Q&A with Corinne Demas

 

 

 

 

Corinne Demas is the author of the new novel Daughters. Her many other books include the novel The Road Towards Home. She is a professor emerita at Mount Holyoke College, and she lives in Massachusetts. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Daughters, and how did you create your characters Delia and Meredith and their family?

 

A: When I thought about the post-novel future of the two central characters, Cassandra and Noah, in my previous novel, The Road Towards Home, I pictured them buying an old farm after they were married. An imagined homestead took shape in my mind, inspired by real places I’d seen.

 

What I discovered, though, was instead of Noah and Cassandra belonging there, a whole new cast of characters began to take residence, and a new story developed from them: Delia, a Suzuki violin teacher on the cusp of retirement; her husband Bob, a retired radiologist; and Delia’s daughter Meredith, who returns back home with her 7-year-old daughter, Eloise, in tow. 

 

Q: The novel is set at a farm in New England--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: The setting of Daughters, with a 200-year-old house and barn, is a character itself in the story and provides a bond between my main characters, Delia and Meredith.

 

“Both house and barn were too old, too big, too run down, and there were too many acres to keep track of,” but even so, Delia “surrendered to its charms” and is determined not to abandon it for something “more age-appropriate.” 

 

Meredith, who was a teenager when her mother and stepfather bought the property, “hadn’t expected to fall in love with the farm, but she had.”  She realizes that “Places can save people. As well as people can. The farm had saved her as a teenager. It could save her now.”

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Delia and Meredith?

 

A: Delia and Meredith clearly love--and need! -- each other, but their relationship is fraught.

 

When Meredith moves back home, old misunderstandings surface, and old patterns from the past reassert themselves, even though Meredith is an adult now. Both of them struggle to figure out their shifting roles of mother and child and how to communicate with each other. 

 

The friction between them is particularly intense because Meredith is trying to parent her own daughter, Eloise, under her mother’s roof. 

 

Although Delia remembers her conflicts with her own mother, she desperately wants to help Meredith and can’t stop herself from interfering.  She realizes that “She’d always felt she knew what was best for her children. She’d confused that with loving them.”  

 

The question now is how can Delia and Meredith manage to live in the same house?

 

Q: What about the dynamic between Eloise and her mother and grandmother?

 

A: Eloise is probably my favorite character in Daughters. As I worked on this novel I found it was tremendously useful to harness her perspective to illuminate the actions of all the other characters.

 

Eloise is the crucial catalyst in the story, and she also provides some humor. She is refreshingly honest and candid, in the way that only children are. She is acutely sensitive to the adults around her and picks up their cues. She knows when “her mother was crying but saying she wasn’t,” and she witnesses the tension between her mother and her grandmother.

 

Her goal is to create a loving, functioning family for herself, and she even takes on the challenge of winning the affection of Bob, Delia’s husband and Meredith’s stepfather.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m still so emotionally involved with the characters in Daughters and would love to write more about their lives. I want to watch Eloise get older, and I want witness Meredith’s relationship with Wylie mature.

 

But I’ve also begun to work on a novel about a different family: four children who are pulled apart as adults when their eccentric mother dies and they jointly inherit the family’s old summer house.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Thank you so much, Deborah, for interviewing me once again!   

 

I love talking with readers and had great fun being a guest author for book groups that were discussing The Road Towards Home. I’m looking forward to connecting with book groups that read Daughters, either through Zoom meetings or email Q&A’s. (Contact me through my website: www.CorinneDemas.com.)  

 

A discussion guide is available on the Daughters website page, and I’m hoping readers will send me suggestions for lively discussion questions to add.

 

Music plays an important role in Daughters. There’s a link on my website with a playlist, so readers can listen to all the music mentioned, including the Bach sonata that Delia found solace in when her marriage was foundering, the Suzuki music that her students play at their end-of-the-year recital, the gavotte that Meredith played when she was young, the waltz the piano tuner plays, and the violin concerto at the close of the novel.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Corinne Demas. 

Q&A with Robyn Green

 

Photo by Gavin Green

 

 

Robyn Green is the author of the new novel The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose. She works in the theater world, in costume design and curation. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose, and how did you create your character Jonah?

 

A: I remember having a conversation with my agent about what kind of thing I wanted to write and she actually inspired me by simply saying why not write about what you love?

