Novelist Lara Tupper Novelist Lara Tupper of Boothbay Harbor. Her debut novel, "A Thousand and One Nights," published by Harcourt/Harvest, will be on sale February 5, 2007. (Photo Robert Mitchell)

Boothbay native Lara Tupper's debut novel, "A Thousand and One Nights" will be in stores Monday, February 5, 2007.

Lara, the daughter of Jill Tupper and the late Stan Tupper spent two years writing the first draft. Several more drafts followed until it was sold to Harcourt/Harvest in 2005.

"It took awhile to finish the novel," said Tupper. "I was also job hunting, apartment hunting and trying to adjust to life in New York City (a terrifying thing at first for a Maine girl) while the city was still recovering from September 11."

Although Tupper never identifies the "small town in Maine" that the novel's main character Karla is from, those of us in the Boothbay region will have no problem recognizing our community.

"Karla" refers to her three years as head waitress for Cabbage Island Clambakes, and later, because all of the cruise ships that are owned by the company she works for are named after Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals (Karla works aboard the "Sound of Music"), she reflects on how "Carousel" was filmed in her hometown.

"The novel deals with Karla's struggles as a young American overseas," Tupper said. "I didn't specifically name the town because I wanted it to speak to people growing up in close-knit towns everywhere."

Since her graduation from Boothbay Region High School in 1991, Tupper attended Wesleyan College in Middletown, Conn., worked on a cruise ship sailing the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and was part of a lounge duo in Thailand, Japan, China and the United Arab Emirates.

She earned a master of fine arts at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina in 2001 through its Program for Writers course. The exotic locales of her past were revisited in her thesis, a collection of short stories, entitled "Belly Dancing."

"I was interested in how these settings could affect the characters, as well as provide vivid backdrops," said Tupper of the collection.

Currently, Tupper is teaching fiction writing at Rutgers University in New York City and is a frequent book reviewer for the "Believer."

Tupper thoroughly enjoys being an instructor. "My students are consistently challenging; I am never bored by teaching!"

Balancing teaching and writing can be a challenge during the school year, but she finds the winter and summer breaks the ideal time for focusing on her writing.

A second novel is in the works, but is largely in the "research stage" right now. She is also at work on some non-fiction pieces about her specific travel experiences.

"I saw some pretty unsettling things, particularly in places such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. There, Emirati women are still second-class citizens," said Tupper. "This feels particularly odd because expatriate women can do what they please in these cities. It makes for a disturbing contrast."

Book signings and readings of "A Thousand and One Nights" are already being scheduled for summer 2007. Her Maine appearances to date include June 13 at the Portland Public Library, and at a book signing scheduled at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, as part of its annual "Books and Blooms" event on July 21. A book signing at Sherman's Book & Stationery is also planned.

Requests for advance copies of the novel were strong - so much so that Harcourt has run out. Reviews of the work have been positive - here are a few excerpts:

Author Judith Grossman, "…Lara Tupper is a writer of many gifts with a terrific story to tell."

Said author Joan Silber, "…Lara Tupper has written an intriguing, often funny, and richly atmospheric novel…it is sharply observed, fresh and authentic in its vision…"

And from Publisher's Weekly, "…Tupper proves herself a canny observer of the insular world of nomadic entertainers…"

Another recipient of one of the advanced copies was Tupper's mom, and Boothbay Harbor attorney, Jill.

"It's a great story; witty, poignant and insightful," said Jill. "Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down."

Although writing and teaching consume her days, the singer/ performer inside Tupper will not be silenced. Lara would like to be performing more than time permits - at the moment.

"I sang with a choir in New York City for awhile," said Tupper. "My dream is to form a little jazz trio and play somewhere on weekends. Maybe this will be my project for next year!"

To learn more about the novel, read some of her book reviews, and keep up with her creative endeavors, visit Tupper's Web site, www.laratupper.com.