Abandoned as a child, Melanie Forsythe seeks stability and belonging after her mom’s boyfriend is left to raise her. Despite her raw deal, Melanie grows up to have a head on her shoulders and a strong bond with her stepdad. But her dream of having a family of her own is shattered when she suffers tragedy and betrayal. Forced to confront the kind of dysfunction that robbed her of a conventional upbringing, Melanie must choose between giving up on her dream of having a family or embracing a different form of motherhood.

Stephanie Cesca is a communications consultant who specializes in strategic planning, digital content and speechwriting. A former journalist, she spent six years in Paris, France, at the International Herald Tribune and was also National Editor of the Toronto Star. The unpublished manuscript of her debut novel Dotted Lines was shortlisted for University of Toronto's Marina Nemat Award. A graduate of Western University and Ryerson University, Stephanie lives in Toronto with her husband and children. Dotted Lines is her debut novel.

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• Short-listed, Marina Nemat Award for Creative Writing