You’d never guess from the accolades that We Are Called to Rise is the College of Southern Nevada professor’s first novel, about the intertwined lives of a middle-aged woman, a soldier and a young immigrant boy. To call the debut of McBride—chosen as Nevada Humanities 2015 “Nevada Reads” author, with her book ranked as high as No. 4 in Amazon Kindle book sales—a success would be a major understatement.

lauramcbrideauthor.com.