 

Once that seed had been planted the world of Jonah came together almost overnight; I knew I wanted it set in London in the heart of the West End, and by just having that setting in my mind the rest came together.

 

When it came to Jonah specifically I actually found I was writing a lot of myself into his character. Some of his experiences come from my personal life, especially the parts with him navigating life with a family member who has Alzheimer's.

 

His background of growing up by the sea also came from my own life, I spent my summers by the sea with my grandparents, so it felt natural to weave those experiences into his character.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Jonah and Dexter?

 

A: I think Jonah and Dexter have a very “push and pull” relationship, especially to begin with. They are constantly testing each other’s boundaries when it comes to work. The ironic thing is they both want the show they are in to succeed; they love being on the stage but both fear the unknown and failure.

 

I really wanted there to be tension between them from the get go, so having Jonah have his own hang-ups regarding Dexter before he'd even met him seemed like the natural course to take.

 

It was really fun writing their relationship; their problems could have easily been solved if they talked to each other, but of course that would be far too easy! The key to their dynamic though, I think, is they are actually really good for each other, it just takes them a while to see it.

 

Q: How did your own background in the theater inform the writing of the novel?

 

A: My first West End show was Les Mis, and I remember being struck at how incredible this story was being shown through song on stage (I was quite young and didn't have a clue what was happening back then but it's when I caught the theatre bug).

 

I then had this dream of being on the stage, and I peaked in high school when I was in a production of Evita at a local theatre. I adored the experience but I found my interests shifted to the magic that happens behind the curtains.

 

After university I took a hair styling course and started working on photo and video shoots before moving into costume design and curation, which is what I still do now.

 

Being behind the scenes has given me an insight into the theatre world not many people get to see and I wanted to shine a light not only on those who light up the stage but those who work tirelessly to make those shows happen.

 

I'm really lucky in that I work with a bunch of incredibly talented people, and anything I wanted to touch on in the novel that I didn't know the ins and outs of I was able to ask them; I really wanted the setting of The Persephone Theatre to be as real as possible, and I hope that readers can immerse themselves in that world. 

 

Q: The author Venessa Vida Kelley said of the book, “Robyn Green delivers a sassy romcom for every theater kid who ever dreamed of headlining an epic West End romance, capturing all the magic and mayhem of a love that goes delightfully off-script.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Venessa is such a wonderful person and an insanely talented author and illustrator, so for Venessa to say those things about Jonah was honestly a dream come true.

 

It's strange as I never actually set out to write a romcom; I was focusing on romance, but when people started to read they told me they found it funny, which was honestly a very lovely surprise! And “sassy” describes Jonah and his friends perfectly (especially Omari who I had so much fun writing!)

 

I really do hope that theatre lovers find this book; there are a lot of theatre “easter eggs” to be found, and so far I don't think they've all been spotted! 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am a writer who has a notebook full of ideas, and my poor agent has to hear about all of them. We have a lot of conversations where I start with "Okay, so hear me out..." and thank goodness she's amazing and always helps me bounce ideas around until I find the one that really lights a spark and I'm ready to go.

 

Once I settle on an idea I then fill notebooks with character backgrounds, settings, research, and everything else in between. I love the process of coming up with new characters and their environments and then letting them flourish on the page.

 

I've recently just finished a project and I've started work on another, but for now I'm going to have to keep them shrouded in mystery!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Paula Brackston

 

 

Paula Brackston is the author of the new novel The Cathedral of Lost Souls, a sequel to her novel The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. She lives in Hereford, UK. 

 

Q: The Cathedral of Lost Souls is the second in your series featuring Hecate Cavendish--do you think she's changed from one book to the next?

 

A: Book one in the series - The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish - saw momentous events in our young heroine’s life. She started her job as assistant librarian at the cathedral, learned that she could see and communicate with ghosts, discovered her connection to the goddess Hekate, and began to develop her skills and powers as one of her followers.

 

Naturally, by the time we get to book two these experiences and revelations have changed her in all sorts of ways. She has grown in confidence and ability, learned to navigate the world outside her own home, become part of the community of the cathedral and come to care deeply about her family of ghosts there.

 

While she has gained a great deal, she has suffered loss too, and now has more to lose. She has found a strength she did not know she possessed which she will use to protect those she loves and defend the map and the library.

