Author Michelle Paris, of Elkridge, is following up the success of her first book, “New Normal,” with the release of her second, “Eat Dessert First.”
“Eat Dessert First” will launch during an event at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Backwater Books, 8156 Main St., Ellicott City. Paris will be onsite for a meet-and-greet followed by a reading from the book.
Her new work is a romance novel about a plus-sized baker’s journey to find the recipe for happiness and love, according to a news release. Dealing with the importance of self-love and tough subjects such as body image and fat shaming, the book takes a serious subject and tells it with a blend of humor and heart, the author said.
“Eat Dessert First,” is being published by the local, student-run Apprentice House Publishing at Loyola University, which has allowed Paris to realize her lifelong dream of becoming a novelist.
Paris, 60, works as an executive assistant at the American Psychological Association for her day job. She said much of the inspiration for her novels comes from her experience living in Howard County, spending time roaming the shops on Ellicott City’s Main Street. She said her characters and stories are modeled after her real life.
“Main Street in Ellicott City, lends itself to such a sweet story,” she said. “Every time I walk down Main Street I smile, and I really wanted to share that with readers who aren’t necessarily from this area. I want them to fall in love with that street as much as I have.”
Her first novel “New Normal,” tackles the topic of grief, while “Eat Dessert First” explores the topics of body image and self-love.
Paris said she wanted to take on those topics because she does not want her readers to feel the same way she felt about her body.
“I wish I had some of the characters that I’ve written about in this book to sit me down earlier in my life and say, ‘You know, there are a lot more important things, and people do love you for you, and you just don’t see it yourself,’” she said. “You have to see it yourself in order to open yourself up to love.”
Deborah Adams, of Laurel, who read “New Normal” last year, said the book has realistic characters and a heartfelt story and she is looking forward to reading “Eat Dessert First.”
“Reading her first book, it went quickly because it was enjoyable,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting the second book so I can do that, too.”
