Hi everyone I am Nkechi (Kay-She) grateful to be in this space!
1. Story Statement: In a world that questions her place and challenges her worth, Fay Bankole must navigate professional hurdles, confront buried family secrets, and rediscover her identity to gain true freedom and find her voice.
2. Antagonist: Dolly Davis, the Dietetic Director, presents a polished image of professional accomplishment. A veteran in the nutrition field, she has dedicated over two decades to establishing herself as a formidable leader. With a sharp eye for detail and a history rooted in hospital administration, she commands authority in the predominantly White profession (dietetics) and prides herself on maintaining an impeccable reputation.
Dolly approaches her role with exacting standards and expects her interns to reflect her own rigorous work ethic, but she singles out Fay, the only Black (bi-racial) intern, for subtle and overt undermining. Though polite on the surface, Dolly's actions betray a desire to break those who might challenge or tarnish her world. Her resentment toward Fay intensifies as the internship progresses.
3. Breakout Titles: "Dear Dolly, No Thanks.", "Sugar, Spice, and Everything Semi-Nice", "Seasoned Truths"
4. Two Comparable Novels:
"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman
Similarity: Eleanor Oliphant is a socially awkward woman who leads a solitary life and learns to confront her traumatic past. It blends humor with deeper emotional layers, exploring themes of self-discovery, identity, and personal transformation—much like Fay's own growth journey in your novel.
Why it fits: Eleanor's personal growth, handling past trauma, and the realization that her identity is more complex than she thought mirrors Fay’s own journey in an accessible and emotionally resonant way.
"Such a Fun a Age" by Kiley Reid
Similarity: This novel captures the story of Emira Tucker, a 25-year-old Black woman who is babysitting for a wealthy White family and is accused of kidnapping their child. The narrative explores themes of racial dynamics and societal expectations, while navigating the awkward space between personal and professional lives. It delves into Emira’s struggles with with identity and external perceptions.
Like Fay, the protagonist is balancing societal expectations, subtle power dynamics, and the need to figure out their own place in the world. Both stories explore heavy themes like race and identity. Such a Fun Age does so with a satirical edge and moments of humor that lighten the tone. This book will use humor.
5. Hook Line: "A young woman, caught between her adopted Nigerian family’s secrets and the intense pressure of a demanding dietetic career, struggles to find her identity while navigating a complicated relationship with her boss, a coworker, and the unraveling truth of her past. As her career and personal life collide, Fay must confront the betrayals that threaten to destroy her sense of self."
6. Inner Conflict:
Fay’s inner conflict is rooted in her search for identity and self-worth, driven by her complex feelings of not fully belonging in any one space—whether it’s her career, her adoptive family, or her relationships.
Primary Conflict: Workplace Dynamics with Dolly and Her Husband Marc
Fay’s primary external conflict stems from her complicated and increasingly tense relationship with Dolly, the director of the dietetics program, and Dolly's growing jealousy over Fay's friendship with her husband, Marc, a nurse at the hospital. From the beginning, Dolly has shown a clear distaste for Fay, often dismissing her and making her feel isolated in a program that’s already emotionally challenging. Fay, who struggles to make connections, finds solace in her friendship with Marc, who is friendly, approachable, and caring. Their bond grows innocently, but it begins to attract Dolly’s suspicion. Dolly, who is possessive of Marc and already doesn't like Fay, begins to notice the growing dynamic between her husband and the intern. She feels threatened and betrayed by what she perceives as an inappropriate connection between them. Her jealousy and growing discomfort manifest as passive-aggressive remarks, harsh criticisms, and an increased coldness toward Fay. Fay, who is just seeking normal friendship, becomes trapped in the middle of a delicate situation. She starts to feel torn between wanting to maintain a healthy friendship with Marc while navigating the increasingly toxic work environment Dolly has created.
Hypothetical Scenario:
Dolly’s husband invites Fay to grab coffee before work, ostensibly to talk about a rotation, but the conversation quickly becomes personal. He makes a comment about her "natural beauty" and touches her arm. Fay is unsure how to respond. Fay is unsure if it’s just an innocent gesture or if she’s being flirted with, but it's pleasant. When Dolly starts noticing the interactions, she becomes even colder, creating a precarious situation for Fay as she navigates her professional role and moral compass.
Secondary Conflict with Family: The Parent-Daughter Struggle
Fay’s relationship with her adoptive Nigerian family has always been a source of confusion and isolation, especially since she has never felt connected as a biracial woman. However, when Fay uncovers family secrets about her biological father and her mother’s past, it stirs up old wounds and forces her to reevaluate her relationship with her parents. She finds herself torn between wanting to learn more about her roots and feeling betrayed by their secrecy. This secondary conflict explores how secrets from her mother’s past affect Fay's identity and sense of self.
Hypothetical Scenario:
Fay begins searching for her biological father’s medical records at the hospital where she interns, hoping to learn more about her heritage. Instead, she stumbles upon a discrepancy: the story her parents told her about her mother’s death doesn’t add up. The details she was given conflict with the medical records, revealing that her parents haven’t been entirely truthful about the circumstances surrounding her mother’s passing. Determined to uncover the truth, Fay digs deeper and uncovers more evidence suggesting her parents hid significant parts of her mother’s past. Faced with these revelations, Fay is torn between wanting to understand the full truth about her origins and feeling betrayed by the secrecy her parents maintained.
7. Setting:
The Teaching Hospital
The hospital is a massive, bustling teaching facility located in a vibrant city (TBD)—, very modern, beautiful skyscrapers ,and shiny new clinics, but the streets hold the weight of history--and so does the hospital. The hospital itself has a multi-floored, sprawling structure.
The Apartment with her Roommate
Fay’s apartment is a modest, lived-in two-bedroom, two-bathroom space in a neighborhood filled with young adults, professionals, and young families. It’s far from glamorous, but it has a certain character—faded wallpaper, a small kitchen stocked with mismatched plates and mugs, and a living room that’s more cozy chaos than anything carefully curated. She shares the apartment with a roommate she finds a bit annoying, but it's still a sanctuary of sorts—her quiet retreat from the constant pressure of work and life.
The Family Home
Fay’s childhood home is a warm but somewhat chaotic place, where a tight-knit family of four lived in a modest three-bedroom house. The rooms are small but full of life, decorated with a mix of cultural artifacts from her Nigerian heritage and the functional clutter of everyday family life. Fay’s upbringing in this home was filled with love, but also with the confusion of being a bi-racial child in a family where she never quite felt like she fit in.
