A friendly visit from Suzanne Simonetti...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Tina Giaimo of
Spirit Catcher Photography

Today we are pleased to welcome Suzanne Simonetti to CLC. We are celebrating the publication of her debut novel, The Sound of Wings. Thanks to Caitlin Hamilton Marketing, we have TWO copies to give away!

Suzanne Simonetti grew up in the New York suburbs just outside of the city. After earning a BS in marketing, she spent several years writing press releases, until she left her corporate job to focus on her passion for crafting fiction. She lives on Cape May Harbor with her husband.

Visit Suzanne online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

Seventy-year-old Goldie Sparrows faces declining finances, questionable health, and a late husband who torments her from the beyond. She seeks refuge in her butterfly garden, which is filled with voices and memories from long ago.

Jocelyn Anderson is a struggling writer who finds escape from her custody battle in the journal of her late mother-in-law. As she gets pulled through the pages of time, Jocelyn discovers her own husband has a hidden history she knows nothing about. Is this secret now Jocelyn’s to keep?

Krystal Axelrod is living a life she never dreamed she could have. And yet the demons of a dysfunctional childhood and mean girl culture from her cheerleading days cast their shadow over her ability to feel whole, capable, and worthy. Does Goldie hold the key to Krystal’s path to freedom?

A masterfully crafted tale of love, friendship, betrayal, and the risks we take in the pursuit of justice. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“A story world so completely alive with the characters so real, I can feel them breathing behind me.”
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author of With or Without You

“Vividly written, with characters the reader will come to love as friends, The Sound of Wings is a compelling debut novel of great emotional depth. Highly recommended!"
—Loretta Nyhan, author of The Other Family

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing The Sound of Wings?
There are many characters in the novel of different vocations and talents. I had to do a ton of research on the art of throwing pottery, the delicacies of crafting jewelry from seashells and sea glass, and the dietary habits of the African grey parrot. I learned so much about these things which made painting scenes especially enjoyable. 

The biggest challenge was keeping track of my timeline as I braided the past with the present. For instance, Jocelyn gets ahold of a journal belonging to her late mother-in-law from decades earlier; I had to make sure that the timing of those journal entries jived with the things mentioned in the plot that were happening in the world at the time.

Which of the three main characters can you relate to the most?
I certainly relate well to Jocelyn who is the novelist in the story and facing deadlines. I think mostly I can relate to Krystal who comes from a modest background where she was collecting cans and bottles for a five-cent refund when she was living on her own, as I once did. She also has an extremely supportive and loving husband who wants nothing more than to see her thrive in her creative pursuits and to feel accomplished—not unlike my own husband. Eventually, Krystal finds herself and discovers that she is stronger than she ever imagined possible and is able to release herself from the past and people from her former life who did not serve her well. 

If The Sound of Wings were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I believe Meryl Streep would make a brilliant Goldie Sparrows who is lovable, quirky, and enigmatic. I could see Anne Hathaway as  Jocelyn and Scarlett Johansson as Krystal. 

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I just watched On the Basis of Sex, the biographical legal drama based on the life and early cases of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I was left completely awe-inspired and deeply moved. 

What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I have learned not to take the little things for granted, which somehow became big things. Whether it was going to the grocery store or grabbing lunch with a friend, suddenly these things became unattainable and weren’t so little, but make up the treasured moments of our daily lives. 

What is the last thing you had a good laugh about?
I run a schnauzer group on Facebook and our members share all kinds of sweet and interesting photos and videos of their pets. Last week, a member shared a clip of her schnauzer, Charlie, lying on their driveway with all four legs up in the air, playing “dead”. Much as she tried to beseech Charlie to return to the house, he continued to ignore her. When he finally did sit up, Charlie proceeded to whip his head over either shoulder as if thinking: “Is there someone behind me you are talking to?” Finally, momma said, “I know you hear me! Yes, I am speaking to you. Come inside please,” and dear Charlie came scurrying. It was adorably sweet and made me laugh. 

Thanks to Suzanne for visiting with us and to Caitlin Hamilton Marketing for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends May 9th at midnight EST.