I’m happy to welcome author and book coach Lisa Fellinger. Today, Lisa shares her creative journey and new release, The Serendipity of Catastrophe.
Here’s Lisa!
What was your inspiration for this book?
The idea for this story was initially sparked by a case study when I was in graduate school for mental health counseling. I don’t recall the exact details of the case we were discussing now, but a “what if” popped into my mind: what if a husband and wife had been planning a big trip for decades only for the husband to die in an accident the night before they were supposed to leave? From there, the idea of having her go instead with her daughter who she is somewhat estranged from took hold, and the characters of Anita and Carrie planted themselves in my brain. The opportunity to explore the mother-daughter dynamic and really dig into exploring what caused these characters to have such a strained relationship despite Anita wanting a daughter so badly and loving Carrie with her whole heart was exciting to me, and with each draft and round of revision, I was able to dig deeper and really tease out who these two people were and what caused them to butt heads and misunderstand one another .
What is the best part of being an author? The worst?
The best part is getting to do exactly what I dreamed of doing since I was a kid—tell stories about people who don’t actually exist. As fiction authors, we seek to tell universal truths through fictional characters and situations, and I love that my job is to find ways to share those truths in ways that resonate with readers. It’s my hope with my books to give my readers the opportunity to see themselves in my characters and/or learn something new from a different point of view.
The worst part of being an author is staring at a blank page. There’s nothing that can motivate me more to clean my bathroom than staring at a blank document. While I know many writers who prefer the drafting phase to revisions, I far prefer revising. Once I’m in revisions, I know the basic components of the story, and now I just need to shape what I’ve written into the story I envisioned. With drafting, each time I sit down at the computer I need to come up with brand new words and that can feel exhausting after a while. So, I tend to rush through my first drafts to just get something down so I can move onto the revisions.
Describe your writing space.
I don’t have one specific place where I write. At home, I have an office with a desk and a couple of bookcases. I love having some of my favorite books around me as I write so that when I get stuck, I can look to them for inspiration. When I’m working at home, I usually have a wax warmer going and I listen to music at a low volume. I need some kind of background noise to work. I sometimes work on the couch if I’m trying to write in the evenings or if it’s a particularly cold morning and the idea of sitting at my desk makes me shiver. And whether I’m at my desk or on the couch, 95% of the time I have a cat on my lap.
When I’m not writing at home, I love writing at Starbucks. The baristas at my local Starbucks know me far too well and have my drink order memorized—a tall salted caramel cream cold foam even in the cold Buffalo winter. I love working in a public space like a coffee shop because there’s a sense of being held accountable. Even if no one else there actually cares or notices what I’m doing, I feel a little more guilty slacking off if others are around and can catch a glimpse of my screen. Also, the fact that I’ve paid to be there encourages me to make the most of my time there. And, as much as I love my cat, it helps that she’s not there to block my keyboard!
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Get out of your own way and write your story. In addition to being an author, I’m also a book coach and developmental editor. As a book coach, I focus on helping writers overcome the mental blocks that stand in their way of writing the book they’ve always dreamed of writing. The first thing I tell my clients is that I can spend all the time in the world teaching you about story structure and how to make a writing schedule, but if you don’t believe that you can do this, then it won’t matter. You won’t write the book. I see so many writers who struggle to fully embrace the identity of writer for various reasons, but once they identify the issues holding them back and work to overcome them, it’s amazing to see them finally write their book and achieve a lifelong dream. So many people dream of writing a book, but many never actually do it. If writing a book is something you’ve always dreamed of doing, you absolutely can! You’re the only thing stopping you.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on revisions for a story that I started just as the COVID pandemic began, and I’m so excited to be jumping back into this story. Tentatively titled The Girl from the Song, it’s about 27-year-old Tenley Harwell who left for Paris right after college graduation and now five years later is forced back home for her best friend’s funeral. In coming back to Buffalo, she fears her biggest struggle will be confronting her rockstar ex-boyfriend who, against her wishes, wrote his band’s first album about her and then shared her name with the press. But she discovers the biggest hurdle she must face is actually making amends with her sister who she left behind.
Blurb
A mother defeated by anxiety. A daughter determined not to become her mother. Can one month in Europe reunite them?
Anita Lorello is paralyzed by grief. When her husband dies in an accident the night before a long-awaited retirement trip, she’s devastated by the loss of her partner and once again shelves her dream to finally visit Europe. But when her estranged daughter agrees to accompany her nearly a year later, Anita is eager for the opportunity to repair their relationship.
Carrie Lorello’s life is crumbling. After a night of clouded judgment ends in her being fired, her mother’s offer of a one-month paid vacation seems like her best option. But she refuses to get caught up in her mother’s irrational worries and critical comments, and under no circumstances is she to learn what a failure Carrie’s proven to be.
Desperate not to lose her daughter again, Anita fights to conquer her anxiety and become the mother Carrie always wanted. But as Carrie’s life grows more and more complicated, her mother is the last person she wants to confide in.
Without anyone else to hold them together, can Anita and Carrie overcome their differences, or will the secrets between them derail their trip and destroy their relationship for good?
The Serendipity of Catastrophe is an emotionally compelling work of women’s fiction. If you enjoy travel stories, complex mother-daughter relationships, and lovably flawed characters, you’ll love this hopeful story of resilience and second chances.
Excerpt
“Welcome to London,” the officer said.
Anita smiled, then pushed her way through the turnstile where she was reunited with Carrie.
“Ready?” Carrie asked, tucking her passport back into her purse.
She straightened as she fell into step beside her, full of resolve. She was through the flight, and immigration was less intimidating than she’d expected. Maybe this wouldn’t be so challenging after all.
Carrie led the way outside to the taxi stand, the crisp air and sunshine welcome after the stuffiness of the plane and airports. They slid into a waiting cab, Carrie gave the driver the hotel address, and they settled in for the half-hour cab ride.
Out her window, Anita took in her first glimpses of Europe as the sun began to fade into evening. She was in a country hundreds of years older than the United States, yet it didn’t feel old. There were old buildings, but more modern ones filled the spaces between them. Pedestrians passed by one another on the sidewalks, dressed much like people back home, checking their phones as they walked. Public buses exhaled to a stop in front of designated signs. New moms walked along with their strollers, couples passed by with dogs, and life continued on much the same as in Buffalo.
Anita smiled to herself, unable to believe she’d expected this to be terrifying. It was different, of course, but she was overcome with excitement, not fear. But wasn’t this precisely what she always did—built things up in her mind to the point she had no choice but to be terrified?
Author Bio and Links
Website | Buy Link | Facebook | Instagram
Giveaway
Lisa Fellinger will award a $20 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.
Follow Lisa on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.
April is National Poetry Month, a month set aside to honor poetry and its vital place in our society. First celebrated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, this event has grown into a national movement that inspires millions, from the youngest children to the oldest readers. All forms of poetry from sonnets and romantic ballads to haiku and limericks to free verse are shared throughout the month.
Joanne Guidoccio 