
Booklist
A gorgeously authentic voice. Fitzgeralds narrative is infused with wit, warmth, and compassion. If you like cross-cultural books, you wont want to put this down.
Kavita Daswani, author of Salaam, Paris and For Matrimonial Purposes
In this winning debut, Fitzgerald has crafted the powerful story of one womans courage to look beyond the life she has been givenVeil of Roses is a poignant and uplifting novel full of charm, wit, and grace.
Beth Kendrick, author of Fashionably Late and Nearlyweds
Watching Tami find her voice through such small comforts as being able to sit alone in a house, walk to school unescorted, or buy lingerie with her sister will leave readers rooting for her.
Publishers Weekly
After picking up Veil of Roses, I did everything one-handed for two days, I was so unwilling to put it down! Charming and heartbreaking and hopeful and funny, this is the rare book that completely transports the reader. Laura Fitzgerald is an amazing talent.
Lani Diane Rich, author of The Comeback Kiss
Poignant and warm, Veil of Roses is a story about having hope, finding love, and embracing freedom. I loved it.
Whitney Gaskell, author of Testing Kate
One True Theory of Love
A gorgeous book. At times cheeky and poignant but always very real.
Arizona Daily Star
An engaging read thats tough to put down... the book seems to pick you up and carry you right along.
Tucson Weekly
Other Novels by Laura Fitzgerald
Veil of Roses
One True Theory of Love
Dear Laura,
There MUST be a sequel to Veil of Roses. I keep reaching for the book that isnt there and yearn for a continuation of this wonderful story. Im 86; please hurry.
Margaret Tobin, Albuquerque, NM
This book is dedicated to my wonderful readers, who convinced me there was more to the story. Enjoy!
I did it, Maman.
I am here, now.
I have found a way to stay.
I have even found love.
I was married by Elvis Presley
At the Chapel of the Blue Suede Shoes
In the City of Sin.
If youd been here, Maman,
I would have been married in my sisters home.
You would have washed my hair with your lavender soap
And laced flowers in my hair,
Making for me a veil of roses.
Go, you said. Go and wake up your luck.
But what about you?
At last, Mamanwhat about you?
Come, I say to you now.
Come, Maman Joon.
Come, and wake up your luck.
Part One
GO AND WAKE UP YOUR LUCK
Chapter 1
My mother wouldnt let me cling to her; she made me stand tall. My worldthe only one I knew, the only one I rememberedstood still for that last moment at Mehrabad Airport while she brushed away my tears and told me, Go, my daughter. Go and wake up your luck.
At her urging, I did.
All by myself, I flew halfway around the world, more than twelve thousand kilometers, from Tehran, Iran, to Tucson, U.S.A., worrying the entire time. You name it, I worried about itfirst, that the dangerously outdated IranAir aircraft would simply break apart midflight. That when I spoke in America, my English would not be good enough and people would laugh at me. I was scared to see Maryam again after fifteen years of only across-the-ocean phone calls, concerned that our sister relationship would be too different, or else that it would be too much the same. I was terrified by the possibility that I might never see my parents again, and equally anxious that I would fail in my questmy mandateto find a husband in America before my tourist visa expired, and that Id have to go back. I was afraid I
