Last week, I took the two-hour drive to Fenwick Island to meet with a book club who had read The Letters in the Books. My motto is: Have Books, Will Travel. I love getting out there and attending book clubs. It’s so gratifying. The women were so welcoming, asked great questions, and discussed the book. They also wanted to know what it’s like to write, market, and publish books. Afterwards, we ate dinner at the restaurant in Bayside. I enjoyed every second of it.
While I was there, they asked me what I am writing now and if I have a new book coming out soon.
I do. It’s coming this summer, I told them. So I shared what the novel is about, and they asked me to read a bit of it. I selected a scene with Rosa in it, and proceeded to read with a New York accent. I tried. As for the story, I desperately need to get my 30-second pitch for this book together, because it has a few storylines, making it a challenge to relay the plot in 30 seconds. Nonetheless, I can tell you that I’ve had a lot of fun writing this book set in the 1950s about toxic relationships and kept family secrets. There’s a love story embedded in it as well, but ultimately it’s about the women in our lives who lift us up or tear us down. With a spicy mafia woman as a supporting character named Rosa Manetti, I have loved what this story has become. And Rosa has been so much fun to write.
The truth is, it didn’t start out the way it has ended; it has become something different.
Initially, I just meant to write a love story. However, once I introduced Essie as the antagonist (our protagonist Veronica’s sister), I couldn’t fight that the book wanted to go in a different direction. Then, the jailed Rosa Manetti, the subject of Veronica’s feature stories, enters the story, and all hell breaks loose in Veronica’s life.
This is what happens when you write a novel, especially when you write without an outline.
As with all of the books I have written thus far, I have never written with an outline.
Typically, I know the beginning of the book and how it will end. The rest fills in as I write and craft and rewrite. I like the fluid and organic way of storytelling. As it is in life, sometimes we don’t know where the path will take us. That’s me with novel writing.
I like to think I’m flexible like that.
Anyway, The Ones Closest to You is coming this summer. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
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About the author:
STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, and have two children. On the side, she enjoys writing travel articles for marylandroadtrips.com.
Connect with Stephanie on Instagram at stephanieverniwrites.
Check out Stephanie’s books on Amazon here.