 

Q: What inspired the plot of The Cathedral of Lost Souls? The novel is set in Hereford--how important is setting for you in your writing?

 

A: This book very much picks up where book one left off. The series as a whole was inspired by the setting of Hereford Cathedral, its real chained library and medieval world map.

 

As I now live in this marvellous city, I often visit the cathedral. It is so atmospheric and ancient - it lends itself beautifully to the main setting for my books. And the mappa mundi is brimming with fascinating detail and obscure creatures and peoples - it would be impossible not to be inspired by it!

 

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

 

A: I hope that readers will enjoy being transported to a time and place away from their own lives and the challenges of the modern world. I would love to inspire them to learn more about the places and ancient artefacts in the story.

 

I also hope they will come to love Hecate and root for this feisty young woman who is ahead of her time, independent, brave, and just a little bit unusual!

 

Perhaps a book so firmly based on real places and things (despite being fantasy!) could also tempt new writers to use inspirational settings and ancient treasures to fuel their imaginations.

 

Q: What are you working on now? Will there be more books about Hecate?

 

A: I am currently deep into the first draft of book three in the series, so yes, more Hecate on its way! The story of the Essedenes wraps up in book two, so Hecate faces new challenges in the third book. Of course she is still at the chained library, with her family of phantoms, but is growing into her role as a fearless Victorian ghostbuster!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: If you are ever in the area, I thoroughly recommend a visit to Hereford Cathedral. They have an exhibition where you can see the original mappa mundi and the chained library.

 

Of course you will also be able to see all the parts of the cathedral mentioned in the Hecate books!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Paula Brackston. 

Q&A with Sophie Lucido Johnson

 

 

Sophie Lucido Johnson is the author of the new book Kin: The Future of Family. Her other books include Many Love, and she is a cartoonist for The New Yorker. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Kin?

 

A: I kept hearing how everyone around me felt spread too thin in all aspects of their lives, and it really didn't feel like it needed to be quite so hard all the damn time.

 

We want to help each other. We want to belong to each other. But we haven't learned how to take care of ourselves and each other, and so we keep trying to emulate what our parents taught us: that the nuclear family could save us.

 

As we face greater social, economic, and environmental challenges, it's clear that that was a broken promise. I wanted to make a guide for building chosen families that could sustain themselves and help us sustain ourselves. 

 

Q: The author Laura Danger said of the book, “In Kin, Sophie Lucido Johnson weaves a tapestry of storytelling that feels both intimate and expansive, guiding us through the ways we’ve become isolated and how we can respond to our profound yearning for connection.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Thanks for bringing that up! I feel grateful and like this was such a generous thing for Laura to say. It's definitely what I was hoping to bring to the book. After Laura read this book, we actually became close friends. It ended up doing the meta-work of connecting us, literally.

 

Q: In the book’s introduction, you focus on Thoreau and Walden Pond. Why did you decide to start there?

 

A: I was among the many, many teenagers who thought longingly about going out into the woods and living in solitude. But even then, it struck me as unrealistic: we aren't solitary animals! This book is the antidote to the impossible idea that we can get all our needs met with solitude. 

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: The most impactful thing about writing this book came from all the conversations I had with people who were brilliantly re-imagining the family. It inspired me to learn that there are so many folks out there who have decided to build their lives in new ways, bringing more people into the folds of their lives to increase love and support.

 

I cried so much when doing these interviews (Is that unprofessional? Well, then it is!) because it was tremendously moving to hear love and communication in practice. People are changing the way we think about families; it is working. I hope readers feel it too.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: A novel! It's about women in comedy. I'm also a New Yorker cartoonist and do a bunch of cartoons every week, and I spend a lot of time on my newsletter, You Are Doing A Good Enough Job. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I truly believe that loneliness and fear are not inevitable. At the end of the world, we will have each other.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with XiXi Tian

 

 

 

XiXi Tian is the author of the new young adult novel All the Way Around the Sun. She also has written the YA novel This Place Is Still Beautiful. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write All the Way Around the Sun, and how did you create your character Stella?

 

A: I really wanted to write a book about the empty spaces in communication when it comes to grief. Stella evolved as a character from that central idea. I felt that she would be very introspective but feel deeply. She has a rich and lonely inner life and finds it difficult to connect with people.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Stella and Alan?

