Jen’s Jewels

September 1, 2010

Melissa Clark

 

I have a confession to make. I am a Food Network junkie. If you ask me what Giada made on her show yesterday, I can tell you. Where was Guy Fieri on the latest episode of Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives? In Baltimore, of course! If it’s being sautéed, chopped, or stirred on the Food Network, I am most likely right there watching it.

 

So, when the delectable cookbook by this month’s Jen’s Jewels Melissa Clark came across my desk, I couldn’t wait to check out her scrumptious recipes. You may recognize her name from the New York Times Dining Section. Her culinary writing career is quite amazing, to say the least. In her latest endeavor, she combines her favorite stories with the food she loves. Each recipe is a mouth-watering treat.

 

As part of this interview, Hyperion Books has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your back-to-school reading list!

 

 

Jen: Without a doubt, your writing prowess is synonymous with culinary expertise. Whether the topic is fine dining or homemade comfort food, you have covered it. So that my readers may have a glimpse into your background, please share with us your educational and professional experience.

 

Melissa: I never did go to cooking school, though I thought about it. I spent my senior year of high school working in the kitchen of a small neighbor restaurant/bakery/ice cream shop, and I toyed with the idea of going to the CIA instead of college. But in the end I chose college. I realized that as much as I loved cooking, I liked writing about it better. I had discovered the works of MFK Fisher and held her up as a kind of model – not as the way to live my life though she and I do have being married three times in common – but as a way to combine two passions, writing and food. To that end I decided, post college (I went to Barnard) to pursue an MFA in writing. I chose nonfiction as a concentration and food has nearly always been a theme of my work, at least tangentially.

 

While I was earning my MFA, I was also catering for the faculty of Columbia University, and did dozens of those wine and cheese receptions that colleges always have, though I got a little fancier with the hors d’oeuvres. It was great training. I had my own catering company for 3 years, and branched out from the University to Soho gallery openings, a few music videos and even a few small weddings (and one not so small wedding, that was hell). Then I realized that catering was just too hard for too little money so I gave it up. I didn’t mind the little money part (you don’t become a food writer to make money), but the schlepping nearly did me in (I lived in a fifth floor walk up, had no car, you get the picture).

 

Professionally I started writing about food online, pitched tiny pieces to print publications, and eventually started freelancing for Time Out New York, where a friend of mine from college was working. I was also working part time at a small, now defunct food magazine, where I learned how to edit recipes.

 

About that time, I wrote my first cookbook, a bread machine cookbook. Again it was through a friend. My friend knew I was catering part time, and so recommended me to a small book packager whose writer on the project went AWOL and they were desperate. I wrote an entire cookbook in 6 weeks, had several bread machines going 24 hours a day and I would get up in the middle of the night (every 4 hours, which was their cycle) to “feed them.” I thought it would prepare me for motherhood but I had no idea.

 

From there I slogged away, getting bigger and bigger assignments. My first breaks were getting to write for the Times, and also Food and Wine Magazine. Once I had those credentials under my belt, getting work became easier.

 

Jen: Embarking on a freelance writing career specializing in food must have been an exciting undertaking. In the beginning, what was more challenging… mastering your knowledge of the art of cooking or establishing yourself among your peers? And, why so?

 

Melissa: They both kind of happened organically at the same time. I just cooked and cooked and read and read and honed my cooking skills because I loved it. I had started writing cookbooks with chefs at that point, and that’s where I learned the bulk of my knowledge, from the masters themselves. As I cooked with more chefs, I met their friends and a whole network opened up. At the same time I was young and single and eager and going to every event I could to meet people to broaden my network of writers and editors. So it all grew at the same time.

 

Jen: Your prolific career has enabled you to collaborate with some of the best chefs in the business. Having written over 30 cookbooks, please share with us a few secrets for us over-worked and underpaid moms that would turn mealtime into a stress-free experience.

 

Melissa: Hah! Being the mother of a 22 month old, I just can’t imagine how to answer this. Mealtime is hard, even if the food is good and easy and fast and all those other buzz words for convenience, or even if you’ve thrown up your hands and ordered in a pizza, f your kid in a mood and won’t eat any of it, what’s the use? The best chef in world couldn’t help.

 

All I can say is that at every dinner, I learn how to be a more patient person. It’s continually humbling though there are amazing moments, like when my baby realized the wonder of prosciutto-wrapped ripe melon. That got me through the week.

 

 

Jen: Your latest endeavor is an exquisite collection of recipes and stories titled IN THE KITCHEN WITH A GOOD APPETITE. How did you arrive at the premise?

 

Melissa: It grew naturally out of my column in the Dining Section of the New York Times. I really love being able to tell the story behind the meal, and my column lets me do that. I realized it would work well in book form. The book has 100 new recipes and stories, and 50 of my favorites from the column.

 

Jen: Please describe for us the format of the book and why you choose to arrange it in this way.

 

Melissa: I decided to be quirky and very personal with the chapter flow in the book and grouped the recipes whimsically and thematically rather than more traditionally (appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, etc).

 

The first chapter, called Waffling Toward Dinner, is about breakfast foods you can make for dinner, and vice verse. I just love eating breakfast for dinner, and grew up in a household where my parents ate leftover dinner – including wilted salad — for breakfast. So it made sense to me. Other chapters are called The Farmers’ Market and Me (veggie recipes that sprang from my obsession with my local greenmarket), It Tastes Like Chicken (which is a normal chicken chapter in disguise, but the narrative plays with the notion that everything parents want kids to eat “tastes like chicken,” including snake and rabbit), and Holiday Food, which is my family’s person repertoire of dishes we make for various holidays. There is a beverages and cocktails chapter because I think most cookbooks give those things short shrift. My mega-sized sweet tooth demanded an entire chapter on pie and a separate one on other desserts. And meat and fish chapters round out the offerings so people can find something normal to make for dinner and not just my ramblings….

 

Jen: As a former French teacher, I was green with envy as I read your charming vignette about your childhood culinary vacations in France. How did your parents’ love of food impact your choice of career? Who is the biggest food critic in your family…your parents, sister, or you?

 

Melissa: My parents are to blame for me being a foodie, I learned it all, good, bad, and annoying, from them! That was the culture in the family, cooking together, eating great (or terrible) meals and talking about them. I think I learned how to be a good critic from them, and we each have out passions and specialties, our prejudices and peccadilloes when it comes to talking about, and making, food.

 

Jen: So that I could truly appreciate the book, I experimented with recipes from each section.  Let’s start by talking about those that particularly stood out. Pesto Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Ricotta…yummy!  What makes this recipe so special?

 

Melissa: It’s just one of those combinations of flavors and textures that really work well together. The fluffy, milky ricotta cheese, the zingy, pungent pesto, and the mild, savory eggs really fill your entire mouth. I can’t stop eating it whenever I make it!

 

Jen: Your mother’s love of the sandwich… “Each bite should be a little different, otherwise it gets boring”… made lunchtime into gourmet time in my house. The salami and horseradish cheddar bagel sandwich is to die for! In terms of school lunchboxes, what are your favorite sandwiches? And, how do you make lunch not so boring for the kids?

 

Melissa:  My daughter is still young enough to eat lunch in her highchair, so I’m not packing much more than almond butter and jam for her to munch at the playground as a snack. But I have big plans that I’m sure will evaporate when the reality of the daily school lunch grind sets in. But right now I’m imaging learning how to make my own vegetable sushi rolls, and lots of sturdy colorful salads with the likes of grilled tofu, steamed broccoli, edamame, string beans, bells peppers and salami in them (not all in the same salad). (Talk to me in three years and I’ll probably sing quite a different tune).

 

Jen: The Holiday Food section is chock-full of scrumptious recipes. What is your favorite recipe for Thanksgiving stuffing?

 

Melissa: I love the sweet potato shrimp hash recipe – it’s completely different than the usual turkey stuffing, though seafood at one point in American history was traditional in stuffings. The flavors work really nicely together, with the honeyed sweet potatoes and briny shrimp seasoned with chili and lime juice.

 

Jen: For those of us fortunate to have Farmers’ Markets in our towns, mealtime is just bursting with freshness and flavor.  What are the essential homegrown items that are a must for any cook?

 

Melissa: the building blocks of every meal are herbs, onions and garlic and if you can get them fresh from the garden, they really are better, and will make your whole meal shine. And there is nothing as good as a fresh, ripe tomato.

 

Jen: And, are organic products truly worth the extra money? Or, is this just a marketing gimmick?

 

Melissa: I think local and seasonal trump organic both for flavor and environmental friendliness. A lot of the organic stuff we get is grown in places like China.

 

Jen: Finally, we have to talk about desserts! Truth be told, I am a horrible baker. Which recipes in the book are the easiest for a novice baker such as me?

 

Melissa: I’d say start with the shortbread cookies. Unless you burn them, you just can’t mess them up, they are so easy! And they are the cornerstone of a terrific dessert if you add ice cream and some fresh, ripe fruit. They also make terrific gifts.

 

Jen: Let’s switch gears now and talk about your promotional plans for the book. Will you be participating on a book tour?

 

Melissa: I’ll be going on a loose tour to do events in San Francisco, Seattle, Austin and possibly Orlando, Fl. I’ll update my schedule on my website: melissaclark.net

 

Jen: Please take us on a brief tour of your website. Do you have a blog?

 

Melissa: I do have a blog. It’s at melissaclark.net and it’s a snapshot of what I’m cooking, eating, and thinking about. Excuse the photos; I’m still learning how to use my nifty new camera. If something looks good, it was by accident.

 

Jen: What’s next for you? Perhaps reality television as a food judge? (You’d be perfect!)

 

Melissa: That could be, I think it’d be fun! But for sure I’ll continue to cook, eat, and write about it because that’s what I love doing.

 

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by and chatting with my readers. I thoroughly enjoyed your new cookbook and highly recommend it to my readers. Bon appétit!

 

Melissa: Thanks, Jen!

 

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Melissa. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of IN THE KITCHEN WITH A GOOD APPETITE today.

 

Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia answer.

 

Where can you find Melissa’s blog?

 

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Myla Goldberg author of the novel THE FALSE FRIEND. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Until next time…

 

Jen

Jen’s Jewels
August 15, 2010
Corinne Demas

As a writer, I am always looking for ways in which to fine-tune my craft. From professional
groups such as Romance Writers of America (which I highly recommend) to educational
seminars that teach how to avoid common first-time writing blunders, there are myriads of
lessons to be learned, and there is always room for improvement. Not only is having the right
tools an essential part of the process, but also having the desire to succeed is critical to a writer’s
success.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Corinne Demas touches upon this very topic in her latest release THE
WRITING CIRCLE. It’s a fascinating story about a group of eclectic writers who come together
on a literary journey like none other. From their diverse viewpoints comes a unique story with
an unexpected twist. Emotional yet engaging, this novel is a must-read for every person who has
ever contemplated becoming a writer.

As part of this interview, Hyperion Voice has generously donated five copies for you, my
favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. I hope
you are enjoying the last days of summer. Happy Reading!

Jen: The path to publication a writer has taken in order to achieve her goal can be as
interesting as the novel itself. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the
woman behind the words, please share with us a brief overview of your educational and
professional background.

Corinne: I went to Hunter High School in New York City, (it was all girls at the time)
then on to Tufts University, where I majored in English and took a lot of creative writing
courses, then on to get a PhD in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia. I
did my thesis on the short story, one of my favorite genres. I taught for ten years at the
University of Pittsburgh, and ever since, I’ve been teaching literature and creative writing
at Mount Holyoke College; so, I’ve never left school!

Jen: No stranger to the publishing business, you have written a memoir, short stories,
and even children’s books. Your latest endeavor is a fictional novel titled THE WRITING
CIRCLE. How did you arrive at the premise?

Corinne: I’ve always been interested in the way groups work—how a new member fits in,
what happens when someone betrays the group—and since writers are the people I know
best, I decided to focus on a writing group.

Jen: The story follows a group of eclectic writers each with his or her own struggle in
life, whether it is professionally or personally. Nancy, the main character, is the newest
member who has her doubts about joining the group. Is her reluctance to belong due to her
insecurities in the merits of her work, or is it simply her fear of not measuring up to her
counterparts?

Corinne: Both. The group she’s joining has several high-profile writers in it and Nancy
is worried about laying her raw work before them, especially since her new novel is based
on her father’s story, and close to the bone. Of course all writers have some insecurity!

