Dorey-Stein sat down with 12News to talk about writing her second book, her love of soccer and the complicated, beautiful relationship between sisters.

PHOENIX — In a sweeping tale of sisterhood, soccer and the choices that create our lives, Beck Dorey-Stein’s latest novel is for those who love high-stakes sports stories and familial tales alike. 

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‘Spectacular Things’, Dorey-Stein’s third book, follows sisters Mia and Crickett. The girls are well-known in the small Maine town they call home, as the children of their young, single mother. They play their roles well: Mia, the older and responsible one, aiming for a big future at college, and Crickett, the one with a gift and passion for soccer that makes her seem destined for stardom. 

But as they grow up, learning about their mother’s life and secrets before them, and navigating what the future looks like, they are forced to confront their sacrifices head-on and decide what they are willing to give up to live the lives they’ve always dreamed of.

Writing this novel, as well as her debut fiction book, ‘Rock the Boat,’ is a departure from her earlier works. Before writing, Dorey-Stein taught English and then landed a coveted position as stenographer to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

After five years in the position, she took her notes from the job and turned them into her first book: a memoir titled “From the Corner of the Oval.”

“That was really exciting cause that kind of was this unbelievable springboard into having my dream job, which is writing full-time,” Dorey-Stein said.

Writing her memoir didn’t require the same imagination as her fiction novels, she explained. When she was describing Air Force One, she did so from her own memories of being there.

“I love reading novels, that’s my genre of choice, and so going into fiction was actually much easier than maybe you would assume it would be because it was like, ‘oh, this is what I am constantly immersing myself in anyway,'” Dorey-Stein said. “The problem with writing fiction is that then you do take on these identities that aren’t your own.”

Writing about Crickett and her journey to becoming a professional soccer player, for example, wasn’t exactly the same as Dorey-Stein’s own life experiences. She grew up playing soccer in high school and in college, and then did in-depth research to fill in any gaps: watching and rewatching games, listening to podcasts, reading every memoir by a female soccer player she could get her hands on, and taking in countless interviews.

“It was me just getting to quote research when really it was just me getting to like fangirl for two years,” Dorey-Stein said with a smile.

When the US Women’s soccer team was playing in the World Cup in France in 2019, shortly after her first book was published, Dorey-Stein said she was looking for something new to write about. 

“I was at this point in my life where I was like, I’m just pouring all of my enthusiasm into this team, and what happens next,” Dorey-Stein said. “That team in particular, I was like, ‘I want to write about this so badly.'”

Dorey-Stein took the train to New York City and watched the parade after the team won, and said she sat alongside her high school teammates, and so many people, young and old, who came together to cheer the women on.

“It really was such a great American unifier,” Dorey-Stein said. “Everyone could get behind these women. It was such a joyous day, and I was like, ‘I just want to live in this for as long as possible.'”

The book also delves heavily into familial relationships: between the two sisters, Crickett and Mia, as well as the relationship they each have with their mom, and her history and legacy later on. Those familial and specifically sibling relationships were what also inspired ‘Spectacular Things,’ Dorey-Stein said.

“I wanted to write ‘Spectacular Things’ because I have a sister, and I think first and foremost, this is a book about sisters and the loyalty and the trials and tribulations of being a sister,” Dorey-Stein said.

Whether you have siblings, you love soccer, or you’re simply looking for a new book to read, Dorey-Stein said she hopes readers will give ‘Spectacular Things’ a chance.

“I can only write about things I absolutely love, so every book I’ve written has been a love letter to its subject,” Dorey-Stein said.

And if you’re itching to read more from Dorey-Stein, keep an eye on her social media pages. Her next book will be set in Maine and be about a sleepaway camp, she told 12News.

For more book and literacy stories, check out “Reading Arizona” on YouTube and 12News.com. If you have a story pitch for Reading Arizona, email koconnor@12news.com or reach out via Instagram, @thatjournalistwhoreads. 


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