Reader's Blog did an interview, this is a narrative of the interview.
Give a glimpse without revealing the story of ALWAYS ENOUGH . . The story came together throughout my life . . . as years passed, the story crystalized in my thoughts. The storyline captures the transition of a young girl maturing into womanhood. The main character, Sue Martin is plagued with many childhood messages that she gleamed from eavesdropping on her mother's conversations. Although Sue’s mother never said these things to her face, Sue hears her mom constantly referring to her as 'poor ole Sue' All this contributes to Sue's lack of self-esteem. As a teen she is filled with the need to test life. She is intense, deep, contemplative and longs to explore everything external of who she is. . . Feeling less than adequate, Sue is shocked when Gary, a boy in the community asks her to a dance, Believing it's a fluke, she jumps at the chance . . . Weeks later she is invited to a party and is further shocked to find alcohol is provided. It piques Sue's curiosity nature and she indulges by downing drinks in the attempt to experience what it feels like to be free from her thoughts. Unprepared, her repressed sexual intensity is unleashed. This one night is the beginning of her risk-taking behaviors.
This story take the reader on an amazing yet shocking journey. It's all founded on the belief that there's something, somewhere external of ourselves that will makes us whole, or relevant, or provide new clarity and will solidify our value to this world. As Sue goes off to college, she grants herself this new freedom to examine life's issues. Her compelling need to taste and ride the edges of life dilute her ability to see what she already has . . . There are so many storyline being lived out in her life, thrusting and twisting her in such a way that she forgets what is real. Then a horrific situation occurs and engulfs Sue with a shocking reality that she had discarded something precious along the way. This story is spiritual, psychological, intense, provocative, sexual, and it really forces the reader to experience life on the edge while being defiant of one's own moral compass. Readers get caught up in the storyline, believing they know the outcome . . . However, just like life, we don't see the wall were about hit. . . . This story wraps itself around so many amazing characters, including the Dean of Women at college, who’s mystic provokes Sue into violating the Dean’s well defined boundaries. Sue’s new insight to the Dean dishes her a reality she can barely handle.
There's multiple events twisting and turning Sue . . . then a most devasting tragedy stops her in her tracks, . . . readers are suspended in shock and forced to realize that they too lost sight of the truth and beauty that Sue once had . . . Interwoven throughout, is a love story, which is sadly dismissed by Sue and the reader, but of course, this profound insight about life is overwhelming at the end.
Linda, can you tell us a little about your writing style, your story sounds so purposeful . . .
It was written with a creative emphasis on the 'character' development, that includes the philosophical, sexual, psychological, and spirituality of the characters. Such development was essential to the storyline. In the end, I hope the readers are left pondering the same life issues. I never tell people how to live, yet my writing style is to methodically run in front of the reader and throw open doors for which they can look inside. Each door, so to speak, offers deep contemplative issues about life.. I am excited when readers are left suspended in deep thought about themselves.
How has your book been received?
It has received wonderful reviews, but I am most pleased by the response from women's reading clubs and groups ... As one group leader wrote me that it opens the individuals up in passionate dialogue about a story in such a way, that no one wanted to let go of it.... The letters and email have been amazing. And the Kirkus Review gave it an unbelievable tag line . . . most tag lines are a simple adjectives, but KIRKUS coined my book a most rewarding read. That is powerful when you consider it reaches beyond a good storyline, it rewards the reader. It is overwhelming because no one wants to let go of the story when the book ends. . . Readers are overloaded with emotion and left contemplating a lot about life.
|
