Review of Athena, By Heather B. Moore and Interview With The Author!

Product Details

• Title: Athena (The Newport Ladies Book Club Series Book)
• Author: Heather B. Moore
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608619443
• ISBN-13: 978-1608619443

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2012

Self-proclaimed bachelorette Athena Di Jasper is at the top of her game. Her online magazine is thriving, and she's in a comfortably static relationship, free of the kind of commitment that could lead to marriage she's seen her parents rocky union, and it's not for her. When her on-again, off-again boyfriend Karl wants to move their relationship to the next commitment level, Athena's obvious dismay leads him to challenge her workaholic tendencies. His accusation is true: she hasn't even paused to read a novel in years. Determined to prove Karl wrong, Athena takes a break from her hectic schedule to peruse a used bookstore, where she meets Grey, the intriguing and single proprietor. Her quest for change and her desire to see more of Grey leads Athena to stray from her to-do list and join the Newport Ladies Book Club. When Athena's world is turned upside down by a family tragedy, she's left to care for her terminally ill father. Juggling the demands of attending to an ailing parent and running her business, Athena comes to value the friendships of the book-club members, and she finds herself relying more and more on Grey's support. When she stumbles across an old shoebox in her mother's closet, she's stunned by its contents, which hold unexpected truths about her parents relationship. As Athena delves into a past that defies her judgment about her parents' marriage, she is forced to reevaluate her views on life and love.

My Review:

Athena is the fourth book in The Newport Ladies Book Club series that I have reviewed.This series has become one of my favorites out there today.

 This series has been written by four amazing, award winning authors: Annette Lyon,Heather B. Moore, Josi Kilpack, and Julie Wright.

Athena is the last book that takes place during the same time-frame as the first three books.All four books were written as a parallel series, not as a forward-moving series.They cover the same book club meetings and events in all four books. This last book is probably the most different from the other three. The main reason is that main character Athena kept to herself a lot more than the other characters in this series. While reading the other books, the reader could get the impression that Athena is cold and not truly interested in the book club. This is so far from the truth as you read this fourth book. Athena has a lot going on in her life. She is single, runs her own company and is very conflicted about getting married and having a family. Her Mother wants her to marry a nice, Greek boy and stay at home to have babies and take care of her man...just like she did in her life. Athena has been very critical of her parents and their marriage, but events happen that change her life. She meets a new man, very different than the man she has been dating previously. A death in the family and a major life decision make Athena face some of the harshest trials that life can bring.

I read Athena in about 12 hours. I was completely taken in with Athena's story. Heather Moore's expertise as a writer shows as she develops this character. The growth arc that Athena takes is so huge as she makes decisions that not only change her life, but those she loves. This book truly brought full circle the stories of the four women in this series. It felt so satisfying to finish this book and feel that sense of completion. The next four books in the series will be about four other book club members in a new time frame. Each of the authors will take on this new writing challenge. 

I highly recommend Athena! This story is full of heart-wrenching moments, friendship at it's finest, and a love story that made me cheer, moan and melt. How is that for a combination? Athena's romance with Grey, the book store owner, has turned out to be one of my favorites for 2012.If you haven't started this series, pull out the tissues, reserve several hours to yourself and get ready to be pulled into the world of The Newport Ladies Book Club. You will find women of strength, strong friendships and stories that will make you look at your own life in new ways.

Athena

Heather B. Moore

Best Price $15.99
or Buy New $15.99

Here is my interview with Heather. I hope you enjoy reading what she had to say:

 1.What was your experience like writing "Athena"?

Writing ATHENA was quite a bit different than my other books. ATHENA was a very interactive process because my brainstorming was with my co-series authors, instead of myself. Along the way, I'd be asking Josi, Julie, and Annette questions, such as "Should Athena get back together with Karl?" . . . or they'd be asking me questions, such as "Why doesn't Athena want to get into a committed relationship with a man?" All of this was during the writing process.

