Cara Sue Achterberg – författare

It was a Tuesday like any other. And then it wasn't. A simple encounter at a supermarket changed Carin Fletcher's and Leann Cane's lives - literally. Suddenly Carin, a pretty, self-absorbed, underemployed college graduate, finds herself living as Leann, an uneducated, perennially poor, obese checkout clerk, and vice versa.Carin is at first horrified: she's enormous, she can barely make ends meet, her husband is an abusive loser, and she's saddled with the kid Leann had when she was a teenager. Meanwhile, Leann is initially thrilled: she's escaped destitution, she looks like a model, and people treat her completely differently.But as the days pass, it becomes clear that life isn't clear-cut for either woman. Carin finds herself attaching to Trevor, Leann's precocious son, and developing feelings for Jimmy, a fellow employee who treats her with the respect few others bother to give her because of her appearance. At the same time, Leann is living a life she's always wanted in a body she's always dreamed about, but that doesn't mean that all of her problems have gone away...and a new one is emerging with Carin's sometimes-boyfriend.Both women are facing unknowable futures that neither could have imagined.Are they destined to live this way forever? And if so, where will it all lead?A brilliant, nuanced, and surprising tale about the way the world sees us and the courses we are on, I'M NOT HER is a remarkably assured first novel that introduces a profound new storyteller.

Dani, Meg, and Charlotte have bonded over babies, barbeques, and backyards, but when they escape for a girls weekend away, they can't bring themselves to return to lives that don't seem to fit anymore. Harried Dani can't explain why she feels so discontented until she meets a young gallery owner who inspires her to rediscover the art that once made her happy. Dependable Meg faces up to a grief that threatens to swallow her whole and confronts a marriage built on expectations. Flamboyant Charlotte, frustrated with her stagnated life and marriage, pursues a playboy Irish singer and beachside business opportunities. All three of these women thought they would be different. None of them thought they'd be facing down forty and still wondering when life starts. What they do when they realize where they're headed is both inspiring and wildly entertaining. GIRLS' WEEKEND is a fun, yet poignant romp through the universal search of who we are, why we love, and what makes us happy by an author who is quickly emerging as one of our most incisive storytellers.PRAISE FOR CARA SUE ACHTERBERG'S FIRST NOVEL, I'M NOT HER: Well written, sometimes light, sometimes frightening, but always intriguing, this bird's eye view of two lives intertwined among millions is certainly food for thought, especially when one walks a mile in another's shoes." - Tome Tender What an intriguing storyline!" - Teena in Toronto I loved this novel ...This book had me laughing at some points, and it had me wiping away tears at others." - Comfy Reading After about two pages I was hooked." - Glitter and Cookies An awesome read! The theme of living the life of another no matter the situation and not judging without truly knowing is a lesson we should all take to heart." - Literarily Illumined

After nearly a year struggling to find a home for a particular foster dog, Cara begins to wonder how the story ends-when will all the dogs be saved? Even after the one-hundredth foster dog passes through Cara's home, the stream of homeless dogs appears endless. Seized by the need to act, Cara grabs her best friend, fills a van with donations, and heads south to discover what's really happening in the rural shelters where her foster dogs originate.What she discovers will break her heart and compel her to share the story of heroes and villains and plenty of good dogs in the hope of changing this world. From North Carolina where pit bulls fill the shelters and heart-worm rages to Tennessee where dogs are left forgotten in pounds and on to Alabama where unlikely heroes fight in a state that has largely forsaken its responsibilities to its animals, Cara meets the people working on the front lines in this national crisis of unwanted animals. The dogs, the people, and their inspiring stories draw her south again and again in search of answers-and maybe a dog of her own.One Hundred Dogs and Counting will introduce listeners to many wonderful dogs-from sweet Oreo to quirky Flannery-but also to inspirational people sacrificing their personal lives and fortunes to save deserving animals. A supplemental PDF is included with this audiobook.