Jen: Bernard, the biographer, serves as the unofficial leader of the group due to his varied
history with its members. Even his ex-wife Virginia, the historian, belongs to the writing
circle. Why does he choose to bring Nancy in the fold? Is it simply an act of kindness, or
does he have an ulterior motive?

Corinne: Bernard is rarely simply kind. He knows Nancy is an astute reader and critic,
and he thinks she’d be an asset to the group as well as beneficial to him. He values her
feedback. Nancy is also a genuinely nice person, so he imagines her participation will be
without conflict. (How wrong he is!)

Jen: As I mentioned, Virginia wears two hats…Bernard’s ex-wife and fellow club member.
Why does she choose to keep Bernard close to the vest? And, how has their post-divorce
relationship affected the rapport with their children?

Corinne: Virginia is genuinely fond of Bernard and respects him as a writer. As I say in
the novel: “. . . now that she was no longer married to him . . . the love she felt for Bernard
was undamaged by frustration. Everything she didn’t like about Bernard was Aimee’s
[his second wife] to deal with. No marriage counseling could have ironed out all their
difficulties as a couple as neatly, as successfully as their divorce and realignment had
done.”

Virginia’s rapport with their two grown children has always been excellent. Bernard has been on
the outs with his son, and even though he and Virginia have an amicable relationship, it hasn’t
helped.

Jen: Gillian is the snooty world-famous poet who feels her opinion matters most. Why
has she chosen poetry as her means of expression? And, in what ways does her superior
attitude resemble a mask in which to hide behind?

Corinne: Gillian believes poetry is the superior genre—the most intellectual, the most
artistic, so of course she chose to be a poet. She’s also not interested in other people, just
herself, and a fiction writer has to be interested in other people and their stories. You’re
right that she hides behind a mask—but don’t tell her that!

Jen: Chris is a divorced dad who writes thrillers. Seemingly, he is always one step behind
when it comes to the group due to his troubled personal life. Of all the club’s members,
which person does he most identify with and why?

Corinne: Poor Chris, there’s no one whom he really identifies with. He makes the most
money as a writer of anyone in the group, but he feels no one respects him because he’s a
genre writer. He looks to Nancy, the new member, with hopes she might become an ally.

Jen: Adam is the youngest member who is pursuing a career as a novelist. Not surprisingly,
he latches onto Gillian in a state of awe and admiration. Does he believe that his
desire to emulate the successful poet is an effective way in which to achieve his literary
goals? Or, does he single her out simply due to his inability to define his own path?

Corinne: You put that well, yes; Adam is definitely “in a state of awe and admiration.” He
finds Gillian beautiful, seductive, and mysterious, and has fallen under her spell. He’s a
devotee of her poetry, but my guess is that his infatuation is sexual as much as intellectual.

Jen: Which member is the most talented of the group and why? And, which member is the
weakest link and why?

Corinne: What an interesting question! Everyone in the group is working in a different
genre—except Nancy and Adam, who are both novelists—so we can’t really compare their
talent. Gillian, Virginia, Bernard, and Chris are all at the top of their game. Nancy hasn’t
published a novel for years, and Adam is as yet unpublished, so they might seem like the
weakest link. But what seems to be the case doesn’t necessarily prove to be true.

Jen: Interestingly enough, within the storyline you raise the issue of the potential risk of
an author having ideas stolen by fellow writing circle members. In light of this, are you
a big proponent of writing circles? Why or why not? And, are you a member of one?

Corinne: Plagiarism is a hot topic in the literary world these days, and it’s a subject that
certainly comes up in my novel.

I’ve belonged to a number of writing groups, and belong to two, now—one where we share
manuscripts, the other where we just gather for coffee and offer support. Writing is a lonely
profession, and I’ve loved being part of a community of writers. My writing critique group (who
are all thanked in the acknowledgments for THE WRITING CIRCLE) listened to me read aloud
drafts of this novel, chapter by chapter, and offered me wise advice.

I think writing circles can be beneficial at any stage in your writing career, but of course it will
depend on finding a group that it is both supportive and smart.

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your website. Please take us on a brief tour.

Corinne: Because I write for both adults and kids, www.corinnedemas.com offers two
different directions from the home page. Each of my twenty-five books has its own page,
which includes reviews and relevant background information. For my children’s books
I have “behind the scenes,” as well as profiles of the illustrators. My website includes
biography (you can even see photographs of my miniature donkeys), a bibliography, and
contact information. The great benefit of my website is that my name is spelled correctly!

I hope readers who enjoy THE WRITING CIRCLE will join the Facebook fan page and follow
me on Twitter. You can link to both through my website.

Jen: Will you be heading out on a book tour? If so, where can readers find a list of dates

and locations?

Corinne: I just finished a book tour, but will be doing a reading September 22 at the
Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts, right across the street from Mount
Holyoke College. Details about that event and other future appearances are all listed on
my website under Events.

Jen: Do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about
arranging one?

Corinne: Yes! Contact information is on my website.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next novel? If so, what can you share with us?

Corinne: I just sent the manuscript in to my editor at Hyperion. The novel is about a
family–two sisters and two brothers–who inherit an old house on Cape Cod at the death
of their eccentric mother. The working title is The Married House, but that may well change.
Part I of the novel takes place on the wedding day of Sofie, an entomologist, the youngest of
the clan. She’s getting married at the seaside house the week before it goes on the market, and
has invited all her siblings, with hopes the wedding will bring peace among them. But instead of
settling their differences, something occurs at the wedding which divides them even further, and
Sofie uncovers a well-buried secret which not only changes the way she sees her family, but the
way she sees herself. Part II of the novel takes place twenty four years later at the same house,
at another family wedding. Startling changes have taken place in the family, and a new secret
comes to light which turns everything upside down.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I truly loved the depth
of your characters and the way in which you tied the storyline together. Bravo! I highly
recommend it to all of my readers. Best of luck with its success!

Corinne: It’s been a treat being your guest. Many thanks for your penetrating reading
of my novel and your thought-provoking questions. And thank you for all you do to help
connect books and readers.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Corinne. Please stop by your favorite bookstore
or local library branch and pick up a copy today! Better yet, how would you like to win one
instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail at jensjewels@gmail.com with the
correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win:

Name the snooty world-famous poet in THE WRITING CIRCLE.

Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Melissa Clark, author of the New York
Times column “A Good Appetite.” You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time…

Jen

Jen’s Jewels

August 1, 2010

Tilly Bagshawe

 

We all have favorite authors whose work has entertained as well as inspired us.  Some books are noteworthy and perhaps command a second read, while others simply keep us company on a hot summer day.  We wait in anticipation for our beloved author’s next release in hopes of once again being transported to another place and time. Reading is an adventure that requires no ticket, just an active imagination.

 

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Tilly Bagshawe has experienced this same journey but with a unique twist. In her latest release entitled AFTER THE DARKNESS, she continues the legendary author Sidney Sheldon’s legacy by bringing back to life his beloved characters and storylines in  her exciting new novel.  With her expertly written plot that encapsulates the cut-throat world in which we live, she conjures up an unforgettable story that Sidney Sheldon fans worldwide will surely love.  

 

As part of this interview, William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to win.  So don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

  

 

Jen: The path to publication can sometimes be as exciting as the novel itself. So that my readers may have a glimpse into the life of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

 

Tilly: I grew up in England and went to Catholic boarding school there before going to Cambridge University to read English and History.  After college, I got a job in the city (the London equivalent of Wall Street) as a headhunter.  I eventually became a partner at the number one global headhunting firm at that time, Heidrick & Struggles, leaving in 2000 after I moved to Los Angeles.  In 2001 I started my second career of writing, initially as a journalist writing regularly for The Sunday Times.  About a year later I wrote my first novel, Adored.

 

Jen: Please describe for us that “Ah! Ha!” moment when you made the decision to pursue a career as a writer. 

 

Tilly:   It wasn’t exactly an ‘Ah ha’ moment for me, more a gradual realization that it might be a possibility.  I read English at College and have always loved writing, but it was only after I got emotionally burned out in my high stress, financial job that I took a long enough breath to think about what I might actually like to do.  As a single mother from my teens, up til that point it had all been about earning, surviving and providing.  I was lucky in that my sister Louise is a novelist, so she gave me a lot of pointers and encouragement, as did one of my best friends from Cambridge, Tif Loehnis, who by then was a literary agent in London.  So I had help!

 

Jen: For those readers not familiar with your work, please give us a brief overview of your previous publications.  And, which of the titles was the most challenging to write and why?

 

Tilly: My first book, Adored, was a family saga set in Hollywood and very much a big, sweeping, sexy blockbuster of the kind that I grew up reading, and that at that time had rather fallen out of fashion in favor of more Bridget-Jones-y type chick-lit.  My subsequent books , Showdown, Do Not Disturb, and Flawless have all had similarly glamorous settings and characters, and are all very much fantasies/escapist fiction, romance but with (I hope) a modern, edgy twist.  Probably Showdown, my second book, was the hardest to write, simply because my first book was such a success so you slightly have that anxiety, that perhaps one book was all you had in you and you are pushing your luck.

 

Jen: Your latest endeavors, MISTRESS OF THE GAME and AFTER THE DARKNESS, have taken you down quite an extraordinary road which has catapulted your name to the forefront. (I was tickled when I stumbled upon a tidbit about you in the Parade section of the newspaper!) How did you become involved with the Sidney Sheldon legacy?

 

Tilly: As with so many things in my life, through luck, I think, and being in the right place at the right time.  Sidney’s agent and lifelong friend, a man named Mort Janklow, is my agent’s father.  I think it was Mort who first wondered about the idea of a continuation of the Sheldon legacy, and Luke, my agent, who put my name in the hat as a possible writer.   I’ve been a lifelong fan of Sidney’s and actually wrote to him when my first book was published.  I still have Sidney’s reply to that letter, typically warm and encouraging as he was to so many new writers getting started.  But anyway, from that point on, it was very much driven by the Sheldon family.  I had to come up with new ideas for books and to write some chapters in Sidney’s voice.  On the basis of that material, and having met and spoken to me, they decided to entrust me with this incredible undertaking.

 

Jen: Without a doubt, Sidney Sheldon is known as the master of storytelling.  For any writer, following in his footsteps would be quite difficult if not nerve-racking!  How did you approach the Herculean task of continuing his storylines while at the same time testing the waters with your own literary prowess?

 

Tilly:  I tried to approach it like method acting.  I immersed myself in Sheldon’s books, reading pretty much everything again until I was practically dreaming in his voice.  I spoke to Mort, his agent, and his family about his process and the way he worked, and I tried to follow his path as closely as possible.  It’s been an honor and incredible fun to do, but I will admit that it is also hard, and requires a lot more mental and emotional energy than writing as myself.  There’s a lot at stake, a man’s entire life’s work and reputation.  So I did certainly feel that pressure.

 

Jen: Since AFTER THE DARKNESS is your latest release, let’s focus on that book for our discussion. In terms of nuts and bolts, how did you arrive at the premise? Was it a collaborative effort or a solo project? And, approximately how long did it take for you to write?

 

 Tilly:  I wrote it in about eight months.  The idea came to me after following the Madoff scandal on television, and particularly watching the reactions had to Bernie Madoff’s wife and family.  The idea that “the wife must have known” struck me as an interesting premise for a character.  Must she?  What if she didn’t?  I also felt that the financial meltdown of 2009 was in many ways something straight off the pages of a Sidney Sheldon novel.  I was sure that, had Sidney been alive, those were the events that would have inspired him.

 

Jen: Your book caught my interest from the get-go and never let up! Not only did the storyline move along at fast pace, but the characters were downright addictive.  Let’s talk about the heroine, Grace Brookstein.  I found her metamorphosis absolutely exhilarating! Describe briefly her essence, what makes her such a likeable heroine?

 

Tilly: To me, Grace is likeable because of her loyalty, her tenacity and her deep rooted strength.  She holds true to what she believes in no matter what, even when ultimately so much of her trust turns out to be misplaced.  She is feminine but strong, like all Sheldon’s heroines, so I love her for that.

 

Jen: Her husband Lenny is a devoted man who thrives on being in control in the business world as well as in society. Besides the obvious, why does Grace choose to play second fiddle not only to him, but also to her sisters Honor and Constance? In her mind, how does she see herself?

