PEMBERTON MACKEY

A STORY OF FASHION, FAMILY, AND SELF-GROWTH

Words by Paul Hankel

When local author Karen Floan began writing the story “Pemberton Mackey,” she wanted it to be relatable, readable, and to give her readers the chance to connect with two of her passions — fashion and writing. The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native grew up loving the world of fashion and all of its ever-changing facets. Floan also developed a love of writing that she claims came from her grandmother’s love of Louis L’amour novels. “I love writing. When I started writing the story seven years ago, I instantly knew it had to be about fashion. It’s always been a passion of mine,” said Floan. These two life-long interests led Floan to author her first book.

Enter Pemberton Mackey, the central character of Floan’s first book. Pemberton is loosely based on Floan herself and is named after her grandfather’s friend of the same name.

Generous, driven, fiercely independent and strong, with a dream of starting her own fashion business, 39-year-old Pemberton Mackey appears to be the ideal central character in a female-driven novel. However, underneath the fashionably dressed exterior lies a character that, like many, is unsure of herself and often lacking in self-confidence. When she decides to move back to her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to open her own fashion company, Mackey finds herself dealing with many of the common themes a woman in her thirties would experience: divorce, career change, intimate relationships, family drama and the general humor of adult life in a large city. Along the way, Mackey leans on the members of her family for support, such as her younger sister Ashley, the fierytongued wealthy fashionista. Then there’s her parents, Lexus and Howard Mackey, whimsical and educated. Mackey even finds herself in the arms of Max, a dashing and handsome love interest. Set in the trendy neighborhood of Uptown, Minneapolis, the story of Mackey is not only timely but also down to earth and human.

“Pemberton Mackey” is, as Floan intended it to be, a “fun, fast read.” However, the depth of the story along with the abundant character development is surprising for a book that is only 118 pages in length. The themes of fashion, romance, intrigue and humor are woven throughout, and personified by the various characters that Floan does an excellent job of bringing to life. Packed with fashion references and descriptions, the story of Pemberton Mackey is one that will resonate with not only fans of modern female-driven narratives, but also fashion enthusiasts.

“Pemberton Mackey” can be purchased or ordered at your local bookstore. It’s also available on Amazon and the Barnes and Noble website. For a digital copy, visit iTunes or Google Play. Floan has high hopes for Pemberton and her family. She hopes that her story can evolve into a mini-series, or even a movie one day. According to Floan, a sequel is already in the works.

Author Biography

Karen Floan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A life-long lover of all things fashion, Floan tries to incorporate that love into her writing. When not writing, Floan enjoys a simple lifestyle in her new hometown of Fargo.

Karen can be reached at karenfloan@gmail.com or the newly created Pemberton Mackey Facebook page.