LICENSED TO REAR
Riya Aarini
GENRE: Family Fiction
BLURB:
Mila Winston aspires to earn a professional license to practice parenthood. It’s all she needs to start her family in the happiest micronation on Earth. Newcomers flock to Coolbeensia to fulfill their dreams of raising children here, where kids are guaranteed loving—as opposed to horrible—parents.
But mighty obstacles test Mila’s grit. Peter Losor, a chap with an annoying air of bravado, questionable parenting skills, and a defiant personality, stirs up trouble, eventually challenging the very law that defines Coolbeensia—that licensure is mandatory to enjoy the privilege of raising children.
Will Mila survive her trying ordeal and achieve her ambitions of being a licensed parent in the quirky yet revolutionary micronation? Find out in this satirical, contemporary family fiction novel that will leave you second-guessing the ideals surrounding the prestigious job of parenthood!
Purchase LICENSED TO REAR available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon
Excerpt:
“He’s seven, barely getting started,” Jason retorted. “And for life? Are you kidding me?”
“Well, we have to look closely at the defendant’s conduct and determine if it unequivocally led to a violation of the plaintiff’s Fifth Amendment rights.”
“What was that right again?”
With a heavy sigh, Mila shook her head. “Jason, you should know it by now. It’s Friday, and you had three days to memorize the entire Bill of Rights.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, but—”
“No excuses, Jace. We’ve got to prepare if we’re going to be licensed parents.” She put her hand on his thigh and gave it a light push. “Anyway, the Fifth Amendment states that kids have the right to live in a make-believe world for as long as they wish.” She dropped her tablet onto her lap. “For sure, per Coolbeensian law, this kid’s right was violated.”
Jason jerked his head back. “How so? Kids at some point realize there’s no Santa Claus.”
“But at age seven, he had the right to be inspired by the magical world of Santa and other legendary beings. I mean, it’s just plain wrong that the father’s irresponsible blurt led him to no longer believe in the Tooth Fairy too. These figures add so much joy and wonder to a child’s life. The father had no right to take that joy away from his son so soon.”
She crossed her arms. “It’s just not sensitive parenting.”
“Eh, I disagree,” Jason argued, cocking his head. “In a couple years’ time he’d have learned the truth anyway, from friends and even teachers.”
Mila flung her neck back. “Ugh, I’d never tell my fourth graders that Santa doesn’t exist.” Her eyes grew big. “Some still believe.”
Interview with Riya Aarini
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
I’m reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman right now. Fiction can be irreverent and still good.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I was intentional about the naming convention for the two main characters: Mila Winston and Peter Losor. I picked names that hinted at the quality of character. For example, the surname Winston sounds like a winner, while Losor hints at the opposite.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
No secrets. The story is entirely transparent, and the message is accessible and clear to anyone who reads it.
What was your hardest scene to write?
None of the scenes was hard to write. Each scene progressed fluidly from one to the next.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Each of my standalones stands on its own.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
In writing Licensed to Rear, I imagined a world where children are almost guaranteed a good childhood. This happens when a parental license is required. My intention was to ask the pointed question: what if? By creating a full and complete world, including how the four couples in the story go about earning or not earning their licenses, I believe I achieved my goal for the novel.
What inspired you to write Licensed to Rear: A Novel?
With 1-2 million runaways each year, I wanted to write a story that advocated for the rights of children. No child gets to pick their parents. But when a parental license is the law, children have a better chance of being brought up by well-meaning parents.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in Licensed to Rear: A Novel or what you have planned for the future?
Licensed to Rear is a standalone novel, so a series is not planned. I am, however, working on promoting the book now and in the near future.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Licensed to Rear?
Mila Winston is the idealistic mom-to-be: smart and works toward her goals, which, in the story, is to earn her parental license. She must overcome many obstacles to achieve her dream of parenthood, and, if you read the novel, you’ll find out if she succeeds. Her arch enemy is Peter Losor, who sees no value in a parental license. He goes up against the righteous Mila, who believes wholeheartedly that a parental license is the right way to go.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I enjoyed exploring the concept of a parental license. What would the world look like if all parents had to earn a license before having children? Would children be better off? How would different would-be parents react to a law that required them to earn a license? I enjoyed writing the different character reactions to the law. Some loved the law and saw its value while other scoffed at it and claimed it was absurd.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Riya Aarini entered her small part of the world one summer day in the Pacific Northwest. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, including humor and contemporary fiction. If you enjoy quirkiness with a pinch of whimsy, you’ll have an appetite for her books.
Connect with Riya Aarini
Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook
4 comments:
Thank you for hosting LICENSED TO REAR today.
This should be a fantastic novel. Thanks for sharing.
Looks like a good book.
Looks FUN
Post a Comment