Gritty, redemptive third installment in contemporary series explores intricacies of small-town American life
Kirkwood, MO — With yet another stunning portrayal of small-town life, Anne Shaw Heinrich captivates readers with a compelling and hopeful third installment of her The Women of Paradise County series. “House of Teeth” (Speaking Volumes, June 16, 2026) examines the lasting impact of a hard life, even once safety is found.
A seasoned writer with over 35 years of experience as a journalist, columnist and nonprofit communications professional, Heinrich continues to bring her wealth of expertise to this compelling narrative. Drawing on experiences living as a child and an adult in Midwestern small towns, the author explores the pitfalls of small-town living, the continuous echo of the impacts of poverty and the dualities of life.
More about the book: Jules Marks and his five little sisters can finally relax. Their feckless parents from Shakey’s Half are doing time in the Paradise County Jail, and their Uncle Larry, Aunt Sally and Aunt Clarice have swooped in to give them the safety and security they deserved all along. As they settle into the closest thing to normal they’ve ever known, their neighbors and classmates are quick to remind them not to get too comfortable. Poulson’s only dentist makes a generous offer to help the Marks children fix their long-neglected teeth, but many folks object to the free treatment they receive. Meanwhile, Jules is figuring out how to be a man as he holds onto an ugly secret involving his dear friend, Violet Sellers. When cancer strikes the family, Jules decides to right a wrong that’s gone unchallenged for far too long.
“House of Teeth”
Anne Shaw Heinrich | June 16, 2026 | Speaking Volumes | Contemporary Fiction
Paperback, 9798890224583, $18.95 | Ebook, 9798890224576, $7.99
Book Four in The Women of Paradise County series,
“Unfettered” (Speaking Volumes) publishing June 2027
Interview:
- What inspired you to start writing, and how did your journey as an author begin?
I’ve been into writing since high school, encouraged by two exceptional teachers who must have been able to see that it was a joy space for me. It doesn’t hurt to be surrounded by books, which was the case for me and my brothers. I’ve always loved being on the receiving end storytelling, but once it occurred to me that I could be the one weaving the stories, I was hooked. I started my career in journalism right out of college and pivoted to public relations and communications. It’s fair to say that writing is my idea of a good time, and I’ve been doing it in one form or another for a long time. My journey as an author started on a whim, after I submitted an essay for consideration in The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006). It was about learning my grandmother was a lingerie model. It was during that project that I came to know two editors who just asked me, “Why aren’t you writing?” The question prompted me to get started on my first novel, God Bless the Child, which was scratched out on yellow legal pad while youngest child was in preschool a few times a week. True story.
Can you share a little about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
House of Teeth, is the third book in The Women of Paradise County Series. This book has given space for readers to settle into the fictional town of Poulson in a deeper way. It could stand alone but will be much richer if you read Books One and Two (God Bless the Child and Violet is Blue) first. Readers get a chance to see how Jules and his sisters experience life out of Shakey’s Half. We see a new family forming, and while they form, the past still whirls around them. It’s also been a chance to explore some of the story arcs more deeply and show how complex the characters are.
Which character has been the most challenging (or rewarding) for you to write, and why?
I am especially drawn to Jules. He’s in my mind’s eye so clearly. I want to protect him but give him what he needs to fly through and above his circumstances. I’ve also really enjoyed letting Margaret Burns come in and out of the story with her own, hard-won observations she can make having been a child in need of saving herself. She recalls her own long saving often, pulling us into from long ago, tales of her own saviors, Uncle Teddy and Aunt Helly. Margaret is simple, but wise, and she almost serves as a God-like figure, capable of loving, and all-knowing. She’s really challenged me, but in good ways.
Did you encounter any surprises or unexpected turns during the writing process of your newest book? Definitely. I’m getting much more comfortable trusting my instincts. If I hit a wall, I just stop. I listen to what I’ve already written, take notes, sleep on it, and the answer always comes if I don’t force it. I guess that’s what I’ve learned and been pleasantly surprised to just lean into it. The stories don’t stop coming, and while they come, I just keep trying to do my best to tell them in the best way.
How do your personal experiences or background influence your storytelling? I am not sure. I do like to watch people, and listen to them, but I’m not satisfied with what they tell me. I want to know what they are thinking and why they have landed where they are. It’s the same when I go to visit a historical site. I’m happy to be in the rooms that are open to the public, but what I really want to do is to creep into places that are closed to me. I’ve always been like that, and I guess those tendencies do show up in my storytelling.
What’s one piece of writing advice you wish you’d received when you were starting out?
Just keep writing. Storytelling is primal. No one person owns the task, but if you have an urge to tell stories, tell them with your authentic self. If you do so, then they are new and deserve to be in the world.
Are there any authors or books that have especially influenced your work?
So many that they are hard to count. I had a college professor tell me that the best writers are thoughtful readers, and she was right. She was another teacher who helped me discover contemporary fiction. I dove into Anne Tyler’s work with gusto, and that led to even deeper dives into other writers I love: Wallace Stegner, Virginia Woolf, Pearl S. Buck, countless others. I’m also a big fan of reading things more than once. I love doing this. The books don’t change, but I do. I’m different each and every time I come to a story again.
- How do you balance research and creativity—especially when writing about complex or unfamiliar topics? Wow. I’m still figuring this out. What I’ve written so far has been based on creativity and instinct, but when I’m finished with The Women of Paradise County Series, I’m tackling a standalone novel that will require considerable research to do it justice. The story takes place during another time, and to make the story resonate, I’ll need to know details about how these characters lived. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
I hope readers can extract humanity in the stories, the good that stands right next to the bad no matter who we are. We are born to breathe, learn, and love, all of us, and keeping that in mind as we engage or just consider those around us, is a humbling, but brave way to be in the world.
- Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
I am working on Unfettered, the fourth and final book in The Women of Paradise County Series. It’s set to publish in June 2027. After that, I’ll be diving into this standalone novel I’ve mentioned. I can’t wait!
Anne Shaw Heinrich’s work has been published in numerous outlets, most recently, Writer’s Digest, Education Weekly and Ms. Magazine, as well as The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006) and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love (2009). Her debut novel, God Bless the Child, was the first in The Women of Paradise County Series published by Speaking Volumes. Learn more at anneshawheinrich.com.
More about Anne Shaw Heinrich
Since she first fell in love with writing in high school, Anne Shaw Heinrich has been a journalist, columnist, blogger and communications professional. Her first article appeared in Rockford Magazine in 1987. She’s interviewed and written features on Beverly Sills, Judy Collins, Gene Siskel, and Debbie Reynolds.
Heinrich’s writing has been featured in The New York Times bestseller “The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn” (Atria) and “Chicken Soup for the Soul’s The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love.” Her debut novel, “God Bless the Child,” was the first in the newly extended, four-book Women of Paradise County series.
Heinrich and her husband are parents to three grown children and a new grandchild. She is passionate about her family, mental health advocacy and the intrepid power of storytelling.
Follow Anne Shaw Heinrich on social media:
Threads: @anne_shaw_heinrich | Instagram: @anne_shaw_heinrich | TikTok: @ash34249