SAHM I am by Meredith Efken

From Publishers Weekly

Can a novel consisting entirely of e-mails be enjoyable faith fiction? Efken's

charming, light debut offers a resounding and surprising "yes." Several stay-

at-home moms (the "SAHM" of the title) from across the country become friends

and confidantes through an e-mail chat group. Rosalyn Ebberly is the self-

righteous moderator (her prov31woman@ home.com e-mail address is a tip-off)

who, although exaggerated, will be recognizable to anyone who has ever

regularly attended church. Some mothers rebel against her judgmental and self-

glorifying e-mails by starting a subversive alternative e-mail loop,

humorously dubbed "Green Eggs and Ham." The problems they chat about are

familiar: the unfortunately named Dulcie Huckleberry is frustrated by her

husband's long absences on business; Zelia Muzuwa is an artist whose creative

home-schooling isn't going over well with her more structured husband; Phyllis

Lorimer is a pastor's wife dealing with a demanding congregation. The flow

between e-mails is surprisingly smooth, and the characters well developed

through their correspondence. Efken keeps the mood light, although she's not

afraid to tackle serious topics such as infertility, marital difficulties and

chronic illness. Christian readers will savor this fresh entrée and likely

want to start e-mail loops of their own. (Oct.)

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Review

"Erma Bombeck was a funny lady, but Meredith Efken is even funnier." --

Christy Award-winning author Randy Ingermanson