2. Are you like your character Athena in any way?

I have a lot of similarities to Athena--I tend to be a bit of a work-a-holic. I'm very task-oriented and don't do "fun" things when there's a to-do list to be completed. I only have a few close friends--and it takes time to develop those relationships. My mother isn't as nosy as Athena's mother, but she's definitely a "do-it-all" personality.

3.You have written a lot of historical fiction in the past. Do you like writing contemporary fiction better or is it just a fun change of pace?

Writing contemporary is definitely a fun change of pace. But I wouldn't say I prefer one over the other. Historical takes more time simply because of the research, but the process is the same as far as character motivation and plot development.

4. Did you learn anything from writing "Athena"? Is there a message you would like your readers to gain?

Developing Athena from a woman who isolates herself in many ways, and having her grow into a happier more well-rounded person, definitely let me see areas in my life that I needed to slow down as well and appreciate the "journey" more than just focusing on the end-goals. A message to others would be to let others into your lives and let them help and serve you as you are doing the same for them.

5. Which character in The Newport Ladies Book Club will you be writing next?

I've written RUBY's story and it's currently at my publisher for consideration. It was a wonderful novel to write and I think readers will be surprised when they learn about the real Ruby. On the outside, she seems to be almost perfect and such a wonderful caregiver, always putting others first. But that's because she's afraid to look inside and face her flaws, some of which have been haunting her for years.

6. Are you a late night writer or an early morning writer?

I'm a morning person, which makes me a morning writer--because my brain is less foggy. I get up between 4 and 6 am most days and get a couple of hours in. Then I find other snatches throughout the day as well. But after about 10:00 p.m. my brain is mush!

Thank you for the interview Heather!



 
About The Author:

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of nine historical novels. Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore; first series is called Out of Jerusalem. Her second series includes Abinadi (2008 Whitney Winner for Best Historical & 2009 Best of State in Literary Arts); its sequel, Alma (2009 Whitney Award Finalist); followed by Alma the Younger (2011 Best of State in Literary Arts & 2010 Whitney Finalist), and Ammon (2011 LUW Gold Award of Excellence). Her newest romantic thriller is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

Heather is the co-author of The Newport Ladies Book Club Series (with Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon & Julie Wright). Under the name of Heather B. Moore she's published Athena (The Newport Ladies Book Club), the novella collection A Timeless Romance Anthology, Third Time's the Charm (Aliso Creek Novella series), the historical romance Heart of the Ocean, the non-fiction work Christ's Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler), and Women of the Book of Mormon.

Visit her blog for writing and book signing updates: http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com
Heather loves to hear from readers at: www.hbmoore.com or if you're an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company, Precision Editing Group: www.precisioneditinggroup.com.

Review of, Paige, Book Three in The Newport Ladies Book Club Series

Product Details:

Title:Paige

Author: Annette Lyon

Publisher: Covenant

Published: August 2012

ISBN#: 13: 978-1-60861-946-7

Genre: Womens Fiction

Paperback: 238 pages
 FTC FYI: I bought my own copy. I love this series!

 

 

 

Book Description:

After a bitter divorce from her unfaithful husband, Paige moves from Utah to California with her two little boys and vows to make a fresh start.  She finds a job at a dental practice that helps her get back on her feet, but it's the friends she makes at her new book club who help her realize how strong she is and who give her support to carry on as she faces the challenges of being a single mom.  She also meets Derryl, a wonderful, kind, attentive man who treats her right--something her ex never did.  Yet, Paige struggles to figure out who she is a s woman rather than a wife, how to help  her boys adjust to a broken home, and whether she can ever trust a man or love again.  As Paige leans on the book club ladies and Derryl's ever present care, one thing becomes clear:  healing from the past requires more than a change of address.

 My Review:

Paige is the third book in The Newport Ladies Book Club series.Let me remind you what makes this series so unique.