 

A: There is a very meaningful and sentimental history between the two of them. A lot of baggage. I think they both mean a lot to each other, but they are afraid of how much the other person could hurt them. In navigating that fear, they have inadvertently managed to damage each other, but only in the way the most important people in your lives can do.

 

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

 

A: I came up with it while getting a root canal (haha). I wanted to come up with a title that had reference to the length of time associated with the grieving process and also have a tie-in with the concept of Alan and Stella being “satellite babies.” So the space theme is a bit deliberate.

 

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

 

A: I hope that readers take away that whatever they are going through, they are not alone! Stella often feels quite lonely throughout the book and it is only by allowing herself to connect with others that she can begin to work through some of her grief.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on an adult book! But it is still about complicated family dynamics and in particular, those between mothers and daughters. It’s got a bit of a horror element, and I’m excited about that. Fingers crossed that I will have more to share about it soon.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: You can keep up with my writing adventures at @xixiwrites on Instagram!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Bobby Hoffman

 

 

 

Bobby Hoffman is the author of the new book The Paradox of Passion: How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation. His other books include Hack Your Motivation. He is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Paradox of Passion? 

 

A: Writing The Paradox of Passion (POP) was motivated by three desires.

 

First, I wanted to provide people with evidence-based information about motivation as opposed to conventional wisdom. In the information overloaded world in which we live today, we are bombarded with advice that often originates from personal experience and is based on opinion and hearsay. The narrative goes like this, “it works for me, so it will work for you!”

 

Unfortunately, based on differences in culture, upbringing, and genetic expression, no two individuals are alike and thus any motivation advice or strategies that work for one person may not work for another. This paradigm perpetuates the amplification of bad advice about motivation, and I wanted to do something about that.

 

Second, my personal history working in both academia and business has been focused on helping others succeed. I have worked in over 50 companies and have reached the top echelon of academia based on my research and writings on motivation. I wanted to share this knowledge and experience to help others.

 

POP provides individuals with the strategies they need to be successful, productive, and most importantly to understand how their mind works based on motivation science, not pop psychology.

 

Third, I have taught motivation courses at the university level for over 20 years. I have plenty of experience (and data) working with students.  This data reveals that most students who lack knowledge of motivation science think they are motivated by intrinsic reasons (doing things for pleasure out of passion, liking, or sheer desire). 

 

After they take my motivation course they realize and report they are mostly motivated by things other than passion such as respect, recognition, influence, money, and reputation. Add in the desire to please others. They also feel stigmatized for wanting materialistic things.

 

During the course they experience a catharsis and through self-awareness begin to understand that extrinsic desires satisfy important psychological needs and that passion is just another form of reward from a neurological perspective. 

 

When people fail to follow popular narratives they often think something is wrong with them and start to feel guilty, have self-doubt, and can even be depressed. POP dispels the myth that passion is the gold standard of motivation and legitimizes the diversity of motivation.   

 

Q: What do you think are some of the most common perceptions and misconceptions about human motivation?

 

A: There are tons of motivation misconceptions. To name a few, there is no such thing as being unmotivated, we are often the worst judges of our own motives, and we cannot motivate anyone besides ourselves (and that’s pretty tough too). 

 

However, the most sensationalized myth is the glorification of passion as essential for strong drive, satisfaction, well-being, and accomplishment. Popular press narratives and even those from some highly respected scholars place heavy career and academic emphasis on finding something that gets you out of bed in the morning and that you will pursue for no other reason than sheer pleasure or interest. 

 

However, there are flaws to this overemphasis and data refutes the idea that passion alone is the driver of motivation or even necessary for accomplishment. 

 

Social media amplifies many unsupported views of motivation (and learning and performance) that are NOT based on evidence. See this article for some of the particulars. In addition, it's important to recognize that most motivation research and the advice that follows often overlooks neuroscience.

 

But when we face the natural highs and lows of motivation without understanding how the brain works, we risk using the wrong strategies to push forward. During a motivational crash, we can feel especially vulnerable, leading to frustration, self-doubt, anxiety, and even depression as described above.

 

By explaining the neuroscience of motivation in simple, accessible terms, people can cope better and respond wisely and rise above the misconceptions with knowledge based on science, not wishful thinking.  

