Tanya Michna, author of "Necessary Arrangments"

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About the book

Meet Lucy and Asia Swenson, two Georgia sisters who are also best friends; this September, they both have news for their family. Lucy, 28, is getting married. Asia, 34, has cancer. Together, Lucy and Asia face the changes and challenges in their lives with tears, laughter, and sisterly wisdom.

What People Are Saying About Necessary Arrangements

"Necessary Arrangements is a top-rate novel from Tanya Michna. With a deft and sure touch, and without becoming maudlin, she creates an inspirational story of hope, love, and family... There were times I cried; there were times I laughed out loud. Through it all, I learned about the meaning of true courage and love.
Ms. Michna is an incredibly talented wordsmith…one of the best writers today."
--Annie Rivers, reviewer, Writers Unlimited

"A well-crafted and moving journey into the bonds of family and the hearts of sisters, a story of embracing what is and finding the strength to confront what might be."
--Lisa Wingate, critically-acclaimed and award-winning author of A Thousand Voices

"Tanya Michna tackles a heartbreaking situation with grace and empathy. Necessary Arrangements is a novel about the power of love in a broken world. Tanya deftly captures the complications of finding joy in everyday acts… This is a poignant story that will touch the heart and make one wonder, 'What would I do?'"
--Patti Callahan Henry, bestselling author of Between the Tides

"It is the best of dramatic stories that speak to you so deeply, the gift of laughter is required to capture every last nuance of emotion. You'll cheer through the characters' struggles as well as their triumphs…After reading Necessary Arrangements, you'll be as certain as I am that this is the timeless, unforgettable story that Tanya Michna was born to write."
--Anna DeStefano, bestselling author of Because of a Boy

Excerpt from Necessary Arrangements

Lucy sat in the driver's seat, knowing on some level that she was supposed to put the key in the ignition or the car wouldn't go, but she felt paralyzed. Just as she'd frozen up last night at Asia's news. Stop trying to avoid it, and call your sister.

She'd always been able to tell Asia everything. But what was the appropriate response to finding out about the relapse?

Hey, Asia. It's me, Luce. Just wanted to call and say I love you. Also, cancer sucks the big one.

Or, I don't remember what I said after the first diagnosis, but can we pretend I said it again this time, with even more eloquence and conviction that you'll kick ass?

Because Asia would kick ass. It's what she did. Never in a bullying or show-off manner, just with consistent, capable determination.

Other kids had occasionally picked on Lucy when she was in school—she'd been chubby and uncoordinated—but the second Asia had got wind of it, she'd ended the trouble. As a teenager, Asia had saved enough money to purchase a car, whereas Lucy was often scrounging up her leftover allowance to buy fashion magazines that never featured models her size. In college, Asia had organized several student rallies and been cited by local politicians as an example of a civic-minded youth with a bright future. Now, Asia worked for a Fortune 500 company.

Lucy had often joked, "If you weren't my sister, I'd have to hate you."

Asia invariably laughed. "It's not in your nature to hate, Blondie."

Bullshit. Lucy hated this. Passionately. Hated what her sister had endured and would be forced to endure again. Lucy hated that she didn't know what to say, that she was sitting in the parking lot of a grocery store, clutching a bag of kiwis and sobbing.

She dug her cell phone out of her purse.

Shockingly her sister, who was usually either taking meetings or on the phone, answered on the first ring. "Asia Swenson."

Would anyone else hear the underlying strain beneath the polished tone, or was Lucy simply listening too hard for it? "Hey, it's me."

"Thank God! I was afraid it would be Mom again."

"How many times?"

"Eight. On the last one, she got my assistant and the two of them set each other off. Fern's still in the bathroom bawling. She hasn't been this emotional since she got back from maternity leave."

Which put Asia in the ironic position of having to console other people about her own disease. "Guess not everyone responds to crisis as gracefully as you do," Lucy said apologetically, wishing she knew the magic words to make this all better.

"Trust me, I'm no expert, either. I'm a mess."

Lucy rejected the idea that her sister could be anything other than strong and classy. "If you're a mess, I'd hate to think what that makes us mere mortals. You are practically a…a superhero!"

"That's so funny. I was just thinking in a meeting this morning that I wanted some super powers."

Like the power to defeat cancer? God willing. "Well, you definitely have the legs to pull off tights. Need a sidekick? I'm no good in a fight, but I can stand around spouting things like, 'Holy robin eggs, Asia!'"

"Don't sell yourself short," Asia chided. "You're a justice seeker in your own right. Remember my senior year when that wrestler went out with a majorette behind my back? You, all of eleven, were going to sneak out, brave the dark, and toilet paper his house to avenge me."

"Yeah, but I screwed it up. I fell out my window and landed in Mom's rosebushes." Lucy felt the phantom sting of all those thorns. She'd gladly suffer them again, as well as the blistering lecture and three-week grounding, if any of it would help Asia.

"You have a heart of gold, Lucy Ann. That's powerful."

Ignoring the lump in her throat, Lucy kept her respond airy. "It's settled then—we're both wonder women. Heck, the only reason neither of us has scaled Everest is because it doesn't present enough of a challenge."

"Exactly." Asia was quiet for a moment, then added, "Actually, there is one Herculean task you could undertake for me, if you can leave work early tomorrow. Mom's going with me to see the oncologist. It would be better with you there, too."

"Absolutely!" Despite the dread she'd felt last night about getting sucked back into the world of cancer, it was a relief to help out.

She couldn't battle the disease in her sister's stead, but she could provide moral support and silly diversions. It wasn't much as far as superpowers went, but you had to fight your battles with the weapons God gave you.