Bio: Nicole Deese's humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include her award-winning Love in Lenox series and her bestselling standalone novels published by Bethany House Publishers. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Inland Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two towering-over-her teen sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
The
acclaimed author of Before I Called You Mine and the Carol Award-winning
All That Really Matters, Nicole Deese has penned numerous contemporary
romances filled with humor and hope that tug on the heartstrings. Kicking off a
string of standalones set in scenic San Francisco with literary themes, Deese delivers
a poignant and intriguing contemporary tale of friendship, forgiveness, and a
love that goes beyond the page in The Words We Lost.
About the story: As
a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid
Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and
dramatic irony—two elements her current life possesses in spades.
In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cece Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she is convinced will come with Cece’s missing final manuscript.
After
an editorial meeting jeopardizes Ingrid’s career, she fears her future will
remain irrevocably broken. But when Joel Campbell—who shattered her belief in
happily-ever-afters—offers her a sealed envelope from Cece, his late cousin,
asking them to put their differences aside and retrieve a package in their
coastal Washington hometown, Ingrid must confront a past riddled with secrets
before she can discover the true healing she’s been searching for.
Welcome
to my blog, Nicole. Can you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, The
Words We Lost?
At
its core, The Words We Lost is an intimate journey which follows
the special bond of three
best
friends and the significant impact their memories play even after their trio is
broken by a
tragic
loss. Through a unique narrative which features a literature-loving
protagonist, the
firstborn
heir to a family legacy, and the surfacing of a mysterious manuscript, the two
friends
who
remain must push past their own raw history in order to honor the last wish of
a friend who
loved
the written word almost as much as she loved them.
The
Words We Lost
is the first novel in a collection of stories which features the publishing
industry
as a connecting series theme. Will you share a bit more about how that theme
ties
the
series together?
Each
book in the Fog Harbor Romance series will features a fictional publishing
house based
out
of San Francisco, California called Fog Harbor Books. Each standalone romance
will
highlight
either an editor, author, or audiobook narrator from Fog Harbor Books and
reference
past
characters who will be reoccurring throughout the series.
Your
protagonist, Ingrid Erikson, has a unique occupation as a senior acquisitions
editor
at
Fog Harbor Books. What inspired you to choose this particular job for her?
Even
before I plotted the details of The Words We Lost, I knew Ingrid
would need a career that
would
place her in close proximity to books. As a child who grew up in hardship,
books were a
welcome
escape to Ingrid, and as she aged, books became the bond she shared with her
two
dearest
friends. It made sense that she would stick close to what she knew and loved
most, and
ultimately,
her career path helped launch her best-friend-turned-famous author, Cecelia
Campbell.
The Words We Lost centers on themes such as friendship and forgiveness, but also deals with the impact grief can have on relationships. Can you tell us a bit more about how those ideas are portrayed in this novel and what led you to choose those topics?
When the premise for this book first came to me, I loved the idea of writing about such close-knit friends, but I also knew the plot would require me to tap into my own personal experience with grief in a raw and honest way. After losing my youngest sister in a car accident when she was only twenty-six, I’ve felt the impact grief can have on a family and close relationships.
Though challenging to write at times, my own journey and reflections about loss and hope played a huge role in the drafting phase of this novel. My goal was to offer an empathetic perspective into the wants, needs, and overall responses of each individual character as they traveled their own road to healing.
What
do your readers have to look forward to in this collection of novels?
In
addition to the behind-the-scenes peek into the publishing industry, I think
readers will be
pleased
with the predominant, page-turning romances inside each story world. There’s a
second-chance
romance with high angst, drama, and chemistry, a forced-proximity romance
with
flirtatious banter and plenty of heart-melting confessions, and a slow-burn,
friends-to-
lovers
romance filled with toe-curling delight and loyal devotion.
Was
there anything that you found particularly interesting about the publishing
industry
in
your research or in your own experience as a published author that you included
in the
book?
I
had a lot of fun inside this story world and made sure to pack Cecelia
Campbell’s narrative full
of
author-y statements and thinking. I chuckled to myself more than once at her dramatic
antics
and
the lengths she’d go for her fictional works. As for Ingrid, there’s a scene
toward the end of
the
book where she’s reflecting on the different aspects of her job and noting
which editorial
tasks
bring her the most joy. I interviewed a handful of editors and was able to
write this scene
with
them in mind. I hope it’s as meaningful to my readers as it was to me—I’m so
incredibly
grateful
for my editors!
What
do you hope readers will take way from this story?
Ultimately,
I hope my readers close this book feeling like no matter how lost, broken,
hurt,
rejected,
or estranged they might feel in their own story, there’s always a next step if
they’re
willing
to take it.
Can
you share what you’re working on next?
I’m
currently working on the second book in the Fog Harbor Romance series and
enjoying the
refreshing,
humorous personalities of my two main characters immensely!
How
can readers connect with you?
I’m
most active on my Instagram: @nicoledeeseauthor. I’d also encourage my readers
to sign-
up
for my occasional newsletter at nicoledeese.com.
Thank
you for sharing this book with us. I love novels about authors.
Readers, here’s a
link to the book.
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12 comments:
The Words We Lost sounds like a must read.
Caryl K in TX
Always a must read are Nicole’s books. On the top of my wish list. Blessings from Lucy in WV.
Can't wait to read this!
Abigail in VA
The Word We Lost sounds memorable and special. Anne in NM.
I've read and enjoyed Nicole's other books.Thanks for sharing.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I’ve never read a Nicole Deese novel that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy! She's not afraid of the gritty stuff in life that is disbursed with humor and friendship. I would really love to read her latest and love the gorgeous rich color of the cover.. I would probably read this one based on the cover alone!
Perrianne Askew in Central Texas
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Brenda from Mississippi. I have been seeing this book on Facebook and I think I would really enjoy.
I am looking forward to reading The Words We Lost. Enjoyed the interview.
Beth from Iowa
I love Nicole's books! She's a fantastic writer. Thanks for the spotlight and chance to win!
Winnie T. from Utah
Sounds like a very emotional story in a good way. Please enter me. Thanks for the chance! Cherie J from Florida.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Nichols SC.
Interested to read this!
-Melissa in TN
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