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| Credit: Kaylynn Krieg |
Sarah Damoff lives in Texas with her husband and children, where she is a social worker. Her work has appeared in Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. The Bright Years is her debut novel. Visit Sarah at her website and on Instagram.
Synopsis:
Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.
Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.
When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.
Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
“This novel sparkles in its sentences, its texture, its big heart—THE BRIGHT YEARS is a vivid, forthright, and gorgeously written story of love in its many iterations.”
—Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of Same as it Ever Was
"THE BRIGHT YEARS is a moving portrait of inheritance and loss. A heart-breaker and heart-mender at once, this is a story that forces us to confront our vulnerabilities and secrets in order to find our strength and truth. A stunning debut!"
—Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing The Bright Years?
One reward was simply the thrill of discovering the story as I drafted it. The experience was like reading, but better. Every evening I would sit down at the computer not knowing what would happen next, and the process of uncovering the story felt magical. Another reward is when readers share their own stories as they relate to these characters, or tell me that the book helped or comforted them in some way.
One reward was simply the thrill of discovering the story as I drafted it. The experience was like reading, but better. Every evening I would sit down at the computer not knowing what would happen next, and the process of uncovering the story felt magical. Another reward is when readers share their own stories as they relate to these characters, or tell me that the book helped or comforted them in some way.
The structure of the story was a challenge. It was originally a novel in letters, and it took several revisions to get to its final format. Another challenge was in handling heavier topics. I interviewed people who had personal experiences with alcoholism, and I felt the weight of their trust as I attempted to write in a way that would honestly yet delicately portray the human experience of this particular (but very common) struggle.
Which of your main characters do you identify with the most?
Georgette, though there are parts of me in all three of the main characters.
If The Bright Years was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
The ages might be tricky, but I can see a young Mae Whitman as Georgette. Adam Driver as Ryan. And maybe Rachel McAdams as Lillian.
What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy - On the surface, it’s about a woman befriending a mouse. Beneath the surface, it’s about found family and the experience of aging. A very tender and insightful book.
If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Kate Winslet
If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I would take you to the Arts District, and then I’d take you an hour down the road to Fort Worth, where we would visit some of the places mentioned in The Bright Years. We would see a musical at Bass Hall, go square dancing at Billy Bob’s, and eat enchiladas at Joe T. Garcia’s.
Thanks to Sarah for chatting with us and to Simon & Schuster for sharing her book with our readers.
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