Pioneer Press Article p.2

Every ounce of Claire's energy goes into not just surviving, but building. "I know so many women like that, with huge hearts, who are just the most wonderful people," says Royal.

Set in Evanston and on the North Shore, Royal's home turf, the book unrolls in 335 chapters, some of them no more than a single sentence, all of them headed by pithy titles. Royal employs poetry, journal-type entries, stage scenarios, even a simple list of do's and don'ts, as needed to make her points.

Callaway sees it as a version of stream-of-consciousness, which, he notes, can be an "invitation to preciousness, but in her hands, it just sings. It's like nothing you've ever read before. Her transmutation of her experience into art is masterful."

While Royal drew on her own experiences to create this book, it's in Claire's life the novel finds its hope and joy. "Claire has to rebuild her life out of the wreckage of her dreams," says Royal. "She's not perfect, and I wanted her to finally take responsibility for her own actions. After all, she's the mistress of her own destiny."

IF YOU GO

WHAT:

Undoing I Do book signing by Anastasia Royal

WHEN:

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13

WHERE:

Borders Books, 1500 16th St., Oak Brook

CONTACT:

(630)574-0800