Giveaway Winner: Already Home

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Author Interview: Susan Mallery

Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories of women and the relationships that move them. In her latest novel, ALREADY HOME, Jenna Stevens, still reeling from a recent divorce, is unpleasantly surprised by the arrival of her birth parents, who seem to want her to feel a family bond immediately. She was perfectly happy with the loving, traditional parents who raised her. Can she learn to love a second mother without damaging her relationship with the woman who raised her? Join Susan’s Members Only area at www.susanmallery.com for exclusive sneak peeks, short stories, and more.

GJR:  I think it takes a special kind of woman to give a child up for adoption, it is something that has always fascinated me solely based on the courage it takes. What motivated you to tell this story?

Susan Mallery (SM):  I’m fascinated by emotionally complex situations, and a woman with two loving but radically different mothers struck me as one of the most complex relationships there could be. There are so many levels of feelings to explore. Jenna, the adult daughter who is surprised by the arrival of her birth mother, struggles with questions of why the woman gave her away, why she’s back, and why now? For 31 years, Jenna had heard nothing from her birth family. Not a word. Now they’re in her life, and her mother is strangely insistent that they bond like true family immediately. For a Zen person, she’s extremely pushy, and Jenna doesn’t know why.

Then there are all the layers of emotions from the two mothers. Gratitude, resentment, a sense of ownership and belonging that’s at war with feelings of inadequacy and loss. It’s all so fascinating that I couldn’t not write this story.

GJR: Although the main character in this novel is Jenna, Violet stole the book for me. Where did she come from? Did you model her after someone in particular?

SM: I love Violet, too. She’s not based on anyone specific. She’s more of an amalgam of store clerks who have made me curious. Every person we meet in real life has hidden depths, and the longer you know someone, the more she’ll surprise you. I tried to capture the essence of that idea in Violet.

GJR: I’m not much of a foodie, but I loved hearing your descriptions of Jenna’s creative cooking process. Do you experiment with cooking as well?

SM:  More now than ever. I’ve written a lot of food-themed books in my career, which means I’ve done a lot of food-themed research. Once, while working on the Bakery Sisters books, I took a cake decorating class. And discovered that I have zero talent for decorating cakes.

When I was writing ALREADY HOME, I really didn’t have to do much food-related research, but I did think a lot about how similar creativity in cooking is to creativity in writing. One of Jenna’s big emotional journeys in the book is rediscovering her sense of joy and creativity in the kitchen, and I identified deeply with the fear of losing that creative spark. As I was writing the book, I began to experiment a little more with food, sharing my successful new recipes with my readers. They liked it so much that I started posting a new recipe every week on my website: http://www.susanmallery.com/. I’m not sure I’ll keep up the pace of once a week now that the book is out, and I’m on to new stories, but I will continue to share new recipes as I find inspiration.

GJR: I love how the themes of second chances and starting over are woven through this novel. What is your good old-fashioned do over?

SM:  Probably the most transformative do-over I’ve experienced was finding love a second time around. Divorce is sad and painful, but sometimes it’s necessary so that we’re free to meet The One.

GJR:  I can’t wait to try the recipe for Jenna’s Mocha Chili. Care to share with us Jasmine’s fabulous margarita recipe?

SM:  I would love to share a margarita with you! Oh wait, you meant the recipe. I’m afraid Jasmine’s fabulous margarita recipe is pure fiction. But if you come across a great one, I hope you’ll share it with me! Oh, but I do have an incredible recipe for a Chocolate Peppermint Martini. You can find it in the Fool’s Gold Holiday Wishes magazine here: http://foolsgoldca.susanmallery.com/funstuff.html

GJR:  What are you currently reading?

SM:  I love Young Adult and, though I don’t normally go for paranormal, I’m hooked on the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. I’m nearly finished with book 2 (Demon Glass), and already eager for book 3. By the way, I’m active on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/susanmallery.

GJR:  Do you have a library card? Do you still use it?

SM:  Yes, I have a library card, and yes, I still use it, though I’ll admit, not often. Whenever I can, I buy books to support the authors I love. I go to the library when I’m doing research and need to get my hands on an out-of-print book.

GJR:  If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

SM:  I studied accounting in college, but the idea of being a CPA makes me break out in hives. If I weren’t a writer, I’d probably be in business.

GJR:  Something different: What is your favorite meal to cook?

SM:  Oooh, good question. My favorite meals to cook are the ones that are unbelievably delicious (hence, they garner the praise on which I am so reliant), but are fast and easy. I want to be in and out of the kitchen in an hour, max, and that only occasionally. All my favorite recipes are on my website. One that’s easy, fast, and delicious is my recipe for Flour Dusted Roast Chicken. Here’s a picture of it. Isn’t it pretty?! This chicken plus a pre-made salad from the grocery store is one of the easiest meals you can make, but it looks really impressive.

Thanks you Ms. Mallery for taking some time to answer our questions.

 

Alice's Review: Already Home

Summary:  ALREADY HOME is one of the most emotional stories I’ve ever written, a story of a woman who learns to open her heart and, in the process, discovers that love doesn’t wait for an invitation. Jenna Stevens is still reeling from a recent divorce and recuperating from wounds inflicted by a husband who belittled her at every opportunity. A classically trained chef, Jenna no longer believes she’s capable of the leaps of creativity that once won her praise from her instructors and from food critics, so she moves back to her hometown in Texas to open a retail cooking store.

Just as Jenna’s settling into her new career and beginning to feel like she’s on even ground, her birth mother barrels her way into Jenna’s life. Jenna doesn’t want or need a second mother, especially a vegan mother named Serenity who would have named her Butterfly. But while Serenity listens to signs from the Universe, she easily ignores Jenna telling her to go away. With gentle but insistent pressure, she will find a way to open Jenna’s heart.

And once the heart is open, anything can happen! Susan Mallery (www.susanmallery.com)

Review:  There are a couple things I want to tell you right off the bat.  This is my first Susan Mallery novel.  I actually requested this because my sister is a fan of hers.  I figured it was time I checked her out myself.  I expected your typical “chick lit” type novel, a simple story with a happy ending.  Man was I surprised when I got to the bones of the story. 

Although the story was primarily about the return of Jenna’s birth parents, the highlight for me was the friendships the women shared and the relationships the women had with each other.  They were each so different, yet very believable.  Ms. Mallery has a gift.  She writes in a way that makes it very easy to get invested in the characters.  Thirty pages in and I felt a bond with them. 

I was pretty much set not to like Jenna.  By all accounts, she was just about perfect.  I hate that in a character.  Yet Ms. Mallery did something I didn’t expect, she gave her a touch of insecurity and self-doubt that endeared me to her.  She wasn’t whiny, but real.  She took what was meant to be defeating and turned it into triumph.  She faced trials but never took on a defeated attitude.  I couldn’t help but hope that things turned out for the best.  I especially enjoyed her growing friendship with Violet. 

I loved Violet, I want to be friends with Violet.  I really enjoyed her journey.  I liked that although hers was a supporting role, Ms. Mallery gave her story life. I don’t want to write too much about her journey because well, when I first read it, I had a total “Why The Face?” moment and I want you to have it too.  Although hers was a secondary story, it was powerful enough without stealing Jenna’s thunder.  The stories, as well as the characters and their friendships complimented each other rather well.

I think this is a great read.  It’s powerful enough to tug at your heartstrings and bring a tear to your eye, yet it’s laced with humor and above all hope.  I know this is only the beginning of my Susan Mallery journey.  I look forward to reading more by her.

Final Take: 4/5