 

Tilly: I think she sees herself as a perpetual child, at least in the beginning.  As the cherished one, the youngest, born into a cocoon of love and security that she never needs to question.  Losing her father at a young age had a profound effect on Grace.  Unquestionably it is her desire to replicate the father/daughter relationship of her childhood that draws her to Lenny initially.

 

Jen: The fall of the Lenny’s hedge fund company Quorum mirrors modern day America. Is Lenny truly responsible? Or, has society simply allowed him the means in which to dictate its fate?

 

Tilly: Ah, well that’s the question, isn’t it?  While I wouldn’t want to diminish the personal responsibility of those who abused their positions of power, stole money or what have you, I do think that our society sends out mixed messages.  On the one hand it encourages us to value material success very highly and to pursue it with all means at our disposal.  But when things go wrong, it’s a bit like Frankenstein’s monster.  If all someone knows how to do is succeed, succeed, succeed and survive at all costs, how do you de-program that person to suddenly start thinking in a more altruistic way?  I don’t have the answer, but I think it’s an interesting question, and I think observing humanity through times of crisis reveals us at our best and worst, our most fascinating.  Which is great if you’re a novelist.

 

Jen: From start to finish, a captivating novel must consist of evil twists orchestrated by some memorable villains who spin the plot in unforeseen ways. Let it suffice to say that AFTER THE DARKNESS has a slew of dastardly evil players!  Lenny’s right-hand men have ideas of their own. Why does he choose to overlook their weaknesses despite the ramifications to the company?

 

Tilly:  I think partly because he likes them.  Despite everything, Lenny is not without human feeling.  But it is also partly because people’s weaknesses provide an opportunity for others to control and exploit them, especially if they themselves are more robust personalities, as Lenny clearly is.

 

Jen: And finally, why does Mitch Connors, the man assigned to bring Grace to justice, reach out to her and ultimately allow his heart to become a deterrent in his investigation?

 

Tilly: I think Mitch is always drawn to Grace’s vulnerability, and from early on sees a very different side to her than the simplistic monster described in the press.  Love does have a tendency to strike where it is least expected, and often when it is most inconvenient.

 

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be participating in a book tour? If so, what can you share with us?

 

Tilly: I’m not actually touring with this book, primarily because I’m too busy writing the next one!  But I will be promoting it as much as I can online and in various reader forums.  Obviously we hope to reach new readers, those who may never have read Sidney’s wonderful books before, but I’m also very conscious of the reaction of Sidney’s millions of fans to these new stories, and to me as a new writer.  As you say, Sidney’s are very big shoes to fill, and in a way touring alone with a Sidney Sheldon book feels slightly wrong to me.  If I ever did it, I would want Alexandra, his widow, or his daughter Mary to be sitting there with me, because this truly is our book, not just mine.

 

Jen: Please take us on a tour of your website.

 

Tilly: I’m on www.tillybagshawe.com . My website is not very fancy I’m afraid!  I’m not too sure what kind of a tour you would like, but it might end up being a fairly brief one.  Technology is not my strong suit, unfortunately!

 

Jen: What’s next for you? Are you currently at work on a novel?

 

Tilly: I’m at work on three!  I’m researching a third Sheldon book, finishing up a new novel of my own, and working on a proposal for something totally new, aimed at teenagers.  Being a workaholic is something else that I share with Sidney Sheldon – he was incredibly productive right to the very end.

 

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I absolutely loved AFTER THE DARKNESS. I wish you the best of luck with its success!

 

Tilly: Thank you so much.  At the end of the day that’s the only thing you can hope for as a writer, that people will read your story and that reading it will make their lives that tiniest bit happier.  Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me, and for supporting the book. T xx

 

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Tilly. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy today.  Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?

 

Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win!

 

What is the name of the lead character in AFTER THE DARKNESS?

 

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Corinne Demas, author of the fabulous book THE WRITING CIRCLE. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Until next time…

 

Jen

           

 

 

Jen’s Jewels

July 15, 2010

Deborah Clearman

 

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to start anew, even for just a few weeks, in a foreign country? A new identity, new customs to learn, and most especially a new lease on life! I guess if I really wanted to know the ins and outs, I could ask the members of the Russian spy ring! All kidding aside, life sometimes seems so fast-paced and all-consuming that it is difficult to find time to stop and smell the roses.

 

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Deborah Clearman addresses this very topic in her debut novel, TODOS SANTOS. Set in Guatemala, it’s the story of one woman’s plight to start anew while coming face to face with adversity in the jungles of a third world country.  Beautifully written with the richness of the countryside accenting the backdrop of her tale, it’s a novel worth the read.

 

As part of this interview, Black Lawrence Press has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

 

Jen: In order to truly appreciate your path to publication, it’s necessary to start at the very beginning. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

 

Deborah: I graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a BA in Fine Arts, then went on to get a BFA from Cooper Union and an MFA in Painting from Indiana in Bloomington Indiana. I managed to spend most of my twenties in school, when I wasn’t working as a waitress.

 

 

Jen: Living in the Baltimore area, I found it fascinating when I read that you had grown up on a tobacco farm in Southern Maryland. Describe for us this experience and how it affected your perception of the world in which we live.

 

Deborah: Upper Marlboro was very much steeped in the past when I lived there, with old families who still owned farms granted to their ancestors by Lord Baltimore. The house I grew up in was built in 1820. My family (newcomers—we moved there when I was 7) rented. The owner was a Hungarian movie actress living in D.C. who had bought the house and 40 acres during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, hoping some of her relatives would get out. Apparently none did. The first few years we were there, she rented the fields out to a local tobacco farmer. I vividly remember the planting. A tractor dragged an attachment that poked a hole in the ground, into which a man or boy riding on the attachment stuck a young tobacco plant by hand, which was then watered by rudimentary container on the machine. On some farms nearby, this machine was still pulled by horse, rather than tractor. In summer the tobacco fields were lush and green. Our barn filled up every fall with the harvested plants, hung in the rafters to dry. The delicious spicy aroma of the drying tobacco filled the countryside (and I’ve never been a smoker!). In February, the farmer and his family and hired help gathered in our barn to strip the leaves off the plants, tie them into bundles—called hands—and pack them into giant barrels, called hogsheads. I helped with the stripping. It was great fun for me—work for them. There were large warehouses in Marlboro where the tobacco was auctioned in late winter, a major event in the town. Most of the buyers came from Europe. There was only one shabby hotel in town; I can’t imagine what it was like for them.

 

Later, with the landlord’s permission, my mother took over the fields and barn for her horses. Marlboro was also horse country and my mother rode with the Marlboro Hunt Club. To this day, in her eighties, she still owns and rides horses pretty much daily. Growing up in the country—with woods, fields, streams, and barns as my playground—had a profound impact on me. Living in New York City, I miss nature. It’s something I love about Todos Santos. As different as it is, Todos Santos reminds me of my childhood. When I see a Todosantero planting corn by hand with a digging stick, it reminds me of that tobacco planter.

 

Jen: Your background is unique due to your impressive artistic talents as well as numerous literary endeavors. In terms of your artwork, what is your primary style of painting and preferred subject matter? Are your works currently on display?

 

Deborah: My paintings are representational and often show people doing things in landscape. Long before I started writing seriously, my paintings tended to tell stories, often made-up and metaphorical stories. There’s one of Nero fiddling while Rome burns, and another of a human sacrifice on an imagined volcano-top in the Andes. A few are on display in my living room. Otherwise, they show up in odd places.

 

Jen:  How did you become involved with the NY Writers Coalition? And, what is their mission statement?

 

Deborah: I met Aaron Zimmerman, the founder of NYWC, at a writing residency at Vermont Studio Center in 1999, when I was just “coming out of the closet” as a writer. At the time, he was offering a writing workshop in NYC, and I immediately joined it on my return. I was enthralled by the safe, supportive, and inspiring atmosphere the workshop created for writing. When Aaron went on to form NYWC in 2001, in trained with him to become a workshop leader. He asked me to join the organization as Program Director in 2004, and I’m still leading workshops as well.

 

NY Writers Coalition creates opportunities for people who have been historically deprived of voice in our society to be heard through the art of writing. Writing with others in an atmosphere of respect and acceptance, participants discover the value of their own stories, gain confidence and a stronger sense of self, and become less isolated from themselves and from society. NYWC provides free, long-term writing workshops throughout New York City for a diverse population that includes the homeless and formerly homeless, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, at-risk and poor youth, recent immigrants, war veterans, seniors, cancer survivors, and many others. With more than 1,000 workshop sessions at approximately 45 sites in a year, we are one of the largest community based writing organizations in the country.

 

Jen: Please share with us your “Ah! Ha!” moment that led to your pursuit of writing a novel.

 

Deborah: I first visited Todos Santos in 1998. Like Catherine, I was thinking of setting a children’s book there. Like Catherine, I went with a guide. I only stayed one night, but I fell in love instantly with the mountains, the terrace of the hotel (which is no longer there), and the people I met. When I got home to the US, I told a friend about the trip over lunch, and I must have sounded pretty excited. She said to me, “That’s it, Deborah—the subject for your novel!”

            At the time, I didn’t know I was writing a novel.

            My friend went on to add, “But your character will have to have an affair with the guide.”

 

Jen: In terms of nuts and bolts, how did you arrive at the premise for TODOS SANTOS?

 

Deborah: Having survived a long marriage crisis that ended in divorce, I knew that Catherine would be struggling with an unhappy marriage. I wanted her struggle to be different from my own. Catherine isn’t me. But I gave her a son who resembles my own son when he was that age. Fortunately, my son was never kidnapped. I really didn’t know what Catherine would decide to do about her marriage. I wrote the novel to find out.

 

Jen: Interestingly, the novel is set in Guatemala. Why did you choose this locale? And, what was the most difficult part of accurately portraying this third world country to your readers?

 

Deborah: I’ve had a fascination with different cultures since childhood, and in my teens thought I would become an anthropologist. Even after I changed my mind, I continued to study Spanish. In the 70s I started visiting Guatemala with a close family friend who was an anthropologist and Mayan linguist. Nora England gave me an insider’s introduction to the country and the people. When I went to live in Guatemala for a year in 2001, it was the fulfillment of a dream I’d had since childhood, to live in a foreign culture.

 

Whether it’s Guatemala or Nigeria or Indonesia, I think third world countries matter. I think small countries matter. Living in Guatemala changed my perspective on my own country, and my life here. My biggest challenge is not to get preachy. To present Guatemala to my readers with its beauty and its flaws and let them make up their own minds.

 

Jen: The story begins as your lead character Catherine and her son Isaac embark on a summer journey to Guatemala to visit with Aunt Zelda. Both mother and son have different agendas yet together they are on a journey of self-discovery. Why is Catherine so drawn to Todos Santos?

 

Deborah: She loves Todos Santos because it’s so far away—geographically and culturally—from her problems, so isolated, and yet so connected on an emotional level to the same questions she is asking.

 

Jen: Rather than attending summer school due to his errant ways, Isaac agrees to work for his aunt despite his father Elliot’s objections. Is his willingness to go a true journey of retribution?  Or, is it simply his way of getting back at his Dad for the problems in their relationship?

 

Deborah: We don’t see very much of Isaac’s relationship with his father in the novel. Only at the end, when he’s happily eating breakfast with Elliot. I don’t think of Elliot as a bad or disengaged father, even though he may disagree with his wife on the best way to handle their son’s issues. However, I’m happy to let the readers draw their own conclusions on this question.

 

Jen: Along the way, Isaac finds himself in dire straits. Without giving too much away, from where does he find the inner strength that enables him to forge ahead?  Is his mother Catherine the source of his inspiration?  Or, is it simply his own desire that wills him to hopefully overcome the impossible?

 

Deborah: I see Isaac as a smart kid who gets in over his head and makes some bad decisions. I would guess his inner strength comes from confidence he has in himself, even though it’s tested. Whether his confidence comes from good parenting or the genetic roll of the dice, I’ll let the reader decide.

 

Jen: Catherine finds herself in a precarious position with her tour guide Oswaldo. Exactly what does she see in him that makes her even consider the possibility of throwing her marriage to Elliot away?

 

Deborah: Catherine was Elliot’s student before she was his wife. She continues to feel judged by him, and belittled by comparison. Oswaldo respects and admires her in a way that Elliot never could, because of the dynamic of their marriage. That respect helps her to see herself in a new way.