About the Series:

"The Newport Ladies Book Club series is unique in that each Newport book is written from the point of view of a different woman in the book club. The first 4 books cover the same time period and the same book club meetings. But only with reading all 4 books, will you learn the whole story of each of the women and her full character journey. Think of it as a parallel series, not as a forward-moving series."

 I knew a lot about Paige from reading the first two books, Olivia and Daisy. I knew the facts, but had to prepare myself for the emotions that would come from reading this book. You see, Paige is the story of a single, LDS, working Mom. That also describes my life right now. Author Annette Lyon captures all of the ups and downs of being a single Mom. I have to admit that I cried a lot as I read this book. The most gut-wrenching scene in the book takes place at Christmas time. Paige has to send her two young sons,(by court order) back to Colorado, with their father and his snooty wife for two weeks.As her boys drive off for two weeks, she breaks down in. That feeling of utter helplessness is so heartrendingly portrayed in Annette's writing...

"Letting them drive away was the single hardest thing I'd ever done in my life. I stood there next to my car, watching. I couldn't leave with Doug's truck still in the parking lot; I waited until he pulled out,Carol in the passenger seat, the boys crying. Nate's eyes had a look of pure terror in them; he reached his arms out to me, tears streaking his face. Shawn cried too, only softer. His lower lip quivered, a few tears plopped onto his cheeks, and through the window he mouthed, "Don't go."  If a judge hadn't ordered me to do it, I never could have. I tried hard to smile and wave, but there was no way I could keep the tears back anymore. I sobbed, but I smiled through my tears, worried the boys would see them. Doug tossed a wave my way direction while Carol fiddled with the stereo-likely to drown out the sounds of the boys crying. Heartless woman.  You'd better not hurt my boys."

There are so many scenes where the heartache of divorce is portrayed. For those of us that have lived through this, it hurts to read. But at the same time, I like to read books that truly show how it is to be a single Mom trying to raise their kids. Bravo Annette for writing this so well! I know that she did good research to get this so right. 

Every Newport Ladies Book Club book I read, I love these fictional women even more. Every book has given us new insight into their personalities and  reasons for their actions.There is a lot more talk about Latter Day Saint Values, since Paige is the only member of her church in the book club. But, you will see that this is a beacon of light in her life as she has to make important choices for her and her sons. Paige is another great addition to this series!

 Author Interview:
I was so happy when Author Annette Lyon said that she would answer some questions for my readers. Here is the interview I did with her.

1. Did you ever think that you would be involved in a writing project like The Newport ladies Book Club?

Never. Maybe because I’d never seen anything quite like it done before. I’d collaborated on smaller things, but with just one person, not with a group of four. For that matter, I don’t think any of us understood the complexity of what we were trying to do until it was done. We were just trying to do our best work with a cool idea, and happened to have fun in the process. In hindsight, I’m amazed it worked out so well. So many things could have gone wrong but didn't.


2. What process did you go through to write the character Paige?
In what ways did you relate to her?

Paige ended up being the token Latter-day Saint in the group. When I knew I’d be writing about her, I wanted her to have a conflict that related strongly to her faith. The Church is extremely family focused—with good reason—but I’ve seen women struggling after a divorce and years into single motherhood. I thought that would be a powerful conflict to delve into.

The biggest way I relate to Paige is probably the way many of her readers do—as a mother. Her children are her greatest joys, the reason she works as hard as she does, and even her greatest source of guilt. They’re the sun of her solar system; everything revolves around them—at least, until it doesn't. I love that Paige finds her real self again, and how that, in turn, makes her a better mom. It’s a great paradox I can relate to.


3. How did you grow as a writer working on this novel?

The novel I wrote just before Paige was Band of Sisters, my first attempt at a story that had no romantic element and was strictly women’s fiction. Paige is women’s fiction too, although very different in many ways from Band of Sisters. I wasn't exactly confident that I could do the genre well yet.

The great thing is that I had three of my best friends around me, cheering me on, giving me ideas, and keeping me motivated—even handing me entire scenes to rework. The process taught me to see plot structure and character development in a new way—I had to, because four stories relied on it. As a writer, that became huge, because big-picture structure is still one of the things I consciously work on.


4. What did you "learn" from Paige? What did you hope the reader learned or went away with after reading Paige?

That we can never truly know what someone else is thinking or going through. We don’t know how our words can help or hurt or inspire. I knew that judging others is impossible—at least, I did on an intellectual level—but the Newport Ladies Book Club hammered the concept home. We really don’t know. Really. More, we don’t know how our actions or words can influence other women we come in contact with, and that’s often for the good. Livvy, Daisy, and Athena each did and said things that helped Paige in one way or another, but they may never have fully understood how much of an impact they had.


5. What character will you be writing next in the series?

My next character is Ilana. I had an inkling of an idea about who she was and what she struggled with before, so I planted a clue or two in the first set of books. Writing Ilana has been another powerful experience for me.


6. You once again did such a great job writing a novel. How many have you written now? What do you hope to accomplish next as a writer?

Thank you so much! How many have I written, or how many have I published? (I’ll save us all by not counting the manuscripts that will never see the light of day.) Paige is my 8th novel and 9th book with Covenant (the other being my cookbook, Chocolate Never Faileth). I self-published a grammar guide and a middle-grade fantasy. In January, Band of Sisters: Coming Home (the sequel!) will round the number to a dozen books published, with other fun stuff in between like a Romance short story anthology released this month.

As for what’s next: after nearly 20 years of writing seriously, I feel like I have finally landed in my niche with women’s fiction. I joke that maybe I had to mature and have more life experience as a woman before I could write women’s fiction, and maybe that’s true. I have a few women’s fiction projects in the works.

You can purchase Paige here.

 

About the Author: Annette Lyon

Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, the recipient of Utah's Best of State medal for fiction and the author of nine novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide as well as over a hundred magazine articles. She's a senior editor at Precision Editing Group and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she's not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor. Find her online at blog.annettelyon.com and on Twitter: @AnnetteLyon

Review of Daisy (Book 2 in The Newport Ladies Book Club Series) by Josi S. Kilpack and Giveaway of Signed Copy, along with Author Interview!

Product Details:

• Title: Daisy (Book 2 in The Newport Ladies Book Club Series)
• By: Josi S. Kilpack
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Deseret Book (June 4, 2012)
• Genre: Womens Fiction
• ISBN-10: 1609070089
• ISBN-13: 978-1609070083
• FTC FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Description:

Publication Date: June 4, 2012

Since becoming a mother at the age of seventeen, Daisy has looked forward to the day when she could check motherhood off her list of things to do. Everything seems to be right on track, until Daisy turns forty-six and suddenly finds herself facing a very different future than the one she had planned and an uncomfortable evaluation of the past she thought she understood. Looking for a distraction to escape the growing tension at home, Daisy joins the Newport Ladies Book Club, where she meets Paige, Athena, and Olivia unlikely friends who offer encouragement and support when Daisy s perfectly crafted life is turned upside-down. Daisy is one of four stand-alone books, by four different authors, in the Newport Ladies Book Club series. Readers will be able to participate in a virtual book club that features recommendations and discussion guides for a variety of fiction titles that can be used by any book group.

My Review:

I read and reviewed the first book in The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, Olivia, a few months ago.{Read my review of Olivia HERE} I loved it a lot! The whole idea of writing a series from different characters viewpoints, all taking place within the same time period, truly intrigued me. 