 

Talking about motivation without considering how the brain works perpetuates an incomplete view of motivation. Thus, I show why the number-one misconception is thinking you can effectively motivate the self and others without understanding how the brain works.

 

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

 

A: The title signifies that passion is good, but unsustainable over the long-term. The title suggests that what truly motivates individuals may not be in their direct awareness. What constitutes reward is misunderstood by the general public but also by researchers. 

 

In the book I analyze the top 50 most cited studies related to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and reward. The analysis reveals a host of issues that show that existing research is extremely flawed. Despite this reality, the number of research citations based on flawed reward research has increased by 44 percent over the last five years compared to before 2020. 

 

This reality suggests that we need to reconsider the demonization of rewards and stop generalizing ancient reward research based on a long history of misinterpretation. You might want to listen to this podcast that explains why reward is misinterpreted even by some very influential people. This article is a shorter version of the same topic.

 

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

 

A: There are two main takeaways. 

 

First, after reading the book people will realize that popular, amplified narratives about motivation are incomplete and overgeneralized. They will learn that striving toward goals such as having more influence, power, recognition, money, or looking good in the eyes of others is not bad and a natural part of human physiology. They will learn that the demonization of rewards is unjustified despite popular narratives.

 

The findings are powerful because many people feel lost when their passion disappears, which is a natural occurrence in the ebb and flow of motivation. Think about dead-end, boring jobs, unsatisfying relationships, and the immense self-doubt that accompanies not knowing what to do next in life. 

 

POP explains the neuroscience behind these situations but goes far beyond discussing the problem by revealing solutions.

 

Second, the book has a highly practical application that explains complex brain science in simple, accessible terms. In other words, the book deconstructs the research and transforms the science into usable strategies. 

 

The main takeaway is about 100 pages worth of solutions to address motivational challenges. POP reveals the science of sustainable motivation and shows individuals how to leverage the brain's natural reward systems to fuel peak performance.

 

Readers will discover neurologically consistent, brain-aligned strategies that boost learning, drive productivity, enhance persuasion, that will help them achieve more with less effort.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am working on being a better father and grandude! However, that’s a lifetime project. 

 

Other than that, my next book, which will likely be titled After the Paradox of Passion, will emphasize the strategy solutions even more. It will include many new suggestions but also describe the situations where the strategies can be used with tons of practical examples, with a stronger dose of humor and satire about the science of motivation.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Always evaluate your own behavior from many perspectives. Do not rely on the internet for information. Critical evaluation of evidence is essential, and the bias of human thinking is very hard to overcome. 

 

Personal awareness and the willingness to change is more important than just about anything else if you want success. Remember, strength does not come from achievement, it comes from making mistakes and realizing we can always do better. Create your own reality!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Terri Lilga

 

Terri Lilga is the author of the new children's picture book There's a Hubbard in My Cupboard. She also has written the book Santa's Simon. A longtime educator, she lives in Hamburg, New York. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write There’s a Hubbard in My Cupboard?

 

A: I am continually inspired by “everyday/ordinary” things. I can spontaneously “see” a children’s book everywhere. I maintain a notebook of new ideas as I get them.

 

Specifically, I was inspired to write There’s A Hubbard in My Cupboard during a Lilga family gathering when my husband’s cousin shared that her mother’s maiden name was “Hubbard” as we were talking about their family tree.

 

I typically write my children’s books in rhyme - so as soon as I heard the name - I thought “There’s a Hubbard in My Cupboard!” could be a cute children’s book! So I immediately jotted the idea down and here we are!

 

Q: What do you think Chau Pham’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Chau is an incredibly talented illustrator! (She also illustrated my first children’s book, Santa’s Simon.) I find her attention to detail and use of colors amazing. Chau also brought her own perception and vision to the illustrations while bringing my story to life. I’m very fortunate how she just “gets me” and the synergy we have working together.

 

Q: How did your experience as an educator affect the writing of the book?

 

A: As an elementary school educator who taught the reading and writing processes, I was immersed in children’s literature - including becoming familiar with an extensive variety of genres, authors, characters, settings, problems/resolutions, etc. I knew when I retired, I wanted to pursue taking a turn at writing children’s books professionally.

 

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

 

A: First and foremost, I hope kids enjoy and have fun with the story and the playful nature of my rhyme!

