THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS

One of "5 more writers over 50" to Watch, Poets & Writers

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

“Dempsey has taken two stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines and woven them into one fascinating, can’t-put-it-down book.” —Edwina C

“I absolutely loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. At the same time, I didn't want it to end.” —Karen D

“This book was hard to put down. On the day I received it, I read up to Part III, turned out the light but couldn’t close my eyes. So back up, light on, reading until I finished at 2 am.” —Donna

REVIEWS

“... an extraordinarily pertinent novel dripping in suspense and powerful scenes of political discourse … a must-read.” —FOREWORD (starred review)

“… Dempsey’s fine first novel [is] notable for the evenhanded way it addresses hot-button issues. A timely and memorable story.” —BOOKLIST

“A gripping and sensitive portrait of ordinary people wrestling with ideological passions.” —KIRKUS

"Dempsey’s fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear, and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant." —LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... a thought-provoking and timely novel." —THE ADVOCATE

" ... [Dempsey's] talent is evident ... a fast-paced, entertaining read." —MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In 2009, eighty-five-year-old art professor Ludka Zeilonka gets drawn into a political firestorm when her grandson, Tommy, is among a group of gay Massachusetts teachers fired for allegedly discriminating against Christian kids in high school classrooms. The ensuing battle to reinstate the teachers raises the specter of Ludka's World War II past―a past she's spent a lifetime trying to forget.

The firings are the brainchild of Warren Meck, a deeply religious local radio host and father of three who is hoping to pass a religious freedom bill in Massachusetts. Meck favors achieving his goals through careful planning and legislation, and is disturbed when violence erupts. His concern quickly turns to alarm when he realizes those within his inner circle might be inciting the violence.

As Ludka's esteemed political family defends Tommy under increasingly vicious conditions, a stranger with connections to Ludka's past shows up and threatens to expose her for illegally hoarding a valuable painting presumed stolen by the Nazis. Only one other person knew about the painting―a man she's been trying to find for sixty years.

Compulsively readable, This Is How It Begins is a timely novel about free speech, religious freedom, the importance of empathy and the bitter consequences of long-buried secrets.

THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS

One of "5 more writers over 50" to Watch, Poets & Writers

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"If this doesn't become a New York Times bestseller, I'll never understand why. This is one of the best novels I've read in the past five years—it will stay with me." –Cathy K

“Dempsey has taken two stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines and woven them into one fascinating, can’t-put-it-down book.” —Edwina C

“I absolutely loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. At the same time, I didn't want it to end.” —Karen D

“This book was hard to put down. On the day I received it, I read up to Part III, turned out the light but couldn’t close my eyes. So back up, light on, reading until I finished at 2 am.” —Donna

REVIEWS

“... an extraordinarily pertinent novel dripping in suspense and powerful scenes of political discourse … a must-read.” —FOREWORD (starred review)

“… Dempsey’s fine first novel [is] notable for the evenhanded way it addresses hot-button issues. A timely and memorable story.” —BOOKLIST

“A gripping and sensitive portrait of ordinary people wrestling with ideological passions.” —KIRKUS

"Dempsey’s fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear, and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant." —LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... a thought-provoking and timely novel." —THE ADVOCATE

" ... [Dempsey's] talent is evident ... a fast-paced, entertaining read." —MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In 2009, eighty-five-year-old art professor Ludka Zeilonka gets drawn into a political firestorm when her grandson, Tommy, is among a group of gay Massachusetts teachers fired for allegedly discriminating against Christian kids in high school classrooms. The ensuing battle to reinstate the teachers raises the specter of Ludka's World War II past―a past she's spent a lifetime trying to forget.

The firings are the brainchild of Warren Meck, a deeply religious local radio host and father of three who is hoping to pass a religious freedom bill in Massachusetts. Meck favors achieving his goals through careful planning and legislation, and is disturbed when violence erupts. His concern quickly turns to alarm when he realizes those within his inner circle might be inciting the violence.

As Ludka's esteemed political family defends Tommy under increasingly vicious conditions, a stranger with connections to Ludka's past shows up and threatens to expose her for illegally hoarding a valuable painting presumed stolen by the Nazis. Only one other person knew about the painting―a man she's been trying to find for sixty years.

Compulsively readable, This Is How It Begins is a timely novel about free speech, religious freedom, the importance of empathy and the bitter consequences of long-buried secrets.

THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS

One of "5 more writers over 50" to Watch, Poets & Writers

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"If this doesn't become a New York Times bestseller, I'll never understand why. This is one of the best novels I've read in the past five years—it will stay with me." –Cathy K

“Dempsey has taken two stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines and woven them into one fascinating, can’t-put-it-down book.” —Edwina C

“I absolutely loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. At the same time, I didn't want it to end.” —Karen D

“This book was hard to put down. On the day I received it, I read up to Part III, turned out the light but couldn’t close my eyes. So back up, light on, reading until I finished at 2 am.” —Donna

REVIEWS

“... an extraordinarily pertinent novel dripping in suspense and powerful scenes of political discourse … a must-read.” —FOREWORD (starred review)

“… Dempsey’s fine first novel [is] notable for the evenhanded way it addresses hot-button issues. A timely and memorable story.” —BOOKLIST

“A gripping and sensitive portrait of ordinary people wrestling with ideological passions.” —KIRKUS

"Dempsey’s fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear, and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant." —LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... a thought-provoking and timely novel." —THE ADVOCATE

" ... [Dempsey's] talent is evident ... a fast-paced, entertaining read." —MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In 2009, eighty-five-year-old art professor Ludka Zeilonka gets drawn into a political firestorm when her grandson, Tommy, is among a group of gay Massachusetts teachers fired for allegedly discriminating against Christian kids in high school classrooms. The ensuing battle to reinstate the teachers raises the specter of Ludka's World War II past―a past she's spent a lifetime trying to forget.