As I started reading Daisy, I knew that this was a character I could relate to on many levels. I felt the same way way as I read Olivia. My life isn't perfect, and neither are these characters. They all have a lot going on and each of them are dealing with pretty powerful things in their lives. Daisy carries a lot of baggage. She has been an unwed Mom (haven't done that one), a single Mom (currently doing that one), dealing with an ex-husband and kids that play both sides (this happens a lot!) and she had a miscarriage at the end of one of her marriages(yep). I read a few reviews of Daisy where people said they couldn't relate to the character. I had to laugh because I COULD relate to Daisy on many levels. As I read the book, there were so many times I wanted to tell Josi Kilpack that she got it right! Some of the reviewers said how "selfish" Daisy was. I have to disagree to some  extent. If you have never gone through the hardship of working full-time and raising kids by yourself, then you don't understand Daisy. She was excited to have some time for herself. What Mom, single or married, doesn't want that? But it is even something more you crave when you are the only parent. I didn't always like how Daisy handled things, but none of us are perfect parents. So, I kind of bristled when I read so many criticisms of Daisy.

The other thing that made me LOL, were reviewers that said this book made them unhappy or sad. Oh wow!! Some of us have lives like that where we don't always have happy endings. This is life. I liked this book and the ups and downs portrayed in the story. This is reality for so many people.  This novel is also Womens Fiction, not a Fairy Tale.  I'm not saying the whole story will leave you utterly depressed, and wanting to dive into a bucket of chocolate ice cream, but you will be brought to tears at times. This novel will also make you think about your life, and your own relationship with your children and your own parents. My conclusion is, that this is a very well written book to bring about so many heartfelt emotions. Josi Kilpack knows how to write well developed characters. She knows how to bring out the emotions in the story, that in turn makes the reader feel the same things. 

This series is good. I feel that these characters are bringing out the best in the writers who are crafting them. I can't wait to read the next book, Paige, by Annette Lyon. I recommend you invest your time in reading The Newport Ladies Book Club series. The main thing that I have learned from reading this series, is that we as women need to be kinder, and less judgmental of each other. We need to support each other through the hardships of life, whether or not we understand  or can relate to what they are going through.

Here is my interview with Author Josi Kilpack. I appreciate her taking the time to answer my questions.

1.Whose idea was it to write "The Newport Ladies Book Club"?

It was my idea--an idea I'd had for a long time but didn't know how to make happen. On a book tour with Julie Wright I told her about the idea of writing about connected women but changing Point of View character in each book or section or something like that. She helped me develop it into a separate-book series, we talked about who else could work with us on this and presented the idea to Annette Lyon and Heather Moore who were all in.

2.What process did you go through to write the character Daisy? How are you like Daisy and how are you different?

At first, Daisy was going to be a woman with an eating disorder, but by 40 pages I just didn't feel like it was working. I had already developed a lot of her appearance and family situation so I pondered on what other difficulties she could face instead and the idea came to have her a reluctant mother facing motherhood again and having to reassess her future in extreme ways. She's like me in ways such as ambition, independence, get-it-done, and not 'enjoying' motherhood the way many women do. But she's very different in regard to religious matters, family relationships and seeing her role as a mother as separate from herself. I came to really love and respect Daisy, who is imperfect but really is trying to do her best; has been trying to do her best for a long time. She's a woman I think it's easy to judge, but my hope is that readers will see past that and see that she really is trying; that sometimes someone's 'best' is limited in our estimation and that life is about our individual journey and personal growth.

 

3.How did you grow as a writer working on this novel?

In my own life I'm dealing with my first child leaving home, and it's caused me to focus on some regrets I have about the mother I've been. It's hard to go too deep with that, but I was a young mom and an impatient one. For a long time I was counting the days until my kids grew up. Now that they are, I'm having a difficult time forgiving myself for not embracing my role better. Daisy was an opportunity for me to explore those things and I feel like I learned a lot from that process--some forgiveness was in order as well as some exploration and some commitments to do better from here forward. On that personal--very personal--level it was a very important story for me to write in my life right now. It was also the first time I'd worked with other writers on a project and that was a very rewarding and growth-promoting opportunity as well. I was dependent on the other three women writing this series to get my story right and I learned a lot in that process.

4.What character will you be writing next in the series?
I'll be writing Shannon, who is Ruby's niece. I've just finished her story and it was another powerful journey for me. My favorite part about reading and writing women's fiction is the parallels I can draw between the character and myself, it's been very true for both Daisy and Shannon.