 

I’d also like kids to have opportunities to go “beyond the book” via discussions/activities that focus on the creative and critical thinking the boy and his dog use to try to solve the problem of the Hubbard - and how both creative and critical thinking might be applied to solving their own challenges.

 

I also hope my books inspire kids to want to write their own stories.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Next up I plan to collaborate with my husband on a book featuring our 4-year-old sweet, sassy, and smart mini-golden doodle, Sushi! She’s adorable and very entertaining!

 

I’d also like to wrap up a third book that’s written but needs some editing input. 

 

And there’s always my ongoing list of “on the spot” ideas for future children’s books vying for my attention…

        

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I’m so grateful for my very rewarding 30-year career as an elementary educator - and that I acknowledged the inspiration and took the leap to pursue professional writing when I retired. 

 

I have met and continue to meet some incredible people and am enjoying each of the new and fun experiences that have become mine via my books.

 

Thank you, Deborah, for this opportunity to share my thoughts about There’s A Hubbard in My Cupboard!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Nov. 10

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Nov. 10, 1893: John P. Marquand born.

Q&A with Brisa Carleton

 

 

 

Brisa Carleton is the author of the new novel Last Call at the Savoy. She is also a Broadway producer. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Last Call at the Savoy, and how did you first learn about bartender Ada Coleman (1875-1966)?

 

A: The idea struck during a solo work trip to London. Much like Cinnamon, I was at the American Bar at The Savoy, martini in hand, naturally, and noticed a small footnote on the menu mentioning Ada Coleman, the hotel’s first female head bartender.

 

She’d once been world-famous, but when I looked her up, there was almost nothing. Even The Savoy Cocktail Book, which featured her recipes, had erased her name entirely. That felt like a mystery begging to be solved and a metaphor for how easily women’s accomplishments vanish from history.

 

As someone who’s spent years working in male-dominated industries, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I knew I couldn’t write Ada’s biography, but I could give her story new life through fiction, connecting her to a modern woman also trying to be seen.

 

Q: How did you create your character Cinnamon, and how would you describe the dynamic between her and her sister, Rosie?

 

A: Cinnamon appeared to me first: bold, messy, a little too quick with a joke, hiding her grief behind parties and cocktails. Rosie, her older sister, is grounded and dependable, the one who’s always held the family together.

 

When the book begins, their roles are firmly set: Rosie as caretaker, Cinnamon as chaos. But as the story unfolds, that dynamic starts to flip. Rosie’s world unravels, forcing Cinnamon to finally grow up, show up, and be there for her older sister.

 

Q: How did you research the novel, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

A: I did what Cinnamon does: I went back to The Savoy. I read what little there is on Ada, I dug into the hotel’s history, and I talked to people who know the lore of the American Bar.

 

Because there isn’t a long paper trail on Ada, I leaned on historical texture like old menus, bar stories, the cocktail book, and what was happening at the hotel during her tenure. From there, I filled in the Ada-shaped hole with fiction.

 

The thing that delighted me most was discovering that the whole Savoy empire was basically underwritten by theater. Gilbert & Sullivan were so successful at the Savoy Theatre that they needed somewhere for people to dine and stay, which led to the hotel. As a Broadway producer, I loved that detail.

 

Q: What did you see as the right balance between fiction and history as you wrote the book?

 

A: From the start I knew I wasn’t writing straight history (I’m not a historian) so I used the approach I admire in great historical fiction: honor the facts we have and then tell the emotional truth in the spaces between them.

 

In the book, Kit is the facts-and-footnotes person, and Cinnamon is the “sometimes the story lives between the lines” person. That tension let me show what happens to women’s stories when no one writes them down.

 

So the balance was: keep the Savoy, Ada, and the period details recognizable, but don’t be afraid to imagine her inner life, her relationships, and how her legend could’ve been passed down as barroom lore.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m still very much in the books-and-cocktails lane. I’m working on several new manuscripts (one of them set between New York and a sparkling setting in France), and I’m also busy in real life doing what the book celebrates: collecting stories, raising a glass with friends, and traveling the world with my husband and long-haired chihuahua.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Yes: I love hearing from readers. If your book club reads Last Call at the Savoy, let me know. I will happily pop in on Zoom and raise a glass with you. This book is meant to be read with a beverage and a group of friends who love a good story. Cheers.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb