By Jane Walker
Special to Inside
Red Dress Ink will release "Inappropriate Men," a "chick lit" book, on March 30. Written by Stacey Ballis, 33, who was born and raised in Lincoln Park.
In her debut novel, Ballis takes a look at a woman with a good eye for choosing the wrong guy. After eight years, the passion has evaporated from Sidney Stein's marriage, and she begins to wonder if she is with the wrong man. Always flirtatious, Sidney begins to turn her attentions elsewhere, but makes another unwise choice: Geoffrey, a man over 20 years her senior, married, and a partner in her father's law firm.
"Inappropriate Men" explores love, loss, May-December relationships, and the 30-something Chicago dating scene. Ballis, a fifth-generation North Sider and a senior staff member at The Goodman Theatre, celebrates the city in this novel full of local references that will make Chicagoans feel very much on the inside track.
Without compromising the intelligence of her readers, Ballis delivers an inspiring message of female empowerment and body image acceptance in her fun, sexy debut novel. "Inappropriate Men" features a plus-sized protagonist, the unapologetically sized-24 voluptuary Sidney Stein.
"I have been a full-figured woman my whole life," says the author. "Fifty percent of American women are a size 14 or larger. Every image in society tells these women that they are unattractive and undesirable. But the reality is that plus-sized women are excelling in every facet of life, and having successful, passionate relationships. I wanted to write a book where the main character was completely at ease with her size, was leading a full and enjoyable life, and was considered an object of physical desire in addition to being intelligent and accomplished."
After graduating from Brandeis University, she returned to Chicago to pursue a Masters degree in Education at DePaul University. Ballis spent four years teaching high school English in the Chicago Public Schools, including two years at her alma mater, Lincoln Park High School. She shifted into full-time theatre education work in 1996, and since 2000 has served as the Director of Education and Community Programs at The Goodman Theatre. She also is the President and Founder of Dayton Associates Consulting Group, specializing in strategic planning, arts administration and educational consulting for businesses, cultural organizations, and educational institutions. She is currently single, living in Logan Square, and working on her second book for Red Dress Ink, "Sleeping Over," due out in 2005.
Ms. Ballis will have a reading and signing on Tuesday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1441 W. Webster Ave. Priced at $12.95, the book will be available at Amazon.com as well as bookstores. |
