The Contract: A Novel

(Paperback)

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KEY SELLING POINTS The Contract was a fiction finalist for the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award Saudi Arabia is the worlds second-largest arms importer, and 61% of those imports come from the US, supporting tens of thousands of American jobs. Conflict between the US and Saudi Arabia could send repercussions around the globe. The author's first book Appetite (2016) was a 2016 USA Best Book Awards General Fiction Finalist, and the author was listed on 100 creatives you should know in metro Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times in December 2016. The book was also reviewed favorably by Booklist and received a blurb from New York Times best-selling author Mary Mackey. In the ongoing forefront conversation about diversity and the Middle East, the book's themes of religious intolerances, ideology, communication between cultures, and women's roles in different societies are very timely. There are few novels that address what feminism looks like in Saudi Arabia. In the US, childrens museums alone serve more than 31 million visitors a year, and American museums receive more visits each year than all major league sporting events and theme parks combined. In the 20th century, womens participation in the US workforce rose to 61% but has been stagnating. While the wage gap between men and women has fallen over the past several decades, its still significant. Women's Fiction comprises of almost half of all fiction sold in the US. AUDIENCE: Career women Feminists Museum aficionados People interested in the Middle East Business consultants

Reviews

"A contrast between Saudi and American ways that sets the stage for an engrossing exploration of personal and political issues."
--Kirkus Reviews

". . . an engaging story that not only examines its protagonist's beliefs and doubts, but also actively and compassionately challenges them."
--The BookLife Prize

"Jo, a driven executive isolated from even her closest loved ones by the certitude of her prejudices, finds herself competing in Saudi Arabia to design a museum. Convinced a win would at long last establish her reputation, Jo actually wins something much greater. And like Jo, readers will win deep insights not only into Saudi culture but into themselves."
--Karen Elliott House, author of On Saudi Arabia, Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines--and Future
"The Contract begins as a take-charge American woman arrives in Saudi Arabia to chase a deal she hopes will bring international acclaim to her design company. She plows ahead despite the misgivings of those closest to her. That's what's on the surface. Ah, but the undercurrents. Author Sheila Grinell takes readers deep as she explores titanic clashes of culture and personality."
--Linda Valdez, author of Crossing the Line: A Marriage Across Borders

"Fascinating insights into the world of museum exhibits, the frustrations of American women doing business in Saudi Arabia, and the emotional mysteries of marriage. Characters are vivid and captivating, and creative plot twists keep the reader engrossed."
--Alesa Lightbourne, author of The Kurdish Bike

Author Bio

Sheila Grinell spent forty years creating science museums in the US and consulting on museum projects around the world. A few years ago she turned to literature, publishing a debut novel, Appetite, in 2016. The Contract is her second work of fiction. Grinell writes a monthly newsletter and social media updates to engage her readers and gives talks at bookstores and libraries about "writing as a second act." Born in a taxi in Manhattan, she studied at The Bronx High School of Science, Harvard University, and the University of California at Berkeley. She lives in Phoenix with her husband, Tom Johnson, and their dog.