5.You did an incredible job with Daisy. What do you hope to accomplish next as a writer?

You know, I have accomplished so much more than I ever expected in my writing career. I did not see myself where I am right  now and I am enjoying it very much. My books are doing well, most of the reviews are very positive, and I am still learning so much about the world and about myself. I hope that things continue to feel this way to me--comfortable and validated. I hope to continue to write books that people enjoy and that I learn from. Writing has been a very enriching and rewarding part of my personal journey, and I am so very grateful for that. I hope that it continues to be part of my path here; so far it has given me many good things.

Thanks so much Josi!

Visit this blog to learn more about the series:http://thenewportladiesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Go here to learn more about Josi and her other books.

 

You can buy Daisy here at Deseret Book or at Amazon.com You can also enter to win an autographed copy of Daisy here on my blog. (USA entries only)

Enter at the Rafflecopter form down below!

About Josi:

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009.  Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children, dog, kitty, and varying number of chickens.

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Review of Olivia: Book One of The Newport Ladies Book Club by Julie Wright.Also, an Interview with the Author!

Product Details:

• Title: Olivia
  
• Author: Julie Wright
• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (January 30, 2012)
• Genre: Women's Fiction
• ISBN-10: 1608618439
• ISBN-13: 978-1608618439

Book Description:

Publication Date: January 30, 2012

The Robbins household looks perfect from the outside: no dust, no stains, no wrinkles. Yet a glimpse into its heart reveals no laughter, no closeness, no joy. Olivia thinks that if she keeps everything tidy and serves delicious meals on time, family life is bound to get better. But when her husband, Nick, misses their anniversary, she realizes no amount of domestic success will compensate for failure in their marriage, or for her own failure to develop her identity, always busy as a mother, wife, and neighbor, she has forgotten how to be a unique and vibrant individual. Determined to make a change, Olivia joins a local book club, where she nurtures new friendships and explores new ideas. But her growing confidence falters when Nick declares his independence, and while her new friends lovingly encircle her with support, only Olivia can reach into the depths of her fledgling self to find the faith, hope, and love her troubled family needs.

My Review:

I was so excited, and intrigued, when I first heard about this series called, "The Newport Ladies Book Club". What a genius idea! Here is what it is about...

"The Newport Ladies Book Club series is unique in that each Newport book is written from the point of view of a different woman in the book club. The first 4 books cover the same time period and the same book club meetings. But only with reading all 4 books, will you learn the whole story of each of the women and her full character journey. Think of it as a parallel series, not as a forward-moving series."

This series is being written by four very talented authors, Josi Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Julie Wright, and Heather Moore. 

The first two books in the series have been released. I am reviewing Olivia today, and will be reviewing Daisy in a few weeks.

Reading Olivia was a very emotional experience for me. Olivia told the story of a woman who has always given her all to her husband and children.Along the way she has become lost and doesn't know who she is anymore. The novel starts where Olivia and her husband, Nick, are having marital problems. All of a sudden she realizes that she needs to do something to find herself.This is when she joins a local book club, all strangers. This is a scary prospect for some people.

I loved the whole idea of this book club bringing this group of women together.It was delightful to see friendships grow, along with Olivia's confidence. I have read most of the books written by Julie Wright. This book, so far, is her best and most well-written book. The character development is so well done, the reader will  be able to relate to all of the women in the book club on some level. The emotions are so real, and there is a lot of angst filled moments. Julie truly pegs a marriage in trouble; which is amazing since I know Julie has a fantastic marriage. I'm not telling you what happens with Olivia, but I will say that she  changes and grows a lot. As she changes, so do the people around her.

Olivia will make you think and ponder. It will make you cry and search your own feelings. If you are looking for a heartfelt book, with real-life characters, that tell an enlightening story, then Olivia is for you.

I was thrilled that Julie Wright was willing to be interviewed. Enjoy what she had to share with all of you. 

