Connie May Fowler's books present scenes of domestic abuse, portrayals of a wide variety of Florida's ethnic groups, and interesting and well-developed characters. Several themes emerge in Fowler's work, including love and the need for humans to find wholeness through a relationship, whether with parent, spouse, friend, or lover; traditional culture in conflict with the contemporary world; and the importance of the environment and ecology to humans. Fowler's novels, while set in Florida, demonstrate themes and characters that are universal in their appeal. Her work has drawn praise from both critics and the general reading public, and it has appeared on The New York Times best-seller lists many times. Her novel Before Women Had Wings (1996) was an Oprah Winfrey book-club selection that was subsequently made into a television movie by Winfrey's production company in 1997.

Fowler's life has provided her with a wealth of experiences from which to draw...