Q&A with Jaclyn Westlake

 

 

Jaclyn Westlake is the author of the new novel Lucky Break. Her other books include the novel Dear Dotty. She lives in California. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Lucky Break, and how did you create your character Eliza?

 

A: The initial spark behind Lucky Break came from an article I wrote for The Muse about relocation incentive programs around the country. I got the chance to interview real people who'd packed up their lives and moved to an entirely new city, which I found absolutely fascinating.

 

That got me thinking: what would motivate me to move to an entirely new town where I didn't know a soul in hopes of a fresh start? In real life, practical reasons like community, cost savings, home ownership, or lifestyle changes drive these decisions.

 

But since I write fiction, I wanted to come up with something more dramatic – and explore what would push someone who would never typically do something so drastic to take the plunge.

 

The first thing I knew about Eliza was that she was going to be a planner. She's a Virgo (if you're into astrology) who almost never steps outside the box and maps out every detail of her life.

 

So when her carefully laid plans for her future completely crumble, she's not just disappointed – she's utterly lost. That's what drives her to apply for a relocation incentive program and move to a little lake town in hopes of rebuilding her life.

 

Of course, starting over in a tight-knit community with its own secrets proves more complicated than even Eliza could have planned for!

 

Q: The Library Journal review of the book calls it a “comforting story of belonging, secrets, change, and growth, laced with mystery and romance.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love this review – it perfectly captures what I was hoping to achieve with Lucky Break. Yes, there's a sweet romantic subplot and yes, there's a fun mystery to unravel, but at its heart, this story is about fresh starts, found family, and self-acceptance.

 

This is one of the many reasons I'm so passionate about writing (and reading!) women's fiction. The genre allows for such expansive character development – I get to explore all the different aspects of a person's life, from love and career to friendship and self-discovery. There's room for romance and mystery and personal growth, all woven together in a way that feels true to how we actually experience life.

 

Q: The novel is set in a Midwestern lake town--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: Setting is incredibly important to me – it's almost like another character in my books.

 

My first book, Dear Dotty, was set in San Francisco, which is my favorite city, and I loved getting to showcase this place that's so near and dear to my heart. Lucky Break partially takes place in San Francisco too (I couldn't resist!), but it also gave me the opportunity to spend time in another one of my favorite settings.

 

I absolutely adore the Midwest. I love the lakes, the fireflies, the people, their accents – all of it. My mom is from Wisconsin and I still have a lot of family there, mostly outside Milwaukee, and I always have the best time when I go back for visits. Some of my favorite memories with my cousins are on a pontoon boat or in a dive bar or on an ATV or at a bonfire in a field.

 

There's something positively magical about a Midwestern summer, and I wanted to capture that feeling on the page – the sense of community, the slower pace, the way time seems to stretch out during those long, warm evenings on a screened back porch (insert wistful sigh).

 

I’m heading back to Wisconsin for a week this summer and I cannot wait!

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?

 

A: That no one is defined by the hand they're dealt. Even though the things that happen to us by chance have a real impact on our lives, people are also so much more than their circumstances.

 

Without spoiling anything, Eliza's journey is really about accepting that sometimes we're just unlucky – that the twists and turns of life are often completely out of our hands. That's the heart of the story.

 

But here's the good news: sometimes we also get really, really lucky too. Life has a way of surprising us, often when we least expect it.

 

I also hope that readers walk away from this book thinking that maybe they should consider adopting a pet in need 😊

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Speaking of settings, my husband and I lived aboard a boat full time for three years, so I've been eager to dive back into that world – literally and figuratively!

 

I'm currently working on a new story about a woman who becomes infamous on a true crime podcast and decides to hide out on her family's boat, only to stumble into a yacht club murder mystery. I’m loving exploring that insular, dramatic world of boat life and yacht clubs, plus I get to draw from all those memories of living on the water. I’m having a lot of fun with it!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Don’t let my adorable book covers fool you – these stories are for all types of readers! I'm really intentional about including a diverse array of characters and experiences in my books, and I hope that comes through in the stories. My goal is for people from all walks of life to pick up my books and see a piece of themselves represented on the pages.

 

But most importantly, I hope anyone who picks up one of my books is entertained! I'm going for fun and heartfelt – with a healthy dose of cute dogs because dogs make everything better.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Jaclyn Westlake.