American Lady Creature

While living in Qatar, L.L. Kirchner had to redefine herself a woman. Also, to evade prison for going on a date, which would've been illegal. Funny, sexy, and full of heart, this raw portrayal of expatriate life offers a courageous tale of redemption.

After a childhood spent circling the declining American Rust Belt, L.L. Kirchner is no stranger to change. But the abrupt end of her marriage nearly undid her. Healing from divorce within the confines of a culture not her own left the author questioning everything she thought she knew about herself as a woman and a feminist.


From running away at 15 to a stint in rehab at 19, Kirchner believed in self-reliance. She never imagined getting married, let alone getting divorced. Then she met her person. She was 35 when they eloped, barefoot on a beach in the Bahamas. Believing she could adapt to any situation, she didn't hesitate at the chance to work in Qatar. The couple could build up a nest egg and have one last adventure before starting a family. Then she discovered she'd never have children. And that was just the beginning.


As Kirchner says, “I hoped moving to Qatar would change everything. Until it did.”


In her debut memoir, Kirchner realizes how, after a lifetime of seeing herself as a fiercely independent woman, our deep connections are what save us from ourselves.


Unforgettable as it is humorous, American Lady Creature is a story of loss transformed, by the landscape, people, and hope the author found as a woman living in Qatar.


“Saucy and funny and unflinchingly honest. A picaresque tale of a woman lost-and found-in the Persian Gulf.”
Eric Weiner, NPR correspondent and author of the best-selling The Geography of Bliss.


“Lisa is bold, genuine, hilarious. It's so satisfying to read a great story told by a great writer.”
Ophira Eisenberg, host of NPR's “Ask Me Another” and author of Screw Everyone.


“I loved reading this. Her takeaways are empowering for any reader!”
Jo Weldon, founder of the New York School of Burlesque and author of The Burlesque Handbook.


“Kirchner's work is unapologetic and hilarious. Her effortless writing makes the book unputdownable!”
Sweta Srivastava Vikram, award-winning author of No Ocean Here.


REVIEWS:
“A hopeful read exploring the complexities of navigating cultural and societal expectations abroad.” Kirkus Reviews


“The narrative of Hello American Lady Creature is packed with plenty of loss — an inability to have children, a crushing divorce, the state of being alone far from home — but it ends in soaring redemption. Who doesn't love a good pulling-oneself-up-by-one's-bootstraps ride?” Bustle.com


“A must-read.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette