Just Emilia

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Pub Date 10 May 2025 | Archive Date 21 Jul 2025
Regal House Publishing | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

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Description

When Emilia Fletcher finds herself trapped inside a Washington, DC Metro elevator, getting out is the least of her problems. Sharing the confined space with her are Em, a troubled teenager plagued by suicidal thoughts, and Millie, an elderly woman yearning to mend ties with her estranged daughter. As the hours drag on, hunger, exhaustion, and panic set in, revealing an almost incomprehensible truth: they are the same person.

Locked in an uncompromising match of memories, the three women excavate and attempt to reckon with the shared shame and suffering stemming from an unresolved trauma that has cast a profound shadow over their lives. Brimming with biting humor, compassion, and quick-witted insight, Just Emilia is a remarkable journey of self-discovery. 

When Emilia Fletcher finds herself trapped inside a Washington, DC Metro elevator, getting out is the least of her problems. Sharing the confined space with her are Em, a troubled teenager plagued by...


Advance Praise

"Jennifer Oko’s JUST EMILIA is a deeply moving story, uniquely told, about the different versions of ourselves—past, present, and future—that co-exist, and how, with the correction of long-buried distorted memories, they can finally find peace. A novel I won’t soon forget.”

—Laura Zigman, bestselling author of Separation Anxiety and Small World

JUST EMILIA is a feat of imagination. Oko asks universal questions–how do we make sense of our past and what do we want for our future? –in delightful and inventive ways. Prepare to be surprised and moved as the elevator doors close on Emilia, Millie, and Em. They may be trapped, but the reader is taken on an unforgettable journey through memory, grief, guilt, and hope.

—Miriam Gershow, author of Closer and Survival Tips: Stories

Jennifer Oko trips the space-time continuum with a deft hand in this jam-packed kaleidoscope of a novel. In the fluorescent glare of the Washington, DC, Friendship Heights metro station elevator, Emilia confronts her past and future selves. Funny, compassionate, and wise, Em, Emilia, and Millie are unforgettable characters, and Just Emilia is an unforgettable story.

—Laura Scalzo, author of American Arcadia

Bursting with imagination! In JUST EMILIA, Jennifer Oko manages to transform a stuck elevator into a black box, a hall of mirrors, and a Swiss Army knife with her astonishing storytelling powers. Three women trapped inside share a past in this entertaining novel about guilt, blame, and the possibility that forgiveness can alter the future.

—Mary Kay Zuravleff, author of American Ending

JUST EMILIA is a time-travel tale with imaginative twists—an absorbing story of three women and how they make sense of their lives. Gripping from the start, this novel combines compelling storytelling with mordant humor. I loved it.

—Clare McHugh, Author of The Romanov Brides and The Most English Princess

What happens when three versions of the same person collide in a dimensional mishap stuns the imagination. Jennifer Oko’s clever, twisty tale Just Emilia traps teenage Em, middle-aged Emilia, and silver-aged Millie in a cranky DC metro elevator and forces them to face each other, their past, present and future. Disbelief, anger, humor, fear, redemption and forgiveness unwind at a pace that keeps readers turning pages, anxious to see how the Emilias survive this perplexing space-time mystery. I love this book and can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to meet myself at different ages. What would I ask? What would I reveal? Readers will ponder the same long after they finish this enchanting story.

—Chris McClain Johnson, author of the Fugere Prize winning novella Three Guesses 

"Jennifer Oko’s JUST EMILIA is a deeply moving story, uniquely told, about the different versions of ourselves—past, present, and future—that co-exist, and how, with the correction of long-buried...


Marketing Plan

Events: Launch event booked at Politics & Prose, June 10, in Washington, DC, in conversation with Angie Kim. Events in additional select markets where author has strong regional ties (New England, NYC metro area).

Trade Publications: Pitch for reviews and features in Publishers Weekly; Booklist; Shelf Awareness; Kirkus; Library Journal (trade publications are integral for promoting your book to bookstores and libraries and garnering early review attention for the book)

Book Clubs: Pitch editors/producers with Reese’s Hello Sunshine Book Club; Jenna’s Book Club (TODAY); GMA Book Club; Belletrist Book Club; Bustle Book Club; TheSkimm Book Club; The Rumpus Book Club; MC Reads; and others for book club consideration

Print Magazines: Top targets for reviews, features, and round ups include: ELLE; Woman’s World; Real Simple; Good Housekeeping; Cosmopolitan; TIME; People; Entertainment Weekly; Reader’s Digest; Writer’s Digest; Bookpage; et al.

+ Digital Verticals of Print Magazines

Print newspapers: Top targets for reviews, features, and round ups would include top newspapers across the country (NYT; USA Today; Washington Post; Wall Street Journal; Associated Press; et al), targeting book review editors and freelance writers at these outlets

Broadcast Radio: Pitch select radio programs as an upmarket/literary work, using author’s talking points and novel themes about family trauma/grief; mental/emotional health; hope; aging; etc, as a hook for on-air reviews; interviews; story angles. Top targets include: All Things Considered; Weekend Edition; Here & Now; SIRIUS XM; top regional stations; et al

Digital Media: Top targets for reviews, Q&As, round ups, features, and guest essays include: Literary Hub; Buzzfeed; Slate; Parade; Oprah Daily; NPR.org; Bustle; Refinery29; PopSugar; Marie Claire; Vulture; Electric Lit; The Rumpus; The Millions; et al.

Regional media: Target regional and local print/digital/broadcast editors, producers, reporters, and freelancers in DC region highlighting local author connection and novel setting where relevant (The Washington Times; Washington Examiner; Washington City Paper; WAMU; local ABC/NBC/CBS affiliates; et al)

Podcasts: Pitch for on-air reviews and interviews, highlighting the literary writing, commercial themes, and author talking points, targeting reading, writing, and craft podcasts (Book Riot “All The Books,” The Shit No One Tells You About Writing; The Stacks; Reading & Writing Podcast; Biblio Happy Hour; Passions & Prologues; New Books Network; et al.)

Blog Tour: Organize a blog tour among influential upmarket/literary-interest, family/grief interest, and/or speculative fiction bloggers for a goal of 15+ independent reviews/features offering an excerpt and/or Q&A with the author to begin 1-2 weeks pre-pub, encouraging cross-posting to Goodreads/Amazon/social media to help drive pre-order buzz

Events: Launch event booked at Politics & Prose, June 10, in Washington, DC, in conversation with Angie Kim. Events in additional select markets where author has strong regional ties (New England...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781646035779
PRICE US$19.95 (USD)
PAGES 224

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