 

Jen: What did you learn about yourself as a writer by completing this project?

 

Deborah: Since I came back from Todos Santos late in 2002, I’ve kept a drawing taped to my refrigerator door.  It was done by a friend and given to me at my going-away party in Todos Santos, and it shows a Todosantera reading a book called TODOS SANTOS. I kept it as a reminder that people there were expecting me to finish this novel. Through many later drafts, whenever I felt terror or despair that I wasn’t up to the task, I looked at the drawing and thought, I have to do it.

 

Jen: Let’s switch gears now and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be going on a book tour?

 

Deborah: I’ll start in my hometown of New York City with two events—Cornelia Street Café on July 8 and Idlewild Books on July 11. Then I’m off to visit friends and bookstores on the West Coast, including Third Place Books in Seattle on July 17 and Annie Bloom’s in Portland on July 15.  Later I’ll swing through Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and more. Details of my tour are posted on my website.

 

Jen: As for your website, please take us on a brief tour.

 

Deborah: Please visit me at www.deborahclearman.com for an excerpt from the book, reviews, events, and a short video about me and my novel made by Olivia Carrescia, a filmmaker who has documented life in Todos Santos before and after the brutal civil war in two beautiful, award-winning films.

 

Jen: Do you participate in Author Phone Chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one? Will there be a Reading Group Guide available for TODOS SANTOS?

 

Deborah: TODOS SANTOS includes a Reading Group Guide and Author’s Q&A at the end of the novel. In addition, I’m available to visit reading groups within a drivable range of New York through my website.

 

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next book? If so, what can you tell us about it?

 

Deborah: Absolutely! After the time I’ve spent in Guatemala, I decided I had earned the right to speak in the voice of the natives. I’m working on a series of linked short stories and a novella in which the main characters are Guatemalan, and Americans are peripheral. Themes dealt with include migration, illegal immigration, foreign adoption, as well as the universals of love, loss, and family.

 

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy summer schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. Best of luck with TODOS SANTOS!

 

Deborah: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Deborah. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of TODOS SANTOS today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win!

What is the name of Catherine’s son in the novel TODOS SANTOS?

 

Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Tilly Bagshawe, author of AFTER THE DARKNESS which is a continuation of Sidney Sheldon’s fabulous novels. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Until next time…

 

Jen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jen’s Jewels

July 1, 2010

Cecily von Ziegesar

 

 

If I were able to turn back the clock and revisit any period of time in my life, I would have to choose my college days. Words just can’t describe that feeling of exhilaration experienced when I first tasted the sweetness of freedom. Sure, I made mistakes (many of them); however, they were of my own doing.  And somehow, that made them seem less painful and perhaps even okay.

 

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Cecily von Ziegesar explores this very topic in her latest release, CUM LAUDE.  Known as the mastermind behind the Gossip Girl series, she has written a hip, yet edgy look at life through the eyes of college-aged young adults. With a juicy storyline and salacious characters, she creates the perfect read for a hot July day.

 

As part of this interview, Hyperion Books has generously donated five copies of CUM LAUDE for you, my favorite readers, to try to win.  So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And, thanks for stopping by and making Jen’s Jewels a part of your summer reading.

 

 

 

Jen: Most readers would associate your name with your highly popular Gossip Girl series upon which the television show is based. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the path that led to publication, please share with us your educational and professional background.

 

Cecily: I went to a private girls’ school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan from first through twelfth grade. We wore uniforms. There were 35 girls in my graduating class. If you’ve read Gossip Girl, this should all sound sort of familiar. From there I went to Colby College in Maine, which had an outstanding creative writing department, and I took every class it offered. I went on to graduate school at U of AZ Tucson for my MFA in creative writing, but the program wasn’t as strong as my undergraduate program so I quit after a year. I traveled and dabbled in various jobs before going to London to live with my boyfriend. After we were married and I was legal to work, I got a job as an editorial assistant at a children’s book publisher. Three years later we moved to Manhattan where I got a job as an assistant editor at the book packager for whom I later developed Gossip Girl. I wrote the proposal for the series and when a certain editor at a certain publisher expressed interest in publishing the series she requested that I be the one to write the books. I’d always wanted to write, not just be an editor, so I felt very lucky. I gave birth to my daughter a week after I’d finished the manuscript for the second book and three months before the first book was published. When the third book hit the bestseller list, I realized I could quit my editing job and write full time.

 

Jen: Let’s talk about the Gossip Girl series. First of all, why did you choose to write a teen drama rather than an adult series? And, how did you arrive at the premise?

 

Cecily: I was editing young adult books at the time so it was logical for me to try to write in that genre. But so many of the books I was working on took place in fictional suburban towns that didn’t resonate for me. And the boys were all objects of desire with no point of view. I thought, why not set something in NYC and give the boys as much play as the girls? The premise of the book is very much based on my experience of going away for 6^th grade (my family lived in Rome for a year) and coming back to my school and finding out that none of my friends would talk to me and had all been gossiping about me while I was away. There were also two girls who entered my class in junior year who had been kicked out of boarding school. When their old schools in the city wouldn’t take them back, they came to mine. We were all fascinated by them—why had they been kicked out? What had they done? One of them was blonde and beautiful. Thus, Serena’s story was born—with a little inspiration from Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence.

 

Jen: In terms of feedback, how did you determine your manuscript’s appeal to the teen scene? In what ways did you “research” current trends and social networking sites in order to accurately portray them within your storyline?

 

Cecily: I did absolutely no research at all. I really steer clear of all that ‘being current’ stuff, which I know may come as a surprise. I want to write books that will last, and so I try to avoid slang and technological references, if at all possible. It’s very ironic because “blogging” is a dictionary term now and I suppose Gossip Girl was one of the original bloggers, but that term didn’t even exist when I wrote the books. I’m a total technophobe. My Iphone’s capabilities are much underused. Anyway, if you’re wondering how I could write about the so-called ‘teenage experience’ with such wit and aplomb well….I was a teenager once too, not so long ago. And I really don’t think that much has changed, except maybe the technology.

 

Jen: Describe for us its evolution into a sensational television phenomenon.

 

Cecily: I’m not involved with the show, so I can’t really describe that evolution. Josh Schwartz (show creator) kept hearing about the books and when he finally read the first one he was like, “I have to make this show.” So he bought the rights and the rest is history. His partner, Stephanie Savage, was kind enough to take me out for lunch and pick my brain when they were working on the pilot, and I took her for a tour of the Upper East Side. We stood outside my old school, stalking the girls. I was so afraid that since they’d done The OC they’d turn Blair and Serena into California girls, driving SUVs to school, and Nate would be a lifeguard or something. But of course they knew what they were doing. And even though I’m not involved in the running of the show they always welcome me on set. Everyone is very nice.

 

Jen: And, what was the most challenging part of the process?

 

 

Cecily: Since I had no involvement—writers of novels often have no input in the adaptations of their books—the hardest part was waiting and seeing what they did with it. The pilot stayed very faithful to the first book—with some big changes, as was expected. What they created vastly exceeded my wildest expectations. The cast is awesome. The show is amazing.

 

Jen: Your latest project, CUM LAUDE, is your entree into the adult market. In terms of the creative process, how has this change in platforms enabled you to step out of your comfort zone? Has it been more or less difficult than expected? How so?

 

Cecily: I think part of being a writer is stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself with each new book. Gossip Girl was pretty risqué—there was nothing like it at the time. While I was writing it I didn’t think about the audience. I just wrote the kind of book I would want to read. I’m still doing that with Cum Laude. It’s about college freshmen, so I’m still writing about young adults, but in this one they’re really struggling to figure out who they are and where they belong in the world. It’s their first time living away from home, without adult supervision. And they get into a lot of trouble.

 

Jen: The story is set in an idyllic New England college town and centers around five freshmen as they embark on the next season of their lives. The main character is the well-to-do Shipley who is trying to break free from her upper crust family. With that being said, why then does she choose to follow in her wayward, absentee brother’s footsteps and attend the same school he did? Is she simply looking for an answer to his vagrant lifestyle, or is she looking for much more?

 

Cecily: At first Shipley just wanted to piss off her parents by going to the same school as her brother when she could’ve gone to Dartmouth. But she’s also very competitive—so many of us private school girls are—and she wanted to show that she could succeed where her brother had failed.

 

Jen: Despite her rebellious spirit as well as her desire to experience the sweetness of freedom, she immediately delves into a serious relationship with Tom. Why do they both choose to commit so early in the year? In what ways are these two kindred spirits?

 

Cecily: Shipley and Tom are two attractive freshmen from the same privileged background and neighboring suburbs of New York City. They cling to each other in the sea of students from elsewhere. I saw this happen all the time in college, although some of us were more adventurous. Shipley also gets together with the townie, Adam. She wants it both ways—safe and risky.

 

Jen: Eliza is a wild and edgy girl looking for a good time. Underneath her tough exterior is just a lonely girl who wants to be loved. How are she and Shipley alike? Who is the stronger character and why?

 

Cecily: Both girls have their strengths. Eliza has a great sense of irony. Shipley may not be as loud and abrasive as Eliza, but she is actually more confident. She is quietly becoming the person she couldn’t become back home in Greenwich.

 

Jen: Pothead Nick is a quirky guy who is trying his best to fit in. What is his biggest character flaw? And, does he have the where-with-all to realize his shortcomings?

 

Cecily: Nick spent his entire time at boarding school emulating somebody else. He’s also growing out of a lifetime crush on his mom. Now he has to figure out who he is. And it looks like it’s going to take a while….

 

Jen: Siblings Tragedy and Adam add an element of commonality to the plot due to their humble surroundings and down-to-earth upbringing. Which of the two is more resilient and why?

 

Cecily: Tragedy is the strongest character in the book, even though she’s the youngest. Adam is going to have to get away from Home to really grow into himself. I love their relationship though. I have a thing for brother-sister relationships.

 

Jen: Will these characters be part of a new series, or is this a stand alone title? What are you currently working on?

 

Cecily: I’m not writing a sequel to Cum Laude right now. I’d rather not get stuck in a long-running series, although I’d like to write a sequel at some point. Original I had it in mind to write three books—Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. But first I’m going to write another book set in the city. Stay tuned….

 

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Do you have a website? Do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?

 

Cecily: I love speaking directly to my readers and an author chat sounds fun, but I don’t have my own website. I’ve always felt like it’s sort of cheesy to push my wares and an invasion of privacy to be all over the internet. That said, I’ve just started getting into Twitter – check me out at @cesvonz.  And book clubs and classes who are interested in having me call in for a discussion of Cum Laude can send a request to allison.mcgeehon@abc.com. As I said, I really do love hearing from my readers.

 

Jen: Will you be going on a book tour? If so, where can my readers find your schedule of events?

 

Cecily: I’m doing an event at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square in NYC on July 14 with Candace Bushnell, but I’m not doing an official book tour. If you’d like me to come to a bookstore in your home town please tell the bookstore to contact my publisher. I love to travel and I wish I was doing more of it right now.

 

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. I wish you all the best.

 

Cecily:  Thank you, it was fun.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Cecily. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of CUM LAUDE today.  Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win.

 

Name the date and location of Cecily’s upcoming book signing.      

 

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with debut novelist Deborah Clearman. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Until next time…

 

 

Jen          

Jen’s Jewels

June 15, 2010

Lauren Belfer
Modern medicine is fascinating. We all know that the medical breakthroughs that scientists discover today will significantly change the world in which we live. With the help of technology, the wealth of resources available gives us hope that cures for arthritis and cancer are on the way.  It’s hard to imagine how disease affected our world, even just fifty or sixty years ago, before today’s common vaccinations were discovered.
This month’s Jen’s Jewels Lauren Belfer tackles that very question in her latest release, A FIERCE RADIANCE. Author of The New York Times Best-selling novel CITY OF LIGHT, she takes the reader on a fictional journey into the discovery of penicillin in her spell-binding new novel. Incorporating true medical advances of the 1940’s within the framework of her romantic suspense tale, she creates the perfect novel to kick-off the long, summer months.

As part of this interview, Harper Collins Publishers has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your summer reading. 
          

