Maddie Dawson is the Washington Post bestselling author of nine novels about love and the ways we find it, squander it, find it again, and ultimately realize where we belong. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and has been called "funny, poignant coming of age stories for grownups...peopled with quirky, real-life characters." Her new book, THE MAGIC OF FOUND OBJECTS, released on Aug. 1, 2021, was an instant bestseller on Amazon. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, and when she's not writing, you can find her walking the streets of her small town, muttering to herself about the plot of her newest book and then rushing to add the details to her phone.
Visit Maddie online:
Phronsie Linnelle was conceived at Woodstock in a serendipitous liaison between a free-spirited hippie and a farmer’s son and was born with magical wonder flickering in her DNA and rationality knit into her bones. All her life she’s been torn between the two. But now that she’s been betrayed by both love and the mother she once idolized, her rational side is winning.
So when her best friend from childhood proposes that they give up on romance and marry each other, Phronsie agrees. Who better to spend your life with than your best friend? Maybe the connection they already have is love. Maybe there’s no falling to be done. But immediately after they announce their engagement, she encounters someone who makes a very charming and compelling argument for revisiting romance.
While her even-keeled stepmother argues for the safety that comes with her new engagement and her mother relays messages from the universe to hold out for true love, Phronsie must look to her own heart to find the answers that have been there all along. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
“Written with loads of humor and heart, The Magic of Found Objects is a delightful, feel-good tale of friendship and marriage, motherhood and sacrifice, disillusionment and hope. Dawson takes the reader on a quest for the perfect life partner. Is it the kind, comfortable friend right in front of you, or does the universe have something more exciting in store? Maddie Dawson at her finest!”
—Amy Poeppel, author of Musical Chairs
“The Magic of Found Objects by Maddie Dawson is a lovingly crafted and heartwarming story of friendship, family, and being true to oneself. The charming and quirky characters burrow into your heart and make you laugh, cry, and cheer. A thoughtful and joyful read, perfect for book clubs. Dawson wrote another winner!”
—Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Last Bathing Beauty
“Dawson delivers her signature charm in The Magic of Found Objects. As Phronsie makes the decision of a lifetime, her free-spirited mother and practical, loving stepmother shape her ideas of life and love. Readers will long to slip inside the pages with these lovable characters written with flawless depth and a touch of sparkle. Dawson delivers a heartfelt read that stays with you long after the last page.”
—Rochelle Weinstein, USA Today bestselling author
“Thirtysomething public relations professional Phronsie Linnelle is ready for a family—so she just might marry her platonic, lifelong best friend. A witty and wonderful romp through the mind of an entertaining woman who wants it all and has the guts to go out and get it. Bestselling author Maddie Dawson at her absolute best. You will love this hilarious, heartwarming book.”
—Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Husbands and Other Sharp Objects
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Oh my goodness! I am so moved when readers write to me, and my very favorite thing that they say is that my characters have made them see their own lives in a new way. It is still astonishing to me that these imaginary people who take up residence in my head, waking me up in the middle of the night with their stories, actually use me to go out in the world and affect other people, too. I’ve heard from five people recently who say that my book has made them believe in the possibility of love for themselves once again.
How is Phronsie similar to or different from you?
Ah, Phronsie! What fun I had the year she was sitting on my shoulder dictating to me! She and I are similar in that we were both raised and loved by two different moms, a biological mom and a stepmother. Like Phronsie, I had a biological mom who was perhaps a little bit magic and—well, flaky. She was larger than life, dramatic, creative, and maybe had a fondness for stirring things up. My 22-year-old father had met her when he took a temporary job in a different town and was staying at a boarding house. He’d recently had a fight with his long-term girlfriend—and then he met my mom the day he arrived, and two months later they got married. And then I arrived! So, like Phronsie, I’m the product of two mismatched people—but unlike in Phronsie’s case, my parents tried to make it work for thirteen years. After they got divorced, my father married his old girlfriend—and over time she became my biggest ally in the world. I didn’t ever live with her and my father; I was always with my mom, but I could turn to my stepmother whenever I needed her. My two moms never did have a reconciliation like the one I wrote in the book. That was fun and bittersweet to write, because I would have loved if they had ever been able to be friends.
Oh my goodness! I am so moved when readers write to me, and my very favorite thing that they say is that my characters have made them see their own lives in a new way. It is still astonishing to me that these imaginary people who take up residence in my head, waking me up in the middle of the night with their stories, actually use me to go out in the world and affect other people, too. I’ve heard from five people recently who say that my book has made them believe in the possibility of love for themselves once again.
How is Phronsie similar to or different from you?
