Book of the Month: “The Framed Woman of Ardemore House”

In recognition of National Autism Acceptance Month, PRSA Orlando’s book of the month explores Brandy Schillace’s “The Framed Woman of Ardemore House.” This book is a gothic mystery exploring themes of identity, gender, autism, and societal expectations. The story is centered around how a young autistic editor deals with power, deception, and historical injustice. For PR and communications professionals, this book offers insights into how narratives are constructed, who controls them, and how we can challenge storytelling biases. 

Key DEI Themes & Takeaways for PR & Marketing Professionals 

• Gender & Identity 
  • Schillace’s novel delves into how women’s stories are shaped and manipulated by the powers at play. As communicators and storytellers, it’s a reminder to critically examine who is telling the story and what voices are missing. 
    
• Power & Reputation Management 
  • The protagonist in the novel struggles against false narratives which highlights the importance of ethical storytelling and transparency in media and branding. 
    
• Challenging Institutionalized Bias 
  • Historical and societal structures reinforce bias, as touched on by this reading. It underscores the need to advocate for equity in representation.

Why PRSA Orlando Members Should Read It 

Beyond its suspenseful plot, “The Framed Woman of Ardemore House” is an exploration of identity and power. It offers key lessons on ethical storytelling, representation, and challenging outdated perspectives.