Jen: The path to publication can sometimes be as interesting as the story itself. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Lauren: I grew up in Buffalo, New York, where my dad taught high school history and my mom taught art and design at the local college. I attended Swarthmore College, outside Philadelphia, where I majored in Medieval Studies.  After graduation, I moved to New York City. I have an M.F.A. in fiction from Columbia University.  I’ve worked as a paralegal at two law firms, as a fact-checker at several magazines, as an assistant photo editor at a newspaper, and as a file clerk at an art gallery. For eight years, I worked at CBS News, where I started as a secretary, and afterward I worked freelance in documentary film production as a researcher and associate producer.

Jen: What was the driving force behind your decision to become an author? Did you dive in head first, or did you write while working?

Lauren:  I decided to become a fiction writer when I was six years old.  I can’t recall what prompted this decision.  I do remember that I always enjoyed hearing and telling stories.  One day I woke up and knew that I wanted to become a writer.  Except for a time in my early 20s when I thought about becoming a photojournalist, I never wavered in that conviction. When I was eight and nine years old, I wrote stories about animals and about powerful princesses.  In high school I wrote poetry, for which I received rejection letters from all the best publications around the country.  After I finished college, I still dreamed about becoming a fiction writer, but I had to earn a living, too.  I’d get up early, before going to my job, to work on novels and short stories.

The first short story I ever published was rejected 42 times before it found an editor who loved it.  The second short story I published was rejected only 27 times.  This felt like a huge triumph, to go from 42 rejections to 27. All these rejections taught me a lesson about the subjectivity of literary judgments:  what one reader hates, another reader loves.  Submitting the work for publication is what matters.  Persistence has been the hallmark of my writing life.

Jen: Your first novel, CITY OF LIGHT, became a New York Times Best-selling novel. For those readers unfamiliar with your work, please give us a brief overview of the plot.
Lauren: CITY OF LIGHT takes place in my hometown, Buffalo, New York, in 1901 – a time when Buffalo was one of the centers of the nation, one of the most vibrant, exciting, and prosperous places in the country. In 1901, hydroelectric power was being developed in nearby Niagara Falls, and electrification was transforming society.  I grew up in Buffalo during its bleak years of recession, however, and I didn’t even know about its glory days when I was young.  I learned about this years later, when I happened to stop by the local historical society when I was in town visiting my parents.  Once I discovered the city’s glorious past, I felt compelled to portray it in a novel.  CITY OF LIGHT centers on a strong, independent woman, Louisa Barrett, whose position as headmistress of a prominent school for girls gives her access to the most important people in the city.  But Louisa has a secret, and everything she does is to protect that secret. 

I was very lucky with CITY OF LIGHT, which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book, a Library Journal best book of the year, a number one BookSense pick, and a Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club.  City of Light was a bestseller in Great Britain and has been translated into seven languages.
Jen: In terms of the creative process, what was the most challenging part of writing your first novel? And, what did you learn about yourself in the process?
Lauren: CITY OF LIGHT took six years to research and write, and I did the research and writing simultaneously.  Often I’d discover something unexpected in my research that I decided to include in the novel, and I’d work it into the lives of the characters.  For example, one day when I was waiting in the library for some rare books to be brought out, I glanced at a history magazine which included an article about the awful conditions in orphanages around 1901.  What I read was so horrifying that I knew I had to portray it in my novel, and I created a subplot to include this.  Alternately, as the characters took on lives of their own, they’d become interested in various issues that in turn I’d research, so that I could help them pursue their interests.  (I say this somewhat facetiously, but in fact, when fiction writing is going well, the characters do seem to take over.)

During the six years that I worked on CITY OF LIGHT, I sometimes wondered if anyone would ever want to read what was turning into a five hundred page book about Buffalo.  Sometimes I felt despair about whether I would be able to combine all the subplots I had in mind and keep the plot suspenseful for the reader.  Whenever I thought about giving up, however, I remembered the 42 rejections for my first published short story, and the 27 rejections for the second, and I pushed myself forward.
Jen: Your latest release, A FIERCE RADIANCE, is a superb historical novel which includes intrigue, romance, and even espionage. Set in New York City in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it follows the scientific discovery of penicillin as a viable medication. How did you arrive at the premise? And, what made you want to explore this topic?

Lauren: The topic of A FIERCE RADIANCE is very personal to me and touches on my own family.  For all the years I knew her, my aunt kept on her bureau a photo of her brother in the 1920s, when he was 9 or 10 years old, a blond boy paddling a canoe with his father, both of them laughing, in high spirits.  This was the last photo she had of him, because he died at age 11 from a fast-moving infection contracted after a Fourth of July celebration.  Antibiotics probably would have saved his life – except antibiotics didn’t exist then.  Years after his death, my aunt mourned him.  She reflected on the future he was denied and told me about the never-ending anguish of her parents.  The light and happiness went out of her parents’ spirits after he died, she said, and she grew up in a home filled with sadness.  Her mother never hugged her again, and her father slipped into depression.  I wondered how different my aunt’s life would have been, and the lives of her parents, if he’d survived. 
When I spoke to friends about this story, they often responded by telling me stories of their own:  about a grandmother or grandfather, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister, son or daughter, who died from a sore throat, or from the scratch of a rose thorn, or from a blister caused by new shoes – the story of a beloved family member who died because antibiotics didn’t exist. 
These stories compelled me to write A FIERCE RADIANCE.
Jen: In terms of research, approximately how much was needed in order for the story to ring true with its readers? And, what was one of the most fascinating facts you uncovered?
Lauren: I struggled with how much science to put into the novel so that readers could understand the issues involved with the development of antibiotics but not be overwhelmed by this part of the story.  I never lost track of the fact that I was writing fiction – about individuals and their families.  The science had to be presented through the eyes of the characters and through their struggles and dreams.  I knew nothing about the history of antibiotics when I began to work on the novel, and the research took years.  In trying to learn and understand this history, I felt as if I were learning a foreign language – and I had to become fluent in this language, before I could create rounded, believable characters who were living and pursuing the science every day.
The most compelling piece of information I learned during my research was that antibiotics won’t work forever.  The problem of resistance has already become so severe that several strains of bacteria are resistant to even the strongest antibiotics.  Scientists are trying to develop new types of antibiotics, that will kill infectious bacteria in new ways, but it’s a tough battle.  My great fear is that in a few decades we’ll return to the era when children died from a scratch on the knee.

Jen: Your main character Claire Shipley, a well-respected photographer for Life Magazine, is given the monumental assignment of documenting the clinical trials of penicillin. Why did you choose to tell the story from a woman’s perspective?
Lauren: I always conceive my stories and plot lines from a woman’s perspective.  I hope I create strong male characters, too, but my lead characters are female.  This gives me (as a fellow woman) a passionate concern for the complex issues that motivate the central characters in my novels.  I need to feel close to my characters in this way, and give them some of the experiences which I’m familiar with, in terms of raising children, being married, and balancing work with family life.
Jen: Her love interest, Dr. James Stanton, is the mastermind, if you will, behind the trials. Why does he allow Claire to play an active role in the process? What does he see in her that allows him to let down his guard?

Lauren: James Stanton first meets Claire Shipley in her professional capacity, as a prominent photographer for Life Magazine assigned to do a story on a medical test that he’s conducting.  They fall in love as equals, each successful in their chosen work. Claire’s independence allows him to let down his guard.  Later they discover the vulnerabilities that each has tried to hide.
Jen: How does Claire’s relationship or lack thereof, with her ex-husband significantly impact the way she deals with her estranged father and even with Dr. Stanton? Is her need for independence merely a defense mechanism to protect herself from further disappointment and pain?

Lauren: Independence is part of Claire’s nature.  Because she’s so independent-minded, she reacts to disappointment and pain by taking refuge in her confidence that she can support herself and her son both emotionally and financially.
Jen: Detective Marcus Kreindler has the gargantuan task of finding the killer despite the roadblocks from the government. What about this case makes it so personal for him?
Lauren: For Detective Marcus Kreindler, this case is indeed very personal.  He thinks of the murder victim (and I don’t want to reveal too much to people who haven’t read the book) as his daughter.  He’ll do anything to find the killer.  In a broader sense, he’s fiercely independent, with years of work experience, and the more the government fights him, the stronger his commitment becomes to resolve the case on his own terms.
Jen: Consisting of over 500 pages, this novel depicts a volatile period in our country’s history. You touch briefly upon the Japanese internment camps mandated by FDR.  In your opinion, what can we do to ensure that history will not repeat itself in spite of the constant threat of terrorism in our country today?
Lauren: History is constantly repeating itself, and sadly I’m not sure there is anything that we, as individuals, can do to stop this.  Blind prejudice tends to triumph when people are afraid, or are made to feel afraid, about their futures and the futures of their families.  As a fiction writer, I’m interested in how individuals react to the pressures put upon them by their societies and by history itself.

Jen: What do you hope your readers take away from this novel?

Lauren: Most important, I hope readers will enjoy A FIERCE RADIANCE as a good story, with compelling characters.  I hope readers will come to care about these characters, about their choices and their fates, as if the characters were members of their own families.  I also hope readers will take away a sense of the fragility of life, and of the appreciation we must always have for our loved ones, who can be taken from us in an instant, whether from war, or disease, or an accident crossing the street.
Jen: What’s next for you?
Lauren: I’ll be spending the next few months visiting book stores to talk about A FIERCE RADIANCE. After so many years spent home alone writing, I can’t wait to be out in the world again meeting readers.

In addition, I’m well into my third novel – but I’m very superstitious about work in progress, so I can’t say anything more than that.

Jen: Do you have a website? E-mail notification of upcoming releases? Do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?
Lauren: My website is www.LaurenBelfer.com

On the HarperCollins website, readers can sign up for Author Tracker, so they’ll know where I’ll be appearing.  And I love to do phone chats with readers and learn what’s moving and interesting to them.  Readers can contact my publicist at Heather.Drucker@harpercollins.com to set up events, or they can learn more about my novel at www.harpercollins.com

Jen: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your touring schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. A FIERCE RADIANCE is a phenomenal novel. I look forward to seeing it at the top of the New York Times Best-seller List. Congratulations!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Lauren. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy today.  Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com and you’ll win.
What is the name of the man in charge of the penicillin trial?
Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the popular Gossip Girls series. You won’t want to miss it.
Until next time…
Jen
                 

Jen’s Jewels

June 1, 2010

Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Marriage is an incredible rite of passage. From the proposal to walking down the aisle, these are unforgettable moments that will last a lifetime. But, what happens afterward? When the dust finally settles, how do you move forward? Decisions like buying a house or whether or not to have children make marriage so much more than just saying ‘I do’. If only there were a day-to-day manual we could reference when times get tough. Truly, there is no simple answer.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Aidan Donnelley Rowley explores this very question in her debut novel, LIFE AFTER YES. It’s the story of Quinn, a young Manhattan attorney, who is embarking on the next phase of her life. As she tries to balance her high-powered law career with her upcoming nuptials, she is faced with the reality that it may not be a bed of roses.

As part of this interview, Avon Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.
Jen: Your writing career took flight after pursuing a law career at a prestigious law firm in New York City. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us a brief overview of your educational and professional background.

Aidan: I am very proud of my education and feel indebted to my three alma maters – The Dalton School here in New York City, Yale, and Columbia Law School. To be honest, I glided through my first two decades-plus of life as a bit of an academic/resume robot, working hard, getting top grades, going for gold. It wasn’t until I spent some time at a high-wattage law firm that I decided it was time to finally stop and think about what I actually wanted and not just what would be impressive or applauded.
Jen: Walking away from a high salary career such as yours in pursuit of a writing career is quite frankly a risky endeavor. Please describe for us the “Ah! Ha!” moment when you knew that it was time to make that leap.
Aidan: My “Ah! Ha!” moment interestingly (given the subject matter of Life After Yes) came right on the heels of my own honeymoon. It was late on a Friday afternoon in January and I sat at my document-strewn desk at the law firm staring out the skyscraper window at the stunning views of the city in which I was born and raised. I did this often, but on that particular day, I looked out and decided to jump. To take my very first risk. In that moment, I chose life over law. Looking back, this seems very indulgent and impulsive.

Jen: LIFE AFTER YES is the story of a strong, young woman named Prudence Quinn O’Malley who has just recently lost her father in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Her raw emotions fuel her disgruntled feelings towards her work, friends, and fiancée. Why did you choose to incorporate this tragic event into the book?

