Interview with Valerie Taylor, Author of What’s Not Lost

What’s the story behind the story? What impressed you to put in writing What’s Not Misplaced?

Readers who made Bridget Jones’s Diary fashionable within the Nineties impressed me to put in writing WHAT’S NOT LOST. Quick ahead thirty years, these ladies and men now need to learn tales that includes relatable characters in mature relationships. That’s why, I created fifty-something Kassie O’Callaghan who struggles to stability her skilled ambitions together with her want for fortunately ever after. Very like Bridget Jones, Kassie confronts her yearnings with each honesty and humor.

In the event you needed to decide theme songs for the primary characters of What’s Not Misplaced, what would they be?

For one thing particular, I included a playlist at the back of WHAT’S NOT LOST. Readers say they take pleasure in listening to it as they journey by means of the story. A number of songs might function Kassie’s theme track; nevertheless, I feel as a hopeless romantic, she would decide Until There Was You by The Beatles. Right here’s the hyperlink to the playlist. Take pleasure in!

What’s your favourite style to learn? Is it the identical as your favourite style to put in writing?

Don’t snigger. WHAT’S NOT LOST is assessed usually as romantic comedy, up to date romance, or ladies’s fiction. But, my two favourite genres to learn are historic fiction and thriller/thriller. Although I learn all kinds, together with non-fiction. Think about that!

What books are in your TBR pile proper now?

There’s not sufficient room right here to record all of the books on my TBR pile proper now. So, listed here are three. The Lincoln Conspiracy by Amor Towles. And There Was Mild by Jon Meacham. The Homicide of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. Good factor I’ll be studying extra of Ms. Christie quickly, as I’ve began writing a comfy thriller collection, and I would like all of the steerage I can get!

It could seem like I solely learn well-known authors. However that’s not true. I additionally learn numerous comparatively new authors, however it will not be honest to all of them for me to record just some right here. There are unbelievable writers penning insightful, entertaining, and binge-worthy books today. I need to learn all of them.

What scene in your guide was your favourite to put in writing?

Fingers down, the Prologue in WHAT’S NOT LOST was my favourite scene to put in writing. I’m thrilled that readers universally like it, as effectively. Which is nice, as a result of prologues are sometimes criticized. If I say an excessive amount of, it’d be a spoiler. What I can say is that in an early draft, the scene was smack in the course of the guide. I awoke with a begin one morning, ran downstairs to my manuscript which was unfold throughout my eating room desk, pulled out that chapter, and moved it to the entrance. Then, I rewrote it and made it the Prologue. Neatest thing I ever did.

I hope you’ll learn it to seek out out why readers appear to agree!

Do you may have any quirky writing habits? (fortunate mugs, cats on laps, and many others.)

All of the years I labored as a advertising supervisor in company America, I might take off my rings after I would settle in on the keyboard. Now that I’m retired from that world, I not often put on rings. As a substitute, I’ve to put on earrings. After I get caught on a scene, I are inclined to rub them. What’s the cope with that? Do I actually assume concepts cross by means of my earlobes?

Do you may have a motto, quote, or philosophy you reside by?

Oh, I’ve a number of mottos. For years, I had “Play the Playing cards You’re Dealt” on a Put up-it notice on my toilet mirror. Just lately, I discovered from my granddaughter, that her mom (my daughter) actually hates that saying. I didn’t notice how usually I’d repeat it.

I’ve changed that with one thing Eleanor Roosevelt stated: “Do the factor you assume you can’t do.” As an creator, it most definitely resonates with me every day. It helps inspire me to maintain the author juices flowing.

In the event you might select one factor for readers to recollect after studying your guide, what wouldn’t it be?

Early readers (a.okay.a. inquiring minds!) have requested, “Who says the final line?” It seems there are various opinions, which is an effective factor! Although WHAT’S NOT LOST is the conclusion to a trilogy, reviewers admit it succeeds as a stand-alone. Nevertheless, for readers who’d like to know the unabridged backstory of Kassie’s saga, particularly her journeys to Venice and Paris, please try WHAT’S NOT SAID and WHAT’S NOT TRUE! Ultimately, I hope readers know that having them fortunately ever after is why I write.