Family Dynamics of a Sisterhood
The Wisdom of the Willow follows the lives of four sisters and their parents, who explore the direction of their lives and how their experiences all flow together. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The most outstanding response I received from my first book, Under the Birch Tree, a Memoir of Discovering Connections and Finding Home was that my story was relatable. I took these reader responses and used theme as a premise for writing The Wisdom of the Willow. Developing the characters using alternating first-person POVs who faced relatable life challenges was a way for the reader to take a deep dive into the characters and into the story. Family dynamics of a sisterhood may not always be positive, but there is a bond there that can be traced back to when it was made under the willow. The tree is a guiding force throughout their journeys in finding their places.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
Yes! My goal was to create characters, sisters, who were different from one another, who had different goals and paths to find where they want to be. The sisters are individuals, yet their family is their center. Though Margaret initially poses as a strong, influential matriarch, later, her illness shows a vulnerability which she handles with grace and acceptance.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As also a memoir and personal essay writer of the natural world and how we connect with it, I wanted to show themes in a simple way: using a tree as a character. The natural world poses as a character that unites the story. It was important for me to show the different paths in life we take, how to navigate them, and continue on, how linked we all are nature and to our family.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next book, Mercy Town, is about an accidental shooting, an unforgiven killer, and ten years later, a divided town finds mercy. It is expected to be out in the fall of 2025, also by She Writes Press.
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Years after leaving the nest, now in their early forties, the Dowling women find themselves faced with changes that will define their lives. Debra, the oldest, is shattered when she is asked for a divorce. Rose, who has long hidden her true self, finally begins to evaluate her pattern of being in uncommitted relationships. Linney fears losing Magnolia, the magical shop where she works. Charlotte, the youngest, is the only one who knows their mother is terminally ill and has been charged by her with keeping it a secret. And Margaret, now faced with the greatest of challenges and struggling with whether she has done enough to help her daughters find their way in life, calls them all to the family home to reunite under the willow one last time.
A metaphorically rich and reflective tale of sisterhood and strength, The Wisdom of the Willow is a story of hope and healing, of the choices that shape our lives, and the challenges we all face as we seek to find our places in the world.
Posted on June 2, 2024, in Interviews and tagged author, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, coming of age, coming of age fiction, ebook, Family Life Fiction, fiction, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, literature, Nancy Chadwick, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, The Wisdom of the Willow, Women's Domestic Life Fiction, writer, writing. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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