1.How did the four of you, writing The Newport Ladies Book Club, decide which characters story you would write?

We actually almost knew from the very first meeting when Josi and I met Heather and Annette for breakfast to pitch the idea of writing together. Right there at the table we each came up with the character and character struggle we wanted to deal with. A few things changed but nothing major. it was a lot of fun and a great honor to work with women I love so much.

2.What process did you go through to write the character Olivia? I'm sure that it was an emotional thing.

Olivia was very hard for me because I have a pretty open relationship with my husband. Not that I'm saying every day is rosy and perfect, but that every day--even the bad ones--he is there for me. So to write a character who feels she can't communicate with her husband was extremely difficult. And there were days when I went to bed mad at my own husband because of something my fictional character did in the book. Mr Wright finally said, "Look! You cannot hold me accountable for the things your crazy characters do!" But I felt like I understood Olivia's plight. I've talked to so many women who live in silent bubbles where they can't communicate with their spouses for one reason or another. I told one such woman that she should just talk to her husband. She looked horrified that I'd suggested such a thing and shook her head immediately telling me I just didn't understand because that wasn't the life I lived. it made me really stop and think. What if that was a life in which I lived? What if I decided to break the silence one day with the words inside in my head? What would happen? That was when I knew that Olivia had to TALK. She had to at least try to communicate with her husband and let the consequences be whatever they were. That was a real changing point for me in the story.

3.How did you grow as a writer working on this novel?

This was the first genuinely adult book I've written. All my other books are shelved in the YA section of the bookstores. This one is firmly meant for adult women. It was nice to know I could communicate to grown ups too. It also gave me insight into understanding that not all bad guys are bad. Nick wasn't all bad. And not all good guys are good. Olivia had her moments of being downright awful. Their characters made me grow because of their beautiful complexities.


4.What did you "learn" from Olivia? What did you hope the reader learned or went away with after reading Olivia? 

What I learned and what I hope others walk away with is the need to be more connected to other women in the world. To be kinder to the people you meet, even just in passing, to not judge, to feel real compassion. The other ladies in the book club never really know Olivia's plight. They never know her marriage is crumbling or that she is dying a little more every day. And even without knowing, their very presence sustains Olivia through some major trials--all while they had no idea.
None of us know what our one word of encouragement or kindness might mean to another.


5.What character will you be writing next in the series? 

 I am writing Victoria (Tori) who works in the film industry. The tone of this next book for me will be much lighter and has a far more romantic feel to it. One thing I love about the series is that each book has its own tone and voice--a voice that completely personifies the character the story is about.


6.You did amazing work with Olivia. What do you hope to accomplish next as a writer?  
Wow. What do I hope next? It wouldn't hurt my feelings any to win a Newbery...:)

 

Thank you so much Julie for the interview!

Links you may be interested in:

• -http://thenewportladiesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Website	http://www.juliewright.com
Blog:	http://juliewright.com/blog/
Facebook	http://facebook.com/juliepetersonwright

• Buy the book at: Amazon

About Julie:

Julie Wright (1972-still breathing) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She’s lived in LA, Boston, and the literal middle of nowhere (don’t ask). She wrote her first book when she was fifteen and actually got the thing published. Thirteen novels later, she thinks she’s finally getting the hang of this writing gig.

She currently has eight published novels:

• Olivia
• Hazzardous Universe: The Magician’s Last Words
• Hazzardous Universe
• Cross My Heart (2010 Whitney Award winner for Best Romance)
• Eyes Like Mine (2009 Whitney Award Nominee)
• My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life
• Loved Like That
• To Catch a Falling Star

She has one husband, three kids, one dog, and a varying amount of fish (depending on attrition).
She loves writing, reading, traveling, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.
She used to speak fluent Swedish, but now speaks only well enough to cuss out her children in public.
She hates mayonnaise, but has a healthy respect for ice cream.


**I was given a review copy of Olivia. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.**