Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel

Editorial Reviews

"Readers who love novels that are rich in character development, particularly those that highlight crossing the threshold between young adult and full fledged independence, will enjoy Navigating Her Next Chapter...an absorbing women's fiction novel." -- Reader Views 5-Star review

"...steeped in New York City culture and down-Home personalities...which is what makes the story so appealing and easy to love." -- Midwest Book Review

In 1981, Margie Stevens, a 26-year-old aspiring writer, moves from Maryland's Eastern Shore to New York City. Initially overwhelmed by the contrasts between small town life and NYC, Margie takes a job at Radio City Music Hall to pay the bills while she slowly learns how to navigate city life with help from a menagerie of friends-a punk waitress from the neighborhood diner; a gay couple from her apartment building; a dreamy Hispanic man from her writing group; and her fashion-crazed roommate.

As the harsher aspects of living in the Big Apple-the cocaine crisis and a mysterious nameless disease-affect people she knows, and a huge anti-nuclear demonstration for world peace shakes her world view, Margie's writing pivots in a surprising new direction.

However, pressure from her father, with whom she has a troubled relationship, begins to wear on her, particularly when tragedy strikes within her "New York family." Despite a budding romance with a fellow writer, Margie has to decide whether to stay on her New York career course or retreat home to Maryland and her Eastern Shore roots.

Jean Burgess is a writer, editor, playwright, and workshop presenter. As a former professional stage actor and director, many of her written works relate to the performing arts, including her debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel. Her nonfiction, Collaborative Stage Directing, was published by Routledge in 2019. Before diving into a writing career, Jean taught theater and speech communications on both the secondary and college levels for twenty-three years. She holds an M.A. in Theater from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Educational Theater from New York University.