Tell us about your latest book, who are the main characters
and what we can expect when we pick it up.
The Goodbyes is a story about Dianne and Mel
leaving school life and entering a life away from the adults who raised them.
During the story Dianne unravels while juggling her final year of college and
watching her mother slowly lose her battle with cancer. Michael, a charming but
deceptive man, enters her life for a short time while Mel, a young restaurant
worker and adoptive daughter of restaurateurs, befriends and supports Dianne
for the long haul. Although not having a “birth family” surrounding them, older
adults step in until it’s their turn to say, ”Goodbye.”
Obviously, Dianne and Mel are the main characters,
but others take a main character role as the story unfolds. Katrina, Dianne’s
mother, has the initial role as a main character, but other characters follow
when she is no longer able to fulfill the role.
There are many twists and unexpected turns until the very end. Buckle your seatbelt. There’s turbulence ahead.
Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long and involved process. How does that usually work for you?
The Goodbyes was a longer and more
involved process than I anticipated when I first started the adventure. Looking
back over many years, the characters kept revealing themselves while the devil
of procrastination kept smothering them. Perhaps that was for the best. Many
people I met since I began writing had personality traits that I was able to
assign to my characters. Hopefully, my sequel will not take as long.
Which of your books would you
recommend for readers to choose first if they’re new to you and your books?
Most definitely, my first book, my only book right now. {smile} If an industrious reader can dig down into the Internet, they may find news articles that I’ve written for the Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL) or The Daily Press-Leader (Farmington, MO)
We are very curious about your
writing process. What is a typical writing day like for you?
Typical writing day:
Watch the news. Get angry. Identify a need for an escape. Grab coffee and water. Sit at the magic desk. Escape reality by punching computer keys, except when the dogs need to go in, or out, or in, or out.
What trope have you not written
yet but want to?
I’m not sure if I have enough time left on earth to write a historical novel about my mother’s family emigrating to Cuba from Spain. That would take many years of dedication and research.
How do you approach character
development in your stories? Do you have any specific techniques or methods
that you find particularly effective?
I watch people. Even when mindlessly scrolling, I stumble upon implausible yet interesting stories, and I read “AITA” from Reddit. Some of the videos presented are pure garbage, while others introduce human behaviors I never considered. I take notes and incorporate these behaviors into my writing, even if it’s just for fun.
What do you believe sets your
writing apart from others in your genre, and why should readers choose to read
your books?
As much as possible, I try to present characters with realistic behaviors, albeit sometimes they are exaggerated.
Can you discuss any upcoming
projects or books that you're currently working on? What can readers expect
from your future works?
I’m working on a sequel to The
Goodbyes. I’m not sure of a working title for it yet. The sequel will mostly feature
the same characters, with some taking on more prominent roles.
THE GOODBYES
Author: Helen Gillespie
GENRE: Women’s Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Struggling with
becoming an adult in a small mid-western town, Dianne must confront family
secrets, deception, and discovery during her last year of college. As she cares
for her ailing mother, her world begins to unravel and she is challenged to
navigate through lies, friendships, love...and murder.
Meeting the wrong
person makes it possible for her to recognize the right ones and to find the
strength she needs to survive. Realizing that she is responsible for her own
destiny, she learns that to say hello to a new life, she must first say
goodbye.
Excerpt One:
All living creatures hold secrets for basic survival. Humans
keep secrets to preserve their image, hide their misjudgments, or protect those
they care about. Only in the safest conditions, absolute trust or
vulnerability, can humans feel safe divulging their secrets, laying bare their
hidden selves.
Katrina England and her husband did not keep secrets from
Dianne or indulge in the usual childhood fantasies of princesses or fairy
godmothers with her daughter. Even Santa Claus was introduced from a historical
perspective rather than as a magical elf. The Englands were doting parents who
disciplined their daughter when necessary and answered her questions honestly,
only withholding information that surpassed Dianne’s maturity. Yet, despite
this philosophy, Katrina did hold a few secrets, one very close.
As Dianne approached adulthood, Katrina began to share these
secrets. By then, Dianne’s father had died, leaving the two women to navigate
life together as a family with no other relatives living close by. Katrina
often grappled with the lifelong weight of a childhood secret and her secret of
late, a terminal cancer diagnosis. Both became weightier as her cancer took
hold. When Dianne began dating the MegaMart store manager, Katrina’s concern of
her daughter’s future turned to worry.
Dianne, nearing graduation while dealing with her mother’s
illness, found herself facing unexpected challenges. When Michael D. Glossen
entered her life, her challenges became problems. Oddly, she met “Michael D”
when a cream rinse emergency arose.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Throughout
grammar school and college, Helen Gillespie loved developing story sketches or
full stories but kept them hidden within herself. That creative spark proved
valuable in unexpected places, first on assignment as a musician in the US
Army, and after leaving the Army, when she earned a degree in elementary
education. After reentering the Army in 1981, she put pen to paper, or rather,
“fingers to an Olivetti.” She officially learned the art of journalism to serve
the Army, but it quickly became a personal passion. Interviewing fellow
soldiers, exploring their jobs and personalities, and publishing useful
information for the military community formed the basis of her skill and
enjoyment. Those years of thought, training, education, and experience laid the
foundation for crafting her first novel, The Goodbyes.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565442142189
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hgillespie/
Website: https://www.helengillespiewrites.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hgillespe/
Personal Social
Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.gillespie/
5 comments:
This looks like a very good book and I look forward to reading it.
Thank you for featuring THE GOODBYES today.
This looks like a very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you all for commenting! Please read my book and leave comments here and at the various book seller sites.
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