The Elegant Out: A Novel

By Elizabeth Bartasius

“. . . a riveting tale of maturing womanhood and an insightful peek into the creative process.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Reminiscent of Anne Lamott's works, The Elegant Out grapples with the glorious, messy intersection of real life and true art.”
—Patricia Minger, author of Magic Flute

“Really lovely . . . fun . . . impressionistic . . . poetic . . . evocative.”
—Kate Maloney, PhD, CEO and executive producer of WeRiseUP The Movie

After escaping an abusive relationship, Elizabeth finds herself struggling with immense feelings of inadequacy. Stuck in a small-town, eight to five job, she dreams of characters and plot lines—when she’s not thinking about babies. She wants another. Gabe, her love, does not. When her writing coach praises her talent and encourages her to write, Elizabeth dives in, resolved to pursue her dream of publishing once again and put her ideas about pregnancy on the back burner. But then everyone around her, from her cousin to the couple-that-never-would, starts announcing their own pregnancies, and her baby obsession comes rushing back—accompanied by a deep depression.

Frustrated with Gabe’s refusal to give her another child—as well as his questioning of her motives—Elizabeth finds herself considering a separation. Writing, meanwhile, becomes a tool for beating herself up over her inability to find her voice. Ultimately, she must face an abusive past to answer a complex question: Is having babies the answer, or simply a distraction from her immense feelings of inadequacy and fear—an elegant out? If she fails to uncover her truth, Elizabeth fears she might remain strangled, her voice squelched forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: She Writes Press
• Release date: Apr 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781631525643

Elizabeth Bartasius

Elizabeth Bartasius is a writer and editor of transformative stories that inspire and engage. The Elegant Out, her debut novel, placed as a finalist in the 2017 Faulkner–Wisdom Competition. She enjoys European cafes, tropical climates, and list-making. She currently lives in the US Virgin Islands with her husband and a rogue iguana. You can learn more about her at www.elizabethbartasius.com.

Book preview

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