The 86-Year-Old Orphan follows a woman that is dealing with getting old and searches for renewed meaning in life. What was the inspiration for the setup to this heartwarming story?

I came up with the idea after visiting my elderly aunt in assisted living. I realized no one who knew her now had any idea of the vibrant, energetic woman she once was. She was young and beautiful and so much more than the image she currently presented to the world. I wanted to tell the story of her life and to show what led her to this new chapter, a chapter she embraced as she had all her other chapters, with openness, love and friendship.

Tessie is an interesting character. What were some ideas that guided her character development?

While motivated by my aunt to explore the subject of women who came of age in the 1940’s, Tessie was really inspired by my mother. She was a woman before her time in many ways. A working woman, who loved her family, but also found fulfillment outside the home in her work, in books, in film, in Broadway shows. She gave up some of her dreams so that I could have mine, like so many mothers of that era, and I wanted to write about her generation and the choices they made.

The novel explores growing old and family. What were some themes you wanted to focus on in this book?

I wanted to explore the joys of having a family, but also the sacrifices, sacrifices that may not always be appreciated. The dreams you give your children while they may not realize the dreams you gave up for them. I wanted to explore how our families react to us getting older. Also, what happens to us as we age and how we can make the best of it, oftentimes finding, unexpectedly, we have made a new family for ourselves with new caring friends.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

In the beginning stages, the new book is about Luna, a young career woman who deals with mixed messages in communications, both personal in her established relationships and technical, specifically phone or text messages that may be unseen or deleted and may change the course of her life.

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