Aidan: I did not want to write a story about 9/11, but I was very interested in writing a story that takes place against the backdrop of this national tragedy. Why? Because I am a lifelong New Yorker and I was here on that day and though I was so fortunate not to lose anyone close to me in the attacks, the day affected me and deeply. I think that day woke many of us – and Quinn – up to the reality that life is fragile and the future is not a guarantee. I think that day focused so many of us on the fact that we should be purposeful about our lives; that we should spend our days committing ourselves to people and things we love. This is what Quinn struggles to do on the pages of Life After Yes.

Jen: And, why did you choose that title? What significance does it have in terms of Quinn’s journey to self-discovery?

Aidan: The novel is named Life After Yes because it is the story of the time in a woman’s life after she says yes to that infinitely important and culturally heralded question. In so many ways, I think our society is unduly focused on the fanfare of the fairy tale: the utterance of that question, on the sparkling diamond, on the triumphant yes, at the expense of other important things. I set out to write a more realistic tale about the revealing emotional and existential tumult that can, and frequently does, ensue after engagement.
Jen: The naming of your lead character has much significance to the flow of the story. Born Prudence Quinn, she has now chosen instead to use her middle name as her first. How does her choice affect her attitude towards life?

Aidan: Quinn’s choice to forsake her given name is hugely important to her identity and attitude. In many ways, Quinn is fearful of clichés and eager to rebel. Moreover, Quinn harbors a deep and abiding fear of predictability and prudence, a fear that manifests in her often counterintuitive and self-destructive behaviors. It is important to note that as Quinn evolves over the course of Life After Yes, her attitude toward her name (and all that it symbolizes) becomes less barbed.

Jen: Quinn’s relationship with her childhood sweetheart Phelps is quite poignant. In what ways does it mirror the relationship she had with her deceased father? And, how does it reflect her reluctance to let go of the past?

Aidan: Quinn, a self-proclaimed “Petra Pan” is reluctant to grow up. Her relationship with Phelps, like that with her late father, is profoundly interwoven with her childhood and the past. She associates these two men with fishing trips as a girl, with unmarred happiness, with that irretrievable and glorious naïveté of youth. I think Quinn realizes, slowly but surely, that to move on, to live her life, she must let these men reside solely in her memories. But she is not necessarily willing to do this.

Jen:  The friendships we share with our girlfriends enable us to feel nurtured and loved while at the same time allow us the freedom to delve into the unknown. What makes Quinn and Kayla such a compatible pair? 
Aidan: Ultimately, Quinn and Kayla make such a compatible pair because they have vast common ground – education, profession, privilege – but are also very different people. At the outset of Life After Yes, these differences are more stark, but as the story unfolds and both women confront existential challenges – as well as challenges to their friendship – it becomes more and more clear how similar they are. At bottom, both women (and maybe all of us?) are two souls stumbling through the morass of modern life trying to find meaning and happiness.
Jen: Quinn’s usage of alcohol is quite prevalent throughout the book. In what way does it directly correlate to the numbness she is feeling in her heart? Does she recognize the stronghold it has over her?
Aidan: Quinn’s relationship with alcohol is complicated to say the least. On the one hand, her drinking is emblematic of more universal aspects of contemporary corporate culture where alcohol is often ubiquitous. On the other hand, Quinn’s reliance on her Pinot Grigio is a more personal problem. She uses it to escape. To blur the sharp edges of her life, and numb the pain that envelops her as she navigates her life after loss and life after yes. Quinn is only partially conscious of the fact that by depending so heavily on alcohol, she is in fact diluting her engagement to her man and to her life.

Jen: Although Quinn feels the pressure to live up to her boss Fisher’s high expectations, she is just going through the motions as if she were on the outside looking in. What makes Fisher reach out to her? How are these two dissimilar beings, unbeknownst to themselves, actually kindred spirits?

Aidan: Fisher sees a younger version of himself in this young, smart, and self-searching woman. He feels compelled to let Quinn in; to dispel the myths, to be honest, to keep her from making the same personal and professional mistakes he and so many others did. When Quinn first encounters Fisher, she stereotypes him as a fungible corner-office-cuff-link-wearing partner. Once they are given the opportunity to get outside the firm and actually talk, they both realize that despite the obvious differences (gender, age, and rank) they are indeed kindred spirits.

Jen: Quinn’s fiancée Sage comes from a long line of Southern gentile. Calm, focused, and determined to land his bride; he accepts Quinn’s insecurities with open arms. What makes Quinn such the femme fatale in his eyes?
Aidan: For Sage, Quinn is a unique and loveable creature. Unlike many of the women he has encountered, she is at once riddled with profound confidence and deep insecurity. And like Quinn, Sage has a bit of a rebel in him. By wooing a Yankee career girl and settling in the Northeast, he is striking out on his own. Also, something magical happened on that first night when he met Quinn; He was able to open up about his own loss and, for him, this was an early sign that she was it for him.
Jen: Sage’s mother Mrs. McIntyre is a woman with a definite agenda…to hold on tight to her son. Would she have felt as threatened by Quinn’s arrival if Quinn were simply a school teacher rather than a successful lawyer? In some ways does she feel perhaps a bit inferior to Quinn?

  Aidan: Mrs. McIntyre proves to be far more complex than the polite, pastel-clad Southern lady she appears to be. Much of her resistance to Quinn is rooted in a simple unwillingness to let go of her son. But this natural maternal possessiveness is no doubt exacerbated by the fact that Quinn is smart and successful and feisty.
Jen: Who is Quinn’s hero? Ironically, is it Prudence?
Aidan: I love this question! I’m not sure Quinn believes in heroes because heroes are the stuff of storybooks and Quinn prefers reality. That said, I do think Quinn manifests a deep reverence for Prudence, her younger self, who she was before life grew more gray and complicated. Interestingly, as Life After Yes progresses and Quinn matures, she embraces Prudence – the optimistic little girl and the concept – more and more.
Jen: A question I just have to ask, will there be a sequel? If so, what can you share with us?
Aidan: A lot of people have been asking this. And it certainly has me thinking… Truth be told, I am hard at work on my next novel, one that is not a sequel, but never say never! Given the wild change in my own life after my honeymoon, it could be fun to see what happens with Quinn after hers!
Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be participating in a book tour?

Aidan: Yes. I will be doing several events here in New York and in the Northeast. I will also be participating in a wonderful online book tour.
Jen: Do you have a website? If so, please take us on a brief tour.

Aidan: I have a website called Ivy League Insecurities. I started this blog a little over ago

when I had the epiphany that despite my illustrious Ivy League education, when it comes to many things (parenting for instance), I have no clue what I am doing. Alas, the premise of my site is that no league prepares us for life and that insecurities can very often be inspirations. (Which is good because I have plenty of them!) The blog contains all information about my book and book events and is also hearty mixture of silly and serious (and often quite vulnerable) stories about my life as a mother and writer and worrier. Please stop by!

Jen: Do you have e-mail news blasts? Will you be participating in Author Phone Chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?
Aidan: I love connecting with readers. If anyone would like to chat with me about Life After Yes or anything else, they should contact me through my blog. For me, one of the most rewarding parts of writing and blogging has been interacting with fellow readers and writers and existential troopers, so please get in touch!

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. I really enjoyed LIFE AFTER YES, especially the way in which it made me take a step back and evaluate my own life. A novel is so much more than just a story when it leaves such a profound lasting impression. Bravo! I wish you the best of luck. 
  Aidan: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my rookie novel and thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer these thoughtful and nuanced questions!

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Aidan. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of LIFE AFTER YES today. Better yet, how would you like to win one?

Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win!

What is the name of Aidan’s website?

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Lauren Belfer, author of the sensational novel A FIERCE RADIANCE. You won’t want to miss it.
Until next time…
Jen

Jen’s Jewels

May 15, 2010

Ellen Block

We all deal with grief in our own way. For some, the thought of living life without their loved one can be debilitating, especially when it is the loss of a spouse. Others choose to celebrate the passing of a life by remembering the person in a special way. Unfortunately, it is a difficult time no matter what the circumstances. We all know that one day we will die. If only we had more time.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Ellen Block tackles this very topic in her latest release, THE LANGUAGE OF SAND. It’s the story of a young woman who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband. Hoping to reconnect with him by revisiting his past, she chooses to relocate to the island where he spent his summer vacations. A poignant novel which gently reminds us of the importance of letting go in order to move forward, THE LANGUAGE OF SAND is a must-read.
As part of this interview, Bantam Books has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.       
Jen: Your latest endeavor, THE LANGUAGE OF SAND, is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of your writing career. Best known as Brett Ellen Block, you have penned THE GRAVE OF GOD’S DAUGHTER, THE LIGHTNING RULE, as well as a book of short stories titled DESTINATION KNOWN.  So that my readers have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Ellen:  I should start by admitting that I never wanted a “real” job, nothing corporate, no cubical, no staff meetings, none of that.  Fortunately, I discovered that I had a knack for fiction after I broke my foot during my sophomore year at the University of Michigan.  I was stuck on crutches and the only class I could actually get to was Creative Writing.  So I consider the break to be my break.  Looking back, it was definitely “happy accident.”

I was accepted into the Iowa Writers’ Workshop right out of college then went directly into another writing program in the UK afterward.  Up until that point, my plan to buck any proper form of employment was working out just fine. 

Once I was done with my second Master’s Degree, I finished a collection of stories, which was awarded the Drue Heinz Prize for Short Fiction.  From there, I started work on my first novel.  The rest is history, which is conveniently charted by year on Amazon.com and sometimes even I have to log on to see when the books I’ve written came out!

I wish I could say this whole not-having-a-traditional-profession thing was part of a grand scheme I’d hatched from the very beginning, but it was a lot of luck and hard work as well as a desire to write the best fiction I could.  I still don’t think of myself as having a “real” job, even though being an author is very much a genuine occupation.  Maybe that’s why I continue to enjoy it so much!
Jen: An obvious question, but one I must ask, why the subtle name change for your latest release?

Ellen: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to explain to friends and relatives that I’m not off my rocker.  In light of all the odd and unnerving things I’ve penned in past books, they had their doubts.  When you write darker material, people tend to think you’re, well, dark.  Anybody who knows me is well aware that couldn’t be further from the truth, so writing a novel with a lead that was much more like me – a quirky intellectual – felt right as my next move. 

Since the novel was a stylistic departure from my previous works and is geared specifically toward women, I thought this would be a great opportunity to express a different side of my writing personality.  Bidding adieu to the masculine sounding “Brett” and embracing the more feminine “Ellen” was akin to getting into character for the new book and I believe it helped the process.

Jen: THE LANGUAGE OF SAND reminds me of Jan Karon’s Mitford series in the sense that it has a delightful set of characters about whom I want to know more. First of all, how did you arrive at the premise?

Ellen: This is a terrible answer – I don’t actually recall how the exact premise came to me. Shameful for an author to say, I know.

The first thing I remember about the process was a desire to have a lighthouse figure prominently in the story, that and the need to build a world around it in a way that would be intriguing yet have a sense of homecoming. 

Perhaps I watched too many episodes of “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” as a kid, but I always thought of lighthouses as refuges, literal and metaphorical beacons for anybody who was lost.  Seeing as our heroine, Abigail Harker, arrives on Chapel Isle very much a lost soul, having her live in a lighthouse was ideal. 

The locale that sprang up around the lighthouse as well as the characters that inhabit the island is a patchwork of different places I’ve visited and people I know.  Of course, all my friends are eager to claim which characters are based on them, but I’ll never tell! 
Jen: As I began reading the novel, I was struck by the similarities of the story’s setting to Ocracoke Island, NC where I have visited. Of course, I was tickled pink when I later learned that indeed Ocracoke was your inspiration. Please share with us your ties with the island and why you chose to incorporate its charm into your fictional locale of Chapel Isle.

Ellen:  I spent a few summers on Ocracoke Island when I was kid and those memories remained surprisingly vivid to me for years afterward, as if to insist they be woven into a story.  Young as I was at the time, I didn’t have much direct interaction with the natives, so the fictional characters aren’t based on particular individuals who live there, something I’m sure the locals will be happy to hear.

What stuck with me about Ocracoke were mental snapshots of collecting shells at the beach, playing Bingo, the ferry ride over, the smell of the bay, the swaying movement of tall marsh grass – sight and senses that took on a life of their own in my head.  That collage became Chapel Isle, my tribute to an unforgettable island that filled the mind of a girl with dreams that ultimately became something greater than the sum of their parts. 
Jen: Your main character is a grieving widow named Abigail Harker who has a very unusual job, a lexicographer. What led you to select that as Abby’s professional? And for those readers not familiar with the profession, please gives us a brief job description.

Ellen:  First, the definition…a lexicographer is a writer, complier or editor of a dictionary.  It takes a detail-oriented, methodical, and dedicated person to do the job, which is not wholly dissimilar from being an author.

As for my interest in the profession, that’s down to my mom, who would always make me look up the definitions to words I didn’t know.  That got me interested in more esoteric words.  Why refer to something as “nice” when you could describe it with far more precision and flair? 

Abigail thinks that using the perfect word to describe a certain situation is like having the right tool for the job.  It makes life easier for her to handle.  Since my responsibility is to tell a story using the right characters, setting and plot for the job, I suppose Abigail and I are coming from a common place.

Jen: Tacking onto that last question, each chapter begins with a dictionary definition of an unfamiliar (at least for me!) word. How did you go about selecting these words? And, what connection, if any, do they have with the story itself?

Ellen: Ah the definitions, they took some doing.  I fell in love with a website called www.phrontistery.info.  It’s packed with more wild and wacky words than you can imagine. 

I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t familiar with most of the ones that wound up in the book.  I opted for unique, obscure words in the hope that readers would want to know not only what they meant but also how they related to each segment of the novel. 

Every word chosen hints at what is to come in the chapter, either thematically or emotionally.  Like those Word-A-Day calendars my teachers always had on their desks, I figured this would be a fun way to introduce readers to new words they could impress their friends with!
Jen: Ghosts play a key role in this book. Do you believe in them? And, how does the ghost’s presence in the lighthouse help Abby move forward as she finally leaves behind the ghosts from her past?

Ellen: I do believe in ghosts!  I watch all the television programs about them too.  Fascinating stuff. 

Ghosts also happen to be the ideal metaphor for what Abigail experiences throughout the course of the novel.  Haunted by her past, she’s a ghost of her former self when she comes to Chapel Isle.  The notion that the lighthouse might be as haunted as she is mirrors Abigail’s experience and ultimately shows her that she is indeed still alive, forcing her to confront what that means for her and to her future.
Jen: Throughout the book, we are introduced to many colorful characters which make the story an endearing tale. Let’s talk about a couple of them.  Merle Braithwaite and Abby are quite similar.  He is the backbone of the community, and she was the backbone of her family. What does he see in Abby that makes him reach out to her?

Ellen: Merle, as well as many of the other natives, isn’t one to trust a stranger easily, but given his own troubled past, he sees himself in Abigail.  Likewise, Abigail is having trouble relying on herself and her own senses – is the ghost legit or is she losing her marbles?  So she must take a leap of faith, which is what Merle does too when he entrusts her with his work responsibilities.  Showing solidarity with Abigail is Merle’s stamp of approval.  If he accepts her, the rest of the island should as well.  As with most things in life though, it’s not quite that simple.

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. I love the Reading Group Guide included in the book! I am definitely going to make THE LANGUAGE OF SAND my next book club pick. Do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?

Ellen: I’m so glad you enjoyed THE LANGUAGE OF SAND!  I’m absolutely available for author phone chats.  They’re a lot of fun.  Readers simply have to contact me via my website or email (info@ellenblock.net) to set things up!
Jen: Do you have a website? If so, please take us on a brief tour.

Ellen: My website is www.ellenblock.net and it’s a great destination for readers and groups that want more information about the book, past works and tidbits about me.  I’m hoping to add a page dedicated to my readers’ favorite weird and wonderful words soon. 
Jen: I am most excited about the talk of a sequel. Would you be able to share with us an inside peek as to what may be on the horizon for Abby? And more importantly, when will it hit bookstores?

Ellen: I’m excited about the sequel as well!  While I can’t give too much away, I will say that Abigail gets to see an entirely different side of Chapel Isle come summer when hordes of tourists descend upon her private haven and turn not only her town, but her world, upside down. 

We’ll get to visit Abigail and all her island friends again some time in late 2011 or early 2012.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I look forward to visiting again with my favorite friends on Chapel Isle in the near future!  Best of the luck with the book!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Ellen Block. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of THE LANGUAGE OF SAND today.  Better yet, how would you like to win one?

Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win!

What is the name of the main character in THE LANGUAGE OF SAND?

Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with debut novelist Aidan Donnelly Rowley. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time…
Jen

Jen’s Jewels

May 1, 2010

Gil McNeil
I can only imagine what it’s like being a single parent. Trying to work full-time while coordinating the children’s school and extra-curricular activities would be a Herculean task to say the least. Unfortunately, many women find themselves in this role due to the unexpected death of a spouse. No matter what the circumstances, it is a role no woman (or man) ever wants to play.  
This month’s Jen’s Jewels Gil McNeil tackles that very question in her latest release, NEEDLES AND PEARLS.  The sequel to her highly popular book, THE BEACH STREET KNITTING SOCIETY AND YARN CLUB, she picks up a year after the death of Jo Mackenzie’s husband as Jo struggles to adjust to her new life raising two sons all alone. With Gil’s British wit and sensational storyline, she welcomes the reader into the zany lives of a hilarious cast of unforgettable characters. As a side note, you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy the sequel. Although, it is a great read!

As part of this interview, Hyperion Books has generously donated 5 copies for you, my lucky readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.  

Jen: As a British author, your audience across the pond in the U.S. may not be as familiar with your work as your fellow countrymen. So that we may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Gil:  After University, where I studied History, I worked in an art gallery, film production and a literary agency before moving into publishing.  After building up a range of publishing clients, I expanded my freelance work and moved into working with charities I’m currently Director of the children’s charity PiggyBankKids.

Jen: At what juncture in your life did you decide to take the plunge and pursue a career in writing? And, what was the most challenging part of the process?

Gil: I’ve always written, or been involved with writing, so I was in the lucky position of having good friends in the publishing business who encouraged me to write my first novel, in 2001.  The Only Boy for Me was such a joy to write I was keen to carry on, and happily so were my publishers Bloomsbury, so I wrote my second novel Stand by your Man, and then In the Wee Small Hours (which continues on from The Only Boy for Me) before I wrote my fourth and fifth novels DIVAS DON’T KNIT (published in the US as THE BEACH STREET KNITTING SOCIETY) and NEEDLES AND PEARLS.

I’ve also edited seven fundraising anthologies for the charity PiggyBankKids, which have been a real treat to work on since I’ve been able to include some of my favourite authors, who have all generously written stories for us to raise funds to support our work to improve children’s lives, and support our groundbreaking research into pregnancy difficulties and help save newborn lives (www.piggybankkids.org)

The most challenging part of the process of the writing for me is finding the time – I carry around cards and notebooks and jot down snatches of conversation, ideas, and sometimes scribbles that I can’t actually read when I get home…
Jen: Your latest endeavor is the sequel to THE BEACH STREET KNITTING SOCIETY AND YARN CLUB which received starred reviews. For my readers who are unfamiliar with this novel, please give us a brief overview of the premise.

Gil:  Jo Mackenzie needs a new start.  Newly widowed with two young sons and a perilous bank balance she has leave London to take over her grandmother’s wool shop in a small seaside town.  They arrive in the pouring rain, but with a shop full of dusty wool in horrible colours, two lively sons, an A list actress moving into the local mansion, Trevor the loony Wonder Dog, and a knitting group addicted to cake it’s not going to be easy.  
Jen: In NEEDLES AND PEARLS, the story picks up one year after the tragic death of Jo’s husband. Having relocated to a quiet, small-town, Jo is now a single parent, manager of a yarn shop, and a young widow trying to make peace with the circumstances surrounding her husband’s demise. Which one of the three is the most difficult for her to fulfill and why?

Gil: Like most of us, Jo struggles with combining everything – doing her best by her boys and her business, and still trying to find time for herself somewhere in the middle of all the chaos.  But I think she’d say the most important thing for her, by a million miles, are her children.

Jen: The story centers around Jo’s grandmother’s yarn shop. A question I just have to ask, is knitting a passion of yours? If so, what is your favorite type of project and yarn?

Gil:  Yes, all the women in my family knit.  My grandmother was a champion knitter, and knew a whole range of patterns off by heart.  She had a tough life, with six children and very little money, so she’d unpick a sweater belonging to one of her older kids, wash the wool and reknit it for one of the little ones.  By the time she was knitting for her grandchildren things were easier, and she’d spend ages with my knitting for my dolls.  We’d all sit knitting by the fire, with my mum and my aunts swapping patterns and working out complicated stitches and I’d sit cross legged on the floor and they’d forget I was there, so I got to hear all sorts of family gossip usually reserved for child-free moments.  It was fabulous.

Jen: Jo’s relationship with her grandmother is one of true admiration and respect. However, the one with her mother is not. What has caused the rift between mother and daughter? Who, if anyone, is to blame?

Gil:  I think mothers and daughters can be tricky, and in the past I’ve written about mothers who are wonderful (a bit like my mum) so I wanted to have some fun writing a mum who is selfish and hopeless.  Jo’s mother is searching for an artistic life where she feels central, and finds her children’s lack of enthusiasm for taking part in her Me Me Me dramas annoying.  And after years being dragged round art galleries with their mother in unusual floaty outfits they just find her exasperating.  I think there is a definite stage where however you much you want to wear kaftans and beads, or very short skirts and high heels, your children just want you to blend into the background, keep quiet, and make lovely suppers…  One of the nicest things about being a mum is perfecting the art of hovering in the background.  I’m rather partial to a bit of hovering, I find it can be quite relaxing, as long as you mix in the occasional shocking moment, just to remind small people you have not actually morphed into a household appliance …

Jen: Every woman needs loyal girlfriends to help her get through the good as well as the bad times. Jo is no exception. Let’s start with her best friend, Ellen. As a famous

Newscaster, the world is her oyster yet she is quite envious of Jo’s simplistic lifestyle. In what ways do these two women compliment each other?

Gil:  Like all good girlfriends they trust each other implicitly.  They can be honest, know each others strengths and weaknesses, and will stick up for each other when times get tough.    They also share the same sense of humour – a vital ingredient in any good friendship.
Jen: Unbeknownst to Jo, her movie star friend, Grace, plays a significant role in her life. In what ways does Grace’s exuberant wealth serve as a subtle reminder for Jo of the importance of accepting people for who they truly are rather than judging them on appearances only? Why does Grace include Jo within her inner circle?

Gil:  Jo is dazzled by Grace, and also touched by how vulnerable she is, despite all her wealth and power, especially when she is pregnant and feeling nervous.  She also understands, from her background working in television news, how important it is not be grabbing at people, not to ask questions and turn yourself into yet another person who wants something, a snippet of gossip to trade at a dinner party, or even sell to a newspaper… And Grace recognises this.  And with Jo as her knitting coach she can find some calm and relaxation, and feel like a proper mum, knitting for her baby, instead of a movie star always in performance mode.  When I was doing some of the research for the novel I was interested to see how many actresses are knitting on set – from Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz to Sarah Jessica Parker and Madonna – and having spent a fair amount of time on film sets, which sound exciting but actually involve huge amounts of time hanging around while nothing much happens, I could see how something calm and repetitive like knitting would be a great antidote to nerves and drama.      
Jen: Elsie, Jo’s co-worker at the shop, is a peculiar lady who just can’t seem to make up her mind about Jo. On one hand, she disapproves of Jo’s choices in life; however, she has a special fondness for her as well. Why does Jo choose to accept her gruffness rather than confronting her? 

Gil:  Elsie has a heart of gold, but she keep sit well hidden, and Jo knows that a few packets of biscuits and a cheery manner are the best way to get her on side in the shop.

Jen: A question I just have to ask, will there be a sequel? (I hope so!) And if yes, what can you share with us?

Gil:  I’ll have to talk to my publishers about that – I’m not working on anything at the moment, but I do have lots of ideas on what might happen next, so maybe…
Jen: Do you have a website? Do you have any patterns or knitting materials available for readers?

Gil:  I’ve put some patterns on the McKnits website – www.mcknits.co.uk – so that readers can see examples of the things Jo talks about in the book.

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. I truly enjoyed NEEDLES AND PEARLS.  Best of luck with your book tour!

Gil:   Thank you for asking such great questions.  It has been such a treat getting so many letters from readers in the US telling me how much they loved the first book; one woman told me she laughed so much people started giving her odd looks on the train.  So if you see anyone giggling on a train, it might just be my fault… 
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Gil McNeil. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of NEEDLES AND PEARLS today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?
Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question.

Where can you find samples of knitting patterns mentioned in NEEDLES AND PEARLS?
Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Ellen Block, author THE LANGUAGE OF SAND. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time…
Jen 

Jen’s Jewels

April 15, 2010

Holly LeCraw
Have you ever wondered what your parents were like as a newly married couple before they had kids?  Sure, we’ve all seen the photographs from their pre-parenthood days and have heard the story of how they met, but that doesn’t really tell us anything. Was theirs a whirlwind romance that would make you swoon? Or, was it filled with tumultuous times that tested the strength of their love?   

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Holly LeCraw explores a sister and brother’s intense struggle to come to terms with the haunting revelations from their parents’ past in her debut novel, THE SWIMMING POOL.  Splashing on the scene with her expertly written book of dives and dips and twists and turns, this psychological tale will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning.  Mark my words…Holly LeCraw is the new IT girl in the publishing world!
As part of this interview, Doubleday, a division of Random House, has generously donated 5 copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.  

 

Jen: As a debut novelist, the story behind the path that led to publication can be just as fascinating as the novel itself.  So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Holly: I don’t know about fascinating….the path has consisted of working hard, alone, in little rooms, for a long time.  Also, battling myself for a long time–that is, learning how to get out of my own way, and to trust the results.

I have a degree in English from Duke and a master’s in English from Tufts–an M.A., not an MFA.  My original intent was to get a Ph.D. and go into academia, but I realized that was the wrong place for me.  I did go to writing workshops at Bennington (back when it was a summer program), the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and a few other places.

When I first got out of school, I worked briefly in publishing, but once I realized I wanted to write, I started waitressing and temping and things like that.  In retrospect I’m not sure that was the best route, but at the time I couldn’t envision putting my creative energies into both a job and writing.  Then I started having kids and became a stay-at-home mom, and fit writing in wherever I could.

Jen: Describe for us your “Ah! Ha!” moment when the decision to pursue a career in writing became a reality.

Holly: For a long time I didn’t think of it as a career–because “career” connotes “money,” which I definitely was not making from writing.  And, also, a sense of legitimacy that took a long time for me to feel.  But one answer to your question is that there were a series of moments when I proved to myself, over and over again, that I was miserable if I wasn’t writing.  I thought that in order to be a grownup you had to work in an office and wear high heels and be otherwise respectable, but whenever I tried to be that person I failed miserably, so I finally threw in the towel.

The first true artistic “ah-ha” moment I had was when I was writing a story called “August,” about seven or eight years ago.  This was after I had spent years writing a not-very-good novel, and had finally put it aside.  I had three little children and not much time; I was pretty discouraged.  But I had started this story, and I guess because I figured I had nothing to lose, I was being freer about it–I didn’t know where it was going at all.  I had some images in my head, and I was just swimming from one to the next.

One afternoon I was working and realized I just had a few minutes before I had to leave to pick up kids.  Normally I would have stopped, but I decided to press on, what the hell–and then, all the sudden, I had finished the story.  I hadn’t even known I was near the end.  And the end was a complete surprise to me; but it was perfect.  That was the first time that I really got out of my own way–that I had not tried to control every word before it came out.

That story was nominated for a Pushcart, and led to some wonderful things.  And I remember that moment, sitting at my desk, looking at those words I had just written, going, “Oh.  So that’s how it works.”

Jen: Your debut novel entitled THE SWIMMING POOL has made a definite splash in the publishing world.  An intricate storyline layered with emotionally charged characters makes this book a must-read.  I could not put it down. Bravo! How did you arrive at the premise?

Holly: It started with Jed and Callie, the brother and sister.  I knew their mother had died, and they didn’t know who had killed her.  I thought it was a short story.  And then my husband took the kids away for a weekend, and in that lovely quiet the basic outline of the book appeared.  The key was Marcella; she was a very small, ancillary character for about three minutes, and then I realized she was major.
Jen: As I mentioned, your book is a story within a story. Let’s start by dissecting its parts. Betsy and Cecil McClatchey have a typical country club marriage. From the outside, it looks as if they lead an idyllic life. Yet, one day Cecil dares to cross the line and has an affair. What is the catalyst that leads him towards the path of self-destruction?    
Holly:  I don’t want to say it’s a garden-variety midlife crisis–although maybe it is.  Actually, I think midlife crises aren’t garden-variety all the time.  I think they can be profound existential crises.  You’re confronting the idea of mortality and realizing it might be too late to reinvent yourself, and realizing all the decisions you made that you didn’t even realize were decisions at the time.  Some people panic and throw everything away.  I’ve seen it.  I don’t want to play to stereotypes, but it seems like men panic much more easily.

I have to confess that I have the least sympathy for Cecil of any of my characters.  I had to work hard to understand him–because Marcella falls in love with him, and I had to respect that, and respect him.  People have affairs all the time, and usually they’re not evil people.  But a betrayal like that, especially in what is a good, solid marriage, is just incomprehensible to me personally.  So I had to work very hard to try and figure it out.  I think Cecil just decided he hadn’t taken enough risks.  He had always played by the rules, and he began to wonder what would happen if he didn’t.  I think Betsy could also sometimes be rather closed; she is almost frighteningly self-sufficient.  I think he was attracted to Marcella’s vulnerability, because it was so different from Betsy, and made him feel useful, and powerful.
Jen: Why does Betsy choose not to confront Cecil even though she is well aware of his indiscretion?
Holly: Well, she’s aware, in an intuitive way, but she doesn’t have any concrete evidence.  And it’s really only right before the end of her life that she admits to herself that she knows.  This just occurred to me, but I think she’s like Elizabeth Edwards was for a long time (or the public perception of her, anyway)–she’s just going to rise above, and hope this bad thing goes away.  Betsy is a very orderly person; this is the ultimate disorder, and she is just not prepared to face it head on.

Jen: Within a blink of an eye, everything changes when Betsy is brutally murdered by an intruder in her own home.  How does Cecil’s decision to not expose his affair, even though it would prove his innocence, affect his relation with his daughter, Callie? And, with his son, Jed?     
Holly: I think Cecil is so shattered he is not thinking clearly.  He can’t connect A to B.  He assumes that his children will know he’s innocent, and by the time he realizes that maybe that isn’t the case, he feels powerless to do anything about it.  His feelings for Marcella are completely eclipsed by what has happened to Betsy; he decided at the beginning not to tell anyone, because it seemed irrelevant to him and because it seemed like a betrayal of Betsy, and later he doesn’t have the wherewithal to revisit that decision.  He traps himself.  And when he dies, he leaves Callie and Jed in the trap.
Jen: Years later, Callie and Jed are still suffering due to the circumstances surrounding both of their parents’ deaths.  (Cecil dies not long after Betsy’s murder.) When Jed accidentally finds an old bathing suit hidden in their summer home, what makes him search out the owner? Or, is it simply a subconscious effort to bring the past back into the present?
Holly:  The book takes place, as books do, when the characters are at a crisis point.  Their parents died seven years ago, but the premature birth of Callie’s daughter has pushed Callie to the brink.  Jed senses this, and he is ready to join her there–ready to shake himself out of his emotional paralysis.  The bathing suit reminds him of a time when he still felt life held endless possibility–and, incidentally, when he was attracted to someone, which he hasn’t truly been in a long time.

Jen: Marcella is a troubled woman whose life has been a series of disappointing events that have stripped her of all semblance of self-worth. Quite simply, she is an empty shell yearning for love.  When Jed shows up on her doorstep looking for answers, why does she choose to open Pandora’s Box?
Holly: That is a very, very good question.  Maybe a bit of a chicken and egg situation.  The first answer is that they have a powerful sexual attraction from the beginning–but why?  Honestly, it is something I didn’t want to examine in too analytical a way when I was writing it.  It holds a magic that I didn’t want to parse away.  Their relationship is taboo, definitely; it has quite an Oedipal tinge.  Jed has lost his mother (who, however, was nothing at all like Marcella), and Marcella never had the son she longed for so desperately.  She doesn’t think of him as a son, but that suggestion is there.

But at the same time, they’re equals.  They’re mourning the same person, the same situation, and they’re both so broken.  It’s possible that each was the only one that could have brought the other forward.
I think Marcella also might initially give in to Jed partially out of guilt.  She feels she has helped to wound him, and so wants to comfort him.  Which she does.  He hasn’t been able to love anyone, really, since his parents died, until he reconnects with her.

Jen: When Marcella reveals the details of her relationship with Cecil, how does Jed’s opinion of his dad change? Or, does it? Is he more sympathetic or critical of his father’s imperfections?

Holly: I think Jed hasn’t been able to mourn either of his parents fully, because of the ways he lost them–that’s why he is so stuck.  With his father, he has been stuck in rage.  When Jed finds out about his father’s affair, in an odd way it re-humanizes Cecil for him.  Jed is disgusted and devastated, but his father also becomes less monolithic in his mind, and that is the beginning of being able to really see what he lost.

 

Jen: The wounded soul in this story is poor Callie.  Unable to accept the fact that her parents are dead, she barely exists in a world that has shown her no mercy. How is her relationship with her husband Billy a direct correlation to the way in which she views the atrocities in her life?
Holly:  That’s a very interesting question.  In some ways she has been much more functional than Jed since they lost their parents–she’s gotten married, had children.  I think though that her relationship with Billy is quite shallow–just as probably all her relationships are shallow at this point, except with Jed.  She is a great one for soldiering on, like Betsy, and what happens during this book is that she finally cracks under the pressure.  Being a trouper like that requires a lot of energy directed outward and not much inward, and that’s not sustainable for Callie.

Jen: Without giving too much away, how does Marcella’s new relationship with her ex-husband Anthony help her to reconnect with her daughter?

Holly:  I don’t think it’s her relationship with Anthony so much as the fruits of her relationship with Jed–she begins to wake up, to be able to see other people, to feel some agency.  She begins to dwell less on her losses and the things she never had, and to look instead at the things she does–namely, her daughter.  She’s also able to reconsider her relationship with her own mother, who died when she was about Toni’s age, and which had never been very functional; and that helps her to see herself as a mother and to think more clearly about how she and Toni relate.  It goes the other way too–as Marcella begins to thaw, their relationship becomes vital again, to each of them.
When I was writing the book, I was very conscious of the beauty of these people’s lives.  That might sound crazy, given all the tragedy and drama in the book.  But their connections are profound, and they all begin to sense the wonder and depth of their love for each other, both the people they have lost and the people they still have.  I hope that in the end readers feel it is a hopeful story.

Jen: I wish we could talk about the shocking ending, but we can’t. Suffice it to say, my readers will not be disappointed.  So, let’s switch gears and discuss your promotional plans. First of all, do you have a website? If so, please take us on a brief tour.

Holly:  I do have a website– www.hollylecraw.com.  All the info about the book’s promotion is there, and more about me, and writing the book.  And there are links to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 
Jen: Are you planning a book tour? Also, will you be participating in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?
Holly: I am going on tour–I’ll be in Atlanta (where I was born and raised); Seattle; Washington, DC; Nashville; Durham, NC; and Oxford and Jackson, MS.  And I’ll be at a bunch of stores here in New England and also on the Cape, where the book is mostly set.

I’d love to do phone chats and book group visits!    You can reach me at holly@hollylecraw.com.  The contact info is also on my website.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next novel? If so, what can you tell us about it?

Holly: Right now it’s called The Sweetness of Honey.  It’s a bit of a Cain-and-Abel story–there are two half-brothers, one middle-aged and one just out of college, and they are both teachers at a prep school in New England.  They each fall in love with the wrong people–and, just to make things interesting, the same people.
Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. What a powerful and well-written novel! I do believe this is only the beginning of a long, successful career. Best of luck!
Holly: Thank you so much.  You asked wonderful questions.  And I certainly hope you’re right.

  I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Holly. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of THE SWIMMING POOL today. Better yet, would you like to win one instead?
Okay, be one of the first 5 readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win! Good luck!

What is the working title of Holly’s next book?

Next month, I will be brining to you my interview with Gil McNeil, author of NEEDLES AND PEARLS.  You won’t want to miss it.
Until next time…
Jen