Women’s Fiction
Date Published: April 14, 2026
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Cece Belle is a high-functioning neurodivergent. She’s also a big believer in destiny, but when her soulmate Robby dumps her mid-flight to Israel, she instantly regrets ever telling him she’s on the spectrum.
Not one to dwell in misery, Cece sips some chamomile hibiscus tea to set herself straight. And with meditation and spirituality on her side, she looks to what’s next. Yet another blow hits when she is kicked out of her rabbinical studies program for “strange behavior.”
Then, she meets Joel. With his quirky demeanor and ability to say all the right things, he gives Cece the desire to begin a new relationship. There’s only one main obstacle: Cece loves living in Los Angeles, and Joel is a diehard New Yorker.
She marries him anyway, despite misgivings that extend beyond their geography. After all, this is her carefully drawn plan—marriage, then kids, then happily ever after. Sometimes though, the best-laid plans are better left in dreamland where they can’t go awry.
Cece in Wonder Land is a twisty journey down a rabbit hole of unexpected anxieties, disappointments, and more questions than answers. But where there is hope, there is life, and maybe Cece can hang on for the next bit of wonder bound to come her way.
Interview
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
I
would love for my readers to grasp many important messages. One, it’s never too
late in your life to follow a passion or dream. That is why, at age 65, I’ve
written and now have it published, my delightful, whimsical story, “Cece in
Wonder Land!” Two, I’ve been told a
memoir is a story of one’s whole life journey, while the genre of auto fiction
specifically deals with one significant period or decade of one’s life story.
In my case, I’m proud to be the writer of a book classified in the autofiction
genre. Three, I’d love to impart upon the neurodivergent (or ‘neurospicy,’ as I
wish to call it), a book written by a person on the spectrum, such as myself,
to share my experiences and insights with this particular population!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Sometimes,
just as my verbal conversations can wander, my thoughts are not always linear,
but rather ‘all over the place,’ so this challenge to focus, in the moment, on
every chapter, every page, every word, was definitely ‘one for the books!’
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
Cece in Wonder Land
is proudly my debut novel, with many thoughts of future endeavors, constantly
whirling!
If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
Aah, that’s one to think about! I guess I
could see Natalie Portman portraying Cece, or perhaps Hailee Steinfeld, or
Mikey Madison.
When did you begin writing?
I’ve
always written for school, for work projects, journaling, but as a profession
or career, I began writing somewhat late in my life. For the past ten years,
I’ve been working on my intriguing life adventures, surrounding my graduate
school years, and my early marriage, and all the therapists we saw, who
mysteriously and subsequently died after our sessions with them. I had a “book
in me” ready to share and now’s the time!
How long did it take to complete your first book?
It’s been a process of ten years, with
twisty turns and long hours!
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
I love a mystery writer based here in L.A. named Rochelle Krich. I don’t think she’s writing anymore, though. I also am inspired by the wit and genius, as well as dark humor, of Jean Hanff Korelitz, Lisa Jewell, and Jennifer Weiner.
What is your favorite part of the writing
process?
I
guess, the finished work and how it all looks on the printed page! My labor of
love come to fruition!
Describe your
latest book in 4 words.
Cece’s curiosity, always,
everywhere.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in
the future for your writing?
Cece is on a ‘forever’ journey, from the moment she is dumped by her cherub like boyfriend, to then being kicked out of her graduate rabbinic studies, and forced to explore her life, while in the mystical land of Sefat in Israel. Upon returning to the states, Cece is forced to hold it together, and discover her next chapter in life, which hopefully will lead to love everlasting, and a place to belong and call ‘home.’
A
thought for a future writing project, completely different from this first
novel, is an L.A story (set to photographs) of high fashion and trends found
everyday and everywhere, from all walks of life right here in my own backyard,
exploring the exciting streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Stay tuned!
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bonnie S. Priever majored in communications studies at UCLA before moving to Philadelphia. There, she attended the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, which prepared her for an assistant directorship at the Israel Levin Senior Adult Center in Venice, California.
As a way to process emotions and stay connected to her spirituality, Bonnie started writing about her experiences. In 2023, Newsweek published her personal essay about the challenges of aging. Currently, she combines her passion for writing and her love for live theater as a reviewer for CurtainUp, an online theater magazine.
Bonnie loves to travel but always looks forward to coming home to LA. She has one grown son and a backlog of great ideas. Based on a true story, Cece in Wonder Land is her first novel.
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