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Published Dec 2010
288 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
A sparkling new series introducing five unforgettable women who flock to yoga at turning points in their lives and find the gift of lasting friendship.
The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship. An aggressively expanding chain of Los Angeles yoga "experience centers," has Lee and her extraordinary teaching abilities in its sights. They woo her with a lucrative contract, a trademarked name for her classes, and a place for her handsome musician husband. But accepting the contract means abandoning the students at the homey studio Lee runs in L.A.'s Silver Lake district - and leaving behind four women whose friendships are suddenly more important to her than retirement benefits and a salary increase.
Tales from the Yoga Studio is an insider's look at the current obsession with yoga, told with enough humor, wit, and warmth to charm and delight readers, whether or not they've ever done a Downward Dog.
Reading Group Guide
Author Interview
"Whether you’re a yoga master or a perpetual beginner (like me), you're going to love Tales from the Yoga Studio. It's a funny and wise celebration of women's friendship and strength in and out of the studio. Even if you think 'down dog' is about disciplining Rover, this novel will probably make you want to sign up for a class-–or at least buy a mat. I love the characters and I can't wait for the next installment." - Anita Diamant
"With warmth, humor, angst and relatable scenarios, Mitchell pulls the reader in and wraps a tale of self-discovery, love, friendship and heartfelt desires in an uncommon place, but with results that speak to most of us." - RT Book Reviews
"If sweet tales of friendship, bonding, and downward facing dog are your thing, this should be an agreeable diversion." – Publishers Weekly
"Seamless integration of names and explanations of yoga positions doesn’t hinder mainstream readership, while Mitchell’s smoothly advancing character development enriches this entertaining meditation on building and sustaining community." - Booklist
"Mitchell's strong beginning is entertaining and hard to put down, but her weak ending feels rushed and a little confusing. Novices and veterans of yoga alike will appreciate the rejuvenation these women begin to undergo and will be intrigued by what will happen next in the series." - Library Journal
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
My Pseudonym and Me: A Love Story, by Stephen McCauley
Two years ago, I was asked by Denise Roy at Plume to write a series of novels under the pseudonym Rain Mitchell. The series was to revolve around five women who meet at a yoga studio in Los Angeles. There would be pregnancies, bad boyfriends and lots of sun salutations.
I was on board. I started doing yoga as a teenager, and for several years, I'd been longing to write something radically different than what I'd been writing since my first novel, The Object of My Affection, was published in 1987.
I'll confess, though, that I had a slightly condescending attitude toward Rain Mitchell. I'd published six novels. Rain Mitchell? A neophyte! I'd been teaching creative writing for 20 years. Rain's employment history was as vague as Rain's gender. I was clearly going to have to teach Rain a lot.
As it turned out, I was the one who learned from Rain.
I've always written agonizingly slowly, producing a novel every four years. Rain sat down each morning with confidence and produced 10 or more pages before dinner.
I avoid big, plotty developments, preferring small emotional shifts to drive the narrative. Rain made things happen--affairs, miscarriages, drunken binges--with a gusto that left me gasping in admiration.
Rain openly laughed, cheered and wept along with the characters.
Rain completed the first novel in six weeks.
Whenever I finish a book, I can barely stand to open it. Rain is proud of Tales from the Yoga Studio and Head over Heels. Although not exactly enduring literary masterpieces, Rain thinks they're engaging entertainment, with a lot of humor, heart and insight into the world of yoga.
The final novel in the series is under way, and Rain Mitchell and I are about to part company. I've started to miss her already.
My only comfort during this period of anticipated departure is knowing that a part of Rain will always be with me--in the confidence, energy and enthusiasm I felt while draped in Rain's androgynous identity.
Thank you, Rain. I will always be grateful to you. And a little bit in love.
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