Suzanne Simonetti is the author of the new novel The Sound of Wings. She lives in Cape May, New Jersey.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for The Sound of Wings, and for your characters Goldie, Jocelyn, and Krystal?
A: The idea came to me when I first moved to Cape May several years ago. I had just completed another manuscript which I was pitching, and I found myself flooded with inspiration from my new surroundings.
As I took my many walks along the shoreline collecting seashells and sea glass, a vision of a character began to take hold. That character was Krystal Axelrod and she was the match who ignited the story.
She is battling demons from the past and ends up meeting new and unexpected friends: Jocelyn Anderson and Goldie Sparrows. All three women meet at various stages in their lives as they face their own struggles, yet they form a bond which lifts them all to higher ground.
Q: The novel is set in Cape May, New Jersey. How important is setting to you in your writing?
A: As I sat in front of the blank page, I had an endless sea of talented townspeople and beautiful sites to pull from once I began crafting the plot and painting the characters.
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in New Jersey where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
In addition to its rich history, tourism is the dominant industry. Cape May's economy runs on shops, restaurants, lodgings, and tourist attractions on Washington Street Mall, along the boardwalk and elsewhere throughout town.
Q: How was the book's title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The working title for this novel was initially The Butterfly Garden. There is already a successful novel on the market with that same title, and my publisher asked me to change it.
I reached out to my good friend and fellow author Patti Davis, who among her many talents happens to be skilled at titling books. Patti had already read my manuscript and really struck a chord with The Sound of Wings.
Monarchs are a key theme in the novel so I appreciate the reference to wings as it pertains to butterflies. Additionally, there is a character who acts as a bit of a silent angel throughout the story, carrying those she wishes to protect on her own set of wings.
Q: Did you know how the book would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I had a general idea of where I was headed and where we would wind up. The details shifted as the story evolved, as more layers to the plot and complexities to the characters were sewn in.
I will add: there were some interesting surprises and twists for me along the way which is always fun for an author.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am working on another novel that is also set in Cape May and takes place 11 years after the ending of The Sound of Wings. Krystal and Jocelyn will make appearances as secondary characters in this new book.
While it is not a sequel, I do believe it will add an extra layer of intrigue and interest for those who have read The Sound of Wings, as we discover where both women are in their lives more than a decade later.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: My virtual book launch will be held at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on May 12, at 5pm ET. Viewers may register for the FREE Zoom call at www.browseaboutbooks.com.
We encourage readers to support this charming location and to please purchase from the Browsebout website to receive an autographed copy of the book.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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