Rose Girl: A Tale of Resilience and Rumi - Softcover

Payne, Holly Lynn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982279760 ISBN 13: 9780982279762

Publisher: Skywriter Books, 2023

Synopsis

From Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers author Holly Payne, Rose Girl is a medieval thriller that unravels the mystery surrounding an orphaned girl saint in the 13th century. Named after the flowering rosa damascena, the rose girl grows up in a monastery under a tyrannical monk but flees his wrath and soon develops a mysterious gift‚ turning roses into rose oil and is exploited as a saint for performing miracles. Determined to unburden herself of her servitude, the rose girl escapes to medieval Turkey and undergoes a powerful transformation when she meets the great mystic Rumi and discovers the secret of her birth. The rose girl is a potent reminder of our capacity to turn our greatest pain into love.

"Disarmingly powerful—a nuanced story of female resilience that reaches across the ages."

KIRKUS (starred) review


"This is a beautifully told story about the power of faith."

EDITORS' CHOICE, Historical Fiction Society

“With confidence and elegance, Payne guides the reader through mysterious and mystical 13th century Bulgaria and Turkey. Riveting, gorgeous, engrossing! I raced to the end.”

Alka Joshi, NYT bestselling author of The Henna Artist & The Secret Keeper of Jaipur


“Holly Payne is not only a writer of unparalleled prose, she's also a generous writer who, with Rose Girl, gifts us access to a world of magic, mystery, poetry, and above all, genuine love.”


Lee Kravetz, bestselling author of The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.


“Meet the astonishing Damascena. She begins life orphaned, a mystery to herself, and grows to become a sainted figure, acquainted with miracles, schooled by one of the greatest and most beloved poets of all time, Rumi. In lush prose, with deep wisdom and knowledge, Holly Lynn Payne’s wonderful novel captures the extraordinary life of a young woman seeking truth through the transcendent spiritual practices of 13th century Turkey. Damascena is a dramatic tale of healing and transformation. Immersive and wise, this story will expand your mind and open your heart.”


Kate Manning, author of Gilded Mountain

“ROSE GIRL is a captivating read, with a beautifully satisfying ending. In her meticulously researched novel, Holly Payne’s expertly crafted prose captures not only the souls of her characters but the essence of Rumi’s wisdom: that life’s shattering experiences can break our hearts open, compelling us to receive the love intended for us. I loved this book.”


Kristen Harnish, international bestselling author of The Vintner’s Daughter trilogy

About this title

About the Author

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist, writing coach and the host and producer of the Page One Podcast, which interviews master storytellers about the the critical first page that must work so hard to hook readers. Her new novel, Rose Girl: A Tale of Resilience and Rumi, is a spellbinding tale about the mesmerizing orphaned girl whose gift of turning roses into rose oil reconnects the unparalleled poet Rumi to his muse, Shams of Tabriz in 13th century Turkey. A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers author, her historical fiction has been published internationally in ten countries. Payne has served on the faculty of California College of the Arts, Academy of Art College, San Francisco State and Stanford. She lives in the Bay Area with her family and beloved dogs and can be found mountain biking, hiking and humbly learning to surf.

Edition details

• Publisher: Skywriter Books
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0982279760
• ISBN 13: 9780982279762
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 350