Q&A with Patricia Leavy

 

 

 

Patricia Leavy is the author of the new novel Cinematic Destinies, the third in her Red Carpet Romance series. She is also a sociologist.

 

Q: The author Laurel Richardson said of your new book, “Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I absolutely love that description. It perfectly describes what I had aspired to do in this book. I’m truly flattered. 

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: There’s a double meaning to the title, which is revealed in the book, so I don’t want to give too much away. I’ll say this, it’s about love and it’s about art. I knew the title before I even started writing the book. I never considered any alternatives. 

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between your characters Finn and Ella at this point in their lives?

 

A: Ella and Finn have a beautiful relationship. They are truly partners. They’re so close and intimate in every way. It comes through in all the little moments—glances across the table, shared smiles and laughter, touching forehead to forehead. To me, their real and steady love shows how unconditional love can make us more of who we are, not less. 

 

Q: What do you think this novel says about love?

 

A: This book celebrates all different kinds of love—romantic, friendship, familial, love of art, ideas, and our work. Love isn’t something we say or even something we feel. Love is a verb. Love is something we do.

 

It’s about seeing someone for who they really are and honoring what’s important to them. It’s about learning to love with an open heart because it’s always better to love rather than to be loved. When we love, we exist in a constant state of hope.

 

Q: Will you return to these characters at some point?

 

A: I love these characters so much, so while I am tempted, I don’t see writing another novel about them. I’m really proud of this trilogy and I think the story has been fully told.

 

That said, I do have ideas for collections of short stories or novellas about some of the missing scenes from my novels. So, for example, there’s a 25-year gap between the second book in this trilogy, After the Red Carpet, and the final book, Cinematic Destinies. I know things that happen in those missing years so the possibility for a short story or novella very much exists.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: We want to make it easy for readers to catch up on the other Red Carpet Romances, so e-books for The Location Shoot and After the Red Carpet are only 99 cents through the end of October.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Patricia Leavy.