The firings are the brainchild of Warren Meck, a deeply religious local radio host and father of three who is hoping to pass a religious freedom bill in Massachusetts. Meck favors achieving his goals through careful planning and legislation, and is disturbed when violence erupts. His concern quickly turns to alarm when he realizes those within his inner circle might be inciting the violence.

As Ludka's esteemed political family defends Tommy under increasingly vicious conditions, a stranger with connections to Ludka's past shows up and threatens to expose her for illegally hoarding a valuable painting presumed stolen by the Nazis. Only one other person knew about the painting―a man she's been trying to find for sixty years.

Compulsively readable, This Is How It Begins is a timely novel about free speech, religious freedom, the importance of empathy and the bitter consequences of long-buried secrets.

THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS

One of "5 more writers over 50" to Watch, Poets & Writers

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"If this doesn't become a New York Times bestseller, I'll never understand why. This is one of the best novels I've read in the past five years—it will stay with me." –Cathy K

“Dempsey has taken two stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines and woven them into one fascinating, can’t-put-it-down book.” —Edwina C

“I absolutely loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. At the same time, I didn't want it to end.” —Karen D

“This book was hard to put down. On the day I received it, I read up to Part III, turned out the light but couldn’t close my eyes. So back up, light on, reading until I finished at 2 am.” —Donna

REVIEWS

“... an extraordinarily pertinent novel dripping in suspense and powerful scenes of political discourse … a must-read.” —FOREWORD (starred review)

“… Dempsey’s fine first novel [is] notable for the evenhanded way it addresses hot-button issues. A timely and memorable story.” —BOOKLIST

“A gripping and sensitive portrait of ordinary people wrestling with ideological passions.” —KIRKUS

"Dempsey’s fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear, and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant." —LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... a thought-provoking and timely novel." —THE ADVOCATE

" ... [Dempsey's] talent is evident ... a fast-paced, entertaining read." —MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In 2009, eighty-five-year-old art professor Ludka Zeilonka gets drawn into a political firestorm when her grandson, Tommy, is among a group of gay Massachusetts teachers fired for allegedly discriminating against Christian kids in high school classrooms. The ensuing battle to reinstate the teachers raises the specter of Ludka's World War II past―a past she's spent a lifetime trying to forget.

The firings are the brainchild of Warren Meck, a deeply religious local radio host and father of three who is hoping to pass a religious freedom bill in Massachusetts. Meck favors achieving his goals through careful planning and legislation, and is disturbed when violence erupts. His concern quickly turns to alarm when he realizes those within his inner circle might be inciting the violence.

As Ludka's esteemed political family defends Tommy under increasingly vicious conditions, a stranger with connections to Ludka's past shows up and threatens to expose her for illegally hoarding a valuable painting presumed stolen by the Nazis. Only one other person knew about the painting―a man she's been trying to find for sixty years.

Compulsively readable, This Is How It Begins is a timely novel about free speech, religious freedom, the importance of empathy and the bitter consequences of long-buried secrets.

THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS

One of "5 more writers over 50" to Watch, Poets & Writers

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"If this doesn't become a New York Times bestseller, I'll never understand why. This is one of the best novels I've read in the past five years—it will stay with me." –Cathy K

“Dempsey has taken two stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines and woven them into one fascinating, can’t-put-it-down book.” —Edwina C

“I absolutely loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. At the same time, I didn't want it to end.” —Karen D

“This book was hard to put down. On the day I received it, I read up to Part III, turned out the light but couldn’t close my eyes. So back up, light on, reading until I finished at 2 am.” —Donna

REVIEWS

“... an extraordinarily pertinent novel dripping in suspense and powerful scenes of political discourse … a must-read.” —FOREWORD (starred review)

“… Dempsey’s fine first novel [is] notable for the evenhanded way it addresses hot-button issues. A timely and memorable story.” —BOOKLIST

“A gripping and sensitive portrait of ordinary people wrestling with ideological passions.” —KIRKUS

"Dempsey’s fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear, and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant." —LIBRARY JOURNAL

"... a thought-provoking and timely novel." —THE ADVOCATE

" ... [Dempsey's] talent is evident ... a fast-paced, entertaining read." —MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In 2009, eighty-five-year-old art professor Ludka Zeilonka gets drawn into a political firestorm when her grandson, Tommy, is among a group of gay Massachusetts teachers fired for allegedly discriminating against Christian kids in high school classrooms. The ensuing battle to reinstate the teachers raises the specter of Ludka's World War II past―a past she's spent a lifetime trying to forget.

The firings are the brainchild of Warren Meck, a deeply religious local radio host and father of three who is hoping to pass a religious freedom bill in Massachusetts. Meck favors achieving his goals through careful planning and legislation, and is disturbed when violence erupts. His concern quickly turns to alarm when he realizes those within his inner circle might be inciting the violence.

As Ludka's esteemed political family defends Tommy under increasingly vicious conditions, a stranger with connections to Ludka's past shows up and threatens to expose her for illegally hoarding a valuable painting presumed stolen by the Nazis. Only one other person knew about the painting―a man she's been trying to find for sixty years.

Compulsively readable, This Is How It Begins is a timely novel about free speech, religious freedom, the importance of empathy and the bitter consequences of long-buried secrets.