Photo by Nina Parker |
Tori Whitaker grew up in the Midwest. She now resides outside of Atlanta, Georgia where she and her husband of more than forty years live near their two sons and their families. Tori belongs to the Historical Novel Society and her feature article, "Multi-Period Novels: The Keys to Weaving Together Two Stories from Different Time Periods," appeared in the Historical Novels Review. Tori graduated from Indiana University and is chief marketing officer for a national law firm. She is also an alum of the Yale Writers' Workshop. (Bio adapted from Amazon.)
Three generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart.
Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her.
Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come.
As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
My road was long and winding and filled with big potholes, but when I fell, I climbed back up and kept moving forward until I reached my destination.
Which of the three women in your novel can you relate to the most?
Hmm. Certainly parts of all three. I suppose I relate to Millie the most, because in the final analysis, she’s a grandmother who wants what’s best for her family. And I am already conscious of the things I’m passing down to my granddaughter.
If Millicent Glenn's Last Wish were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
You’re the first to ask! I would happily leave casting to the pros, but with good make-up artists to transform stars into looking older or younger as needed, I have toyed with this cast: Judi Dench as matriarch Millie; Goldie Hawn as aging ex-hippie Jane; Goldie Hawn’s real-life daughter Kate Hudson as pregnant Kelsey in the modern storyline (and in dual roles—Hudson playing young housewife Millie, too). For Millie’s husband Dennis in his youth? Scott Eastwood all the way.
If we were to travel to your hometown, what are some places you would take us to visit?
I was born in Cincinnati and lived there until I was 10, and that’s where my novel is set. I’d recommend going to the art deco Union Terminal which opened in 1933. It still has trains and glorious original murals, but it’s renovated to hold the Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Cincinnati History Museum. While there, ask about the Whispering Fountains (they are featured in my book). If you’re into craft beers, you can wander not far off to the OTR where there are numerous breweries and bars. This neighborhood is filled with restored Italianate architecture, and it pays homage to the city’s German brewery history that dates to the 1800s. Brewing was a major industry here until Prohibition.
What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I’ve learned that I love working from home. My day job (marketing for a national law firm) has quite a commute. Only now are our Atlanta office employees returning two days a week. But as a writer, I’m already self-disciplined—especially when writing must be done in my free time. Turns out, I’m productive doing my job remotely. The time that I used to spend getting ready for work or driving a car has allowed more time to walk, handle book launch needs, and often cook a comforting meal. I love that.
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I enjoyed Gerwig’s film adaptation of Little Women. Jo March’s journey to publication made my husband and I both get teary-eyed.
Thanks to Tori for visiting with us and to Kathleen Carter Communications for sharing her book with our readers.
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19 comments:
Officially, I am considered as Generation X by people who track these things but my parents were from the Silent Generation & immigrants to the USA, so not the typical western, Baby Boomers that these categories assume to be my parent's generation.
Generation X
I am at the end of the Baby Boomers generation, and proud of it! :)
Way at the end of the Baby Boomer.
Early baby Boomer.
Baby boomer for me. Thanks for the giveaway chance. Stay safe and healthy. 💕📚😷📚💕
Before the Baby Boomers - the old people???
kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com
I am Gen X. This book sounds so good..I love dual timelines! Thanks for the chance. Fingers crossed!!
Baby Boomer
End of the baby boomers.
baby boomer
Born in the 50's.
I was born in '82 so I'm technically a Millenial.
Baby Boomer
Generation X
I was born in 1970
Baby Boomer
Baby Boomer here.
Generation X
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