A must-read for those who love psychological thrillers with layered female relationships and shocking twists!
Valerie Yarnell is a hardworking single mother who’d do anything for her daughter, Kate. Kate is a dancer with dreams of stardom, just like her talented best friend, Colette. Despite Valerie’s sacrifices, it’s Colette’s mother, former prima ballerina Elise, whom Kate adores. And Colette has become like the practically perfect sister Kate never had. How can Valerie not feel frustrated, ineffectual, and a little jealous of the queen bee of dance moms? Not only has she hijacked her daughter, but Elise is married to the man Valerie pines for.
Rivalries are forming. Tension is mounting. In preparation for an elite dance competition, Kate outshines the more promising Colette onstage, and the pressure is on for Colette to keep her position in the spotlight―and especially to keep her demanding mother happy. Who could have foreseen the violent attack that sabotages everything? Anyone who’s been watching closely.
As ruthless and sinister ambitions are exposed, a media firestorm and an explosive town scandal erupt. Before it’s over, two mothers and two daughters will learn just how fierce and dangerous a rivalry can still get.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and the author for this early reviewer giveaway copy! If you didn’t win, come back here to get your copy.
Giveaway link is posted following the Q&A with Jennifer Jabaley.
- What is the most unusual place where you’ve found inspiration for your writing?
Most authors have dazzling origin stories for their books – tales of inspiration sparked by an eerie dream, a peculiar stranger, an evocative discovery buried in a box in the back of a closet. My first venture into suspense writing launched a bit differently. The idea for my book didn’t strike during a stormy night or a brush with danger. Rather, an idea formed while I was sitting in the cramped cold bleachers at one of my kid’s sporting events. Because nothing stirs up raw, unfiltered emotions quite like youth sports.
- Who was your hardest character to write?
The hardest character to write was easily Chad, Kate’s father. I wanted Valerie to be a single mother, but I also wanted her ex to be a factor in the story. Initially I had written him as a good guy driving a conflict where Valerie was the pragmatic parent and Chad was the easy-going, give in to anything counterpoint. My agent felt he didn’t really bring anything to the story and suggested either I eliminate him, or create more suspense with him. I chose the latter. But it was not an easy rewrite.
- Do you keep your rejection letters?
Heck, no! I definitely don’t want to keep negativity in my space. I did read them all, though, and tried to learn from each one.
- If you were to host a dinner party with three authors, who would you invite?
Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth are my two of favorite authors in the genre I write. I have tons of auto-buy authors but I feel like I’d get along with these two women because their style of writing is somewhat similar to mine (well, I aim very much to be as incredible as they are). Plus, they both are Australian and hilarious. It would be so fun. My third guest would be Reese Witherspoon because I adore her. She’s made reading on trend and she is so generous with her promotion of authors. And, she has co-written a book with Harlan Coben so now she is a full-fledged author as well. (If I could piggy-back and have Harlan come as well, that’d be awesome because I love him, too.)
- What’s the strangest or most unexpected feedback you’ve received about your writing?
Many years ago, when I first started writing, I had an editor critique at a conference for an adult manuscript. She told me my natural voice was very teen-like and I should switch the book to young adult. I flipped the pov from the aunt to the niece and my first young adult novel, Lipstick Apology was born. After writing a second young adult novel, I really felt pulled to go back to the adult space – that was what I read, that was where all my ideas generated. I didn’t want to try and force myself into the young adult world anymore. Interestingly, What’s Yours is Mine does have a teen pov in addition to the two mothers, so I guess there is a place inside of me that is eternally a teenager.
- How does your thought process differ when writing young adult versus adult books?
While I still very much enjoy exploring the ideas of young adult novels – coming of age, self-discovery, first love – the older I get (sigh) the harder it becomes to tap into the current real life experience of teenagers. I didn’t have a phone when I was in high school. My parents didn’t track my location on GPS. There wasn’t helicopter parenting and huge pressure with sports that current kids endure. I was of the free-range generation! Writing Colette’s pov in What’s Yours is Mine required a lot of research and running things by my daughter to see if they were authentic. Writing in the adult space, now, comes a lot more naturally.
- A piece of advice you give to aspiring authors is to “read widely”. What are your favorite genres, when do you have time to read?
Yes, I think reading is the best prep work for writing. I do read wide across all genres with the exception of sci-fy and fantasy. My favorite genres are book club fiction and domestic suspense. At all times I have a physical book that I read at night before bed and sometimes on lunch if I have the time. I also, at all times, have an audiobook that I listen to while I walk the dogs, drive, and do housework.
- Are you working on your next book yet? Any hints you’d like to drop?
Yes. In fact, I just finished a draft. I’m revising and then hopefully will be sending it to my agent shortly. It’s another domestic suspense about kindergarten mothers and their secrets set in an exclusive private school in Atlanta. It has one of my favorite characters of all time that I’ve written. She’s hysterical, or at least I think she is.
- What’s something you believed about writing at the start of your career that you no longer believe?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is there is no quantifiable measure of success. Typically, when someone begins writing, it is with the goal to be published. The first step is to finish the draft. Then find an agent. Then get a publishing contract. Then have good sales and reviews. Then get another book deal. On and on, the goal posts keep moving. It’s taken me a while to realize I can’t measure my writing success by these outside markers because all of them are outside my control. The only thing I can do is write the best book I am capable of writing. If I do that, and I enjoy the process, that is success.
- What is your go-to writing snack?
In the mornings, it’s constant coffee. In the afternoons, it’s gobstoppers. I know, so bad for teeth! I use to suck on fireballs but I had so many I burned the inside of my mouth. So I went to gobstoppers. I ordered a huge box from a movie theater distributor. It’s really a problem.
- What’s one thing you’re excited about right now – book related or totally random?
My daughter’s basketball team just won the State Championship. She’s the point guard and played the entire game as a sophomore. It was a huge accomplishment and our little small town literally exploded in celebration. Our high school hasn’t won a championship in twenty-six years. As incredible as it is to see my own dreams come to fruition with the publication of What’s Yours is Mine, absolutely nothing beats witnessing your child fulfill their ambitions.
Are you excited to enter the giveaway? Hope you enjoyed the Q&A with Jennifer Jabaley, and may the odds be ever in your favor 🙂
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