Ah, Phronsie! What fun I had the year she was sitting on my shoulder dictating to me! She and I are similar in that we were both raised and loved by two different moms, a biological mom and a stepmother. Like Phronsie, I had a biological mom who was perhaps a little bit magic and—well, flaky. She was larger than life, dramatic, creative, and maybe had a fondness for stirring things up. My 22-year-old father had met her when he took a temporary job in a different town and was staying at a boarding house. He’d recently had a fight with his long-term girlfriend—and then he met my mom the day he arrived, and two months later they got married. And then I arrived! So, like Phronsie, I’m the product of two mismatched people—but unlike in Phronsie’s case, my parents tried to make it work for thirteen years. After they got divorced, my father married his old girlfriend—and over time she became my biggest ally in the world. I didn’t ever live with her and my father; I was always with my mom, but I could turn to my stepmother whenever I needed her. My two moms never did have a reconciliation like the one I wrote in the book. That was fun and bittersweet to write, because I would have loved if they had ever been able to be friends.
If The Magic of Found Objects was made into a movie, what are some songs that would be on the soundtrack?
Here are some songs I’ve listened to as I was writing:
"True Love is Hard to Find"—Bonnie Raitt
"Shooting Star"—Bob Dylan
"At Last"—Etta James
"I Want to Know What Love Is"—Foreigner
"The Pretender"—Jackson Browne
"I’m Yours"—Jason Mraz
"I Am Not in Love"—Joan Armatrading
"Be My Number Two"—Joe Jackson
"Man to Man"—Joni Mitchell
"The Hard Way"—Mary Chapin Carpenter
"I Wanna Get Married"—Nellie McKay
"Not Too Late"—Norah Jones
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
I am hooked on Ted Lasso. I love his optimism, his humor, his view of life—and all the quirky characters on the show. I binge-watched Season One, and then went to Season Two, only to realize that I can no longer binge-watch! I have to wait each week for a new episode. I can’t believe it!! What is up with that???
What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I learned that I have an “inner introvert” who was actually rather happy to stay home and write, once she got used to the idea. You see, I’ve always seen myself as an extrovert. I love getting together with friends, going out to lunch and to dinner, having people over, heading on the train to New York once a week, going on long walks, analyzing every little thing that any of my friends want to talk about. And then…suddenly…boom! Lockdown happened. Couldn’t see anybody except on a screen. But I also was on deadline for my book right then, so at first it seemed like it might be a good thing. I’d take the month of lockdown and write my book. I invested in some leisurewear, bought a lap desk, and situated myself in bed with plenty of tea…and I did just that: wrote my book. All the time. Lockdown stretched from one month to twelve. The amazing thing was: the book got done much faster than when I was out NOT writing it. (Who knew?) So I’m hoping that now that the pandemic is letting up that I can still stay in touch with my inner introvert, let her hang out at home more often writing and thinking.
Tell us about the last object that you found.
I find hearts everywhere I go. If I’m in the woods, the leaves that show up underfoot are heart-shaped. Pieces of bark: hearts. Gum on the sidewalk: a heart. Mud puddles. Shells and rocks. I think they show up to remind me to be kind, to love what is, and to shower people around me with love and kindness. Here’s a heart I found yesterday on my street:
Thanks to Maddie for chatting with us and to Amazon for sharing her book with our readers.
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The last object I found was a piece of jewelry that previously went missing! It was definitely both a joy and surprise to finally find it!
ReplyDeleteThe last object I found was an old Beanie Baby that I used to collect as a kid!
ReplyDeleteThe last object that I found was a pin cushion which is very special and a real treasure. Deep in a sewing box and so missed and loved.
ReplyDeleteSeashells on the beach.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing I found was a book I had misplaced.
ReplyDeleteSea glass while taking a walk on the beach with my nieces.
ReplyDeleteA few days ago I found some coins in our clothes dryer at home.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
The last thing I found was the key fob for my new car. I lost it right after I got my car and I found it in my laundry room near the dryer. I have no how idea it got there and I had already replaced it.
ReplyDeleteThe last object I found was my own keychain in my parking lot, that I didn't even know that I had lost! Lol!
ReplyDeletekeys
ReplyDeleteI found some change in the bottom of my handbag.
ReplyDeleteI found my father's keys.
ReplyDeleteThe last object I found was an earring I thought I had lost on an airplane. I found it a couple years later tangled in the loose weave of a sweater I had been wearing on the flight. Unfortunately, I had given up hope of ever seeing it again and had thrown the matching earring away.
ReplyDeleteThe last object I found was my husband's glasses, he is always losing them.
ReplyDeleteI found my ring that had been lost for a month.
ReplyDeleteRecently while we were unpacking moving boxes, I found my old college mug- given to all freshmen as we entered that first year back in the mid-1980s. Each mug had our name written in red nail polish! I hadn't seen it for many years (as that particular moving box had moved unpacked many times over now). It really made me smile to see that mug again!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not... our passports. I have a little carry-on tote I use that my daughter made for me along with a little pencil case which I found perfect to keep the travel documents in when travelling. We need a pass to travel to another province and my daughter needed our passports. They weren't in the safe. They weren't on my dresser. Nor were they in that little bag. Well, the tote had gotten dumped on throughout the year of no travel and the passports had fallen out onto the floor under the little bench the bag was on.
ReplyDelete