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We Are All Just People
In Shooting Stars, readers follow a woman whose life has been filled with bitter disappointments as she finds new meaning in her life on a solo trip to Hawaii. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The real inspiration behind the story stems from a fantasy I’ve had ever since I was a teenager of a Hollywood superstar falling in love with me. I wanted the fairy tale romance to someone rich and famous as a kind of revenge against all the bullies who called me ugly and boring in school.
That daydream was the core of my idea, but the Hollywood star meeting the average woman has become clichéd, so I decided to use that very stereotype to explore how stereotypes are always prejudiced and rarely right. Things are never as they seem, and if you look below the surface, people from different backgrounds can have a lot in common.
It’s something I learnt from having pen pals and travelling – I got to meet a wide range of people from those scraping together a living to millionaires – we are all just people in the end with the same hopes and dreams, fears and insecurities.
Which character in the novel do you feel you relate to more and why?
Anyone who knows me can immediately recognise that Catherine is me. She’s so heavily based on me that it’s almost autobiographical. Her self-deprecating humour, clumsiness and introspective yearnings are all me. I based much of her day-to-day life on jobs and colleagues, and dating disasters I’ve had. However, unlike Catherine, I’ve never had the happily-ever-after part. I’ve also never been to Hawaii, which might come as a surprise. I’m a stickler for detail so I did a lot of research and also drew from my visits to tropical areas like Singapore and parts of Brazil.
Shooting Stars has so many wonderful moments between Catherine and Jake. What was your favorite scene in this story?
I loved writing the scenes between Catherine and Jake. My favourite is the moment she first meets him – the way she recognises he’s familiar but can’t place him, and then in true Skye Bothma fashion, the moment the penny drops, she does something that would send most men running for the hills. But, Jake’s not most men and I love the way he never criticises or mocks her lack of elegance. The part with the runaway pickle is another favourite – I’m always dropping food down my front.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve actually had the idea for my next book since I was 18 – that’s over thirty years ago now! It’s a huge project – a mystery with two timelines one set in the past, one set in the present. I’ve been so intimidated by it that when I began pursuing writing fulltime I decided to choose a simple story to start with to see if I would be able to write a full-length book. Now that I know I can do it, the project is a little less imposing, but considering my first book took six years to write, it’s going to be years before I get to the finish line. I wish I was one of those writers who can knock out a book every few months, but perfectionism takes a lot of time.
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Catherine Marshall is used to being invisible. Although she’s intelligent and talented, she’s an underachiever and lives her life in other people’s shadows. She has a job she hates and dreams she’s too afraid of pursuing. When she wins a writing competition and her long-term boyfriend persuades her to spend the prize money on air tickets to Hawaii, she’s convinced he’s about to propose at last. Instead, he betrays her and unable to change the tickets, Catherine goes to Hawaii alone to mend her broken heart.
Jake Donovan can’t hide from being in the spotlight. A Hollywood superstar and one of America’s most eligible bachelors, he’s in Hawaii taking some time to decompress after the filming of his latest hit show wraps. Surrounded by paradise he should feel like he has it all, but he’s feeling jaded and aware of a growing dissatisfaction with his world.
When a chance encounter brings their two lives together Catherine and Jake discover they have more in common than expected. Together, they escape their everyday lives and develop a fragile intimacy. But as reality closes in, it becomes clear that the fairy tale is not likely to survive in the real world and they begin to question whether their meeting was meant to inspire personal change or if it really was fated in the stars.
Shooting Stars
In Skye Bothma’s heartfelt novel, Shooting Stars, readers are drawn into a tumultuous world of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. The protagonist, Cathy, navigates through the complexities of her job, ex-partner, and unexpected encounters that force her to reassess her life and dreams. Bothma’s emotionally resonant story captures a quintessential struggle between personal aspirations and societal expectations, making it an engaging and relatable read.
Bothma’s writing is sharp and evocative and pulled me into Cathy’s emotional rollercoaster. Her ability to craft vivid scenes is evident as she intricately details every emotion, from the palpable tension in office confrontations to the crushing disappointment of personal betrayal. The dialogue is particularly strong, offering authenticity to each character’s voice and enhancing the unfolding drama. The thoughtful pacing of the narrative allows for deeper introspective moments that enrich the understanding of the protagonist’s inner journey, even though I felt it occasionally tempers the story’s momentum.
The novel’s exploration of personal growth and resilience is not just a personal journey for Cathy, but a poignant commentary on societal expectations. Bothma excels in depicting Cathy’s evolution from a passive observer in her life to an empowered individual who confronts her realities and takes charge. This transformation is not only inspiring but also a critical commentary on the often-overlooked emotional labor that women endure in both professional and personal arenas.
The story challenges readers to think about the importance of authenticity and self-value in a world that frequently demands compromise and conformity. The book’s setting, a bustling corporate office where interpersonal dynamics come into play, serves as a microcosm to explore these themes. At times, the motivations of the secondary characters appear somewhat superficial, but they effectively serve their roles in propelling Cathy’s journey forward.
Shooting Stars is a fun and uplifting story that will resonate with readers who enjoy women’s fiction stories of personal struggle and triumph. It’s ideal for readers who are navigating their own crossroads in life or anyone who appreciates a story that combines emotional depth with the complexities of everyday life.
Pages: 342 | ASIN : B0C1HXD7GW
Learning To Balance Darkness And Light
Shooting Stars follows an author that meets the love of her life and realizes she must face the trauma of her past before they can live happily ever after. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
There’s an expression “hurt people hurt people.” Sometimes that isn’t true. Sometimes people in great pain are able to love others in extraordinary ways, and they only hurt themselves. That’s what I wanted to explore. I wanted to look at how people with both visible and invisible wounds can love each other unconditionally, and how in turn, that may help them heal.
Tess starts off confident but it is a facade, as that shell breaks away she transforms into a stronger person. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Tess is my favorite protagonist from any of my novels. In many ways, she’s an aspirational character. She’s enormously talented and successful, which has afforded her an enviable life on the surface. She’s also deeply kind—she sees the humanity in each person and treats others with grace. Despite all she has going for her, she’s haunted by trauma survived in her childhood, and for a long time she struggles to find any genuine happiness. While the details may differ and be more traumatic in Tess’s case, I think many of us carry deep wounds. So often people see our highlight reel on social media and may have a false sense of our lives, when in fact we may be struggling. So as I developed Tess, I wanted to peel back the layers, from what we see on the surface, to what she’s really dealing with on the inside.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For me, this is a story about learning to balance darkness and light in our lives. It’s also about the healing power of love in all forms—romance, friendship, love of art, and love of community.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I fell so completely in love with Tess, Jack, and all their friends that after writing Shooting Stars I wrote 5 more novels based on these characters, for 6 in total. Each novel takes place about a year later—so it follows the characters for about 7 years. Each novel has its own story and theme; however, the collection as a whole also has an overarching narrative. It’s an epic love story about balancing darkness and light so that we may ultimately live in full color. There’s romance, laughter, tears, and some unexpected twists and turns. The title is Celestial Bodies: The Tess Lee and Jack Miller Novels and it comes out June 1. I’m so proud of it. Truly, of all my work it’s what I love and revisit the most. Reading it is a bit like being wrapped in a big hug. Here’s the amazon link: https://tinyurl.com/4c5nrtvc
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Shooting Stars
When Author Tess Lee met Federal Agent Jack Miller by chance, the two experienced what many consider love at first sight. The couple became inseparable, and nothing made them happier than to be together. They soon introduced each other to their friends who all agreed that this was a match made in heaven. After a whirlwind romance, the couple gets married. