Episode 447: A Chat with Cate Touryan

 When  I read the first chapter of Turning Toward Eden, I laughed so hard and enjoyed it so much that I immediately flipped back to the beginning and read it again. Listen in to see why. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Cate Touryan has written a brilliant book that takes place in the early seventies on California's central coast. Amid family drama and the threat of local "commies," Eden is trying to figure out who she is and what life is all about. The whole thing feels like my childhood. I lived in the area, spent lots of time there, and man do I love it. There aren't enough books that take place in the late sixties and early seventies, but Cate has written a brilliant one to add to every reader's shelves.  I'm not quite done, but I am loving the read. Turning Toward Eden by Cate Touryan  "Chasing the truth, huh? Sure, you're not running from it?" Hollis might be her only friend, a lanky boy Mama calls her "beau," but Eden Lewis has no time for his hogwash. She's got a mystery to crack. For most fourteen-year-olds, California summers in the early 1970s mean sun and surf, despite the Cold War chill. Not for Eden. Her AWOL father has sent her life into a tailspin, landing her in a shabby beach town, stuck caring for her severely disabled brother. Caught in her parents' own cold war, Eden ditches Dex at every chance—pier fishing with Hollis, playing poker with the grizzled card sharks, and caterwaulin' in the church choir, laying plain to the Almighty that singing terms ain't the same as speaking terms, what with the hand he's dealt her. Then Raven arrives mid-ninth grade—an elusive Soviet girl rumored to rain black-winged curses over the fearful town. When a rash of petty crimes escalates to bloodshed on the beach, suspicion falls on the "commie"—and then Eden. Desperate to prove herself innocent, and Raven guilty, she embarks on a reckless game of chase. But for the truth to set her free, she must risk Dex's life. Will she go all in, no matter the cost? An evocative story laced with mystery, Turning Toward Eden weaves nostalgia with grit, sorrow with humor, and despair with faith, offering hope to anyone who has sought to belong in a world that rarely plays fair. "This is storytelling at its most atmospheric—brimming with quirky, well-drawn characters, razor-sharp prose, and the kind of setting you can almost smell. The writing is lyrical, grounded, and often laugh-out-loud funny—even in the midst of deeply poignant moments. With a cast of endearing misfits and a tone reminiscent of Southern Gothic charm, this story lures you in from the very first line and doesn't let go. Cate Touryan has a truly original voice, a rare gift for language, and a special ability to render a world so vivid you feel baptized in it." — Zena Dell Lowe, Screenwriter, Story Coach, and Founder of The Storyteller's Mission Audiobook Coming Soon! The audiobook edition of Turning Toward Eden is in production and on its way to Audible, iTunes, and beyond. Stay tuned for a richly narrated experience, perfect for readers who love stories on the go. Learn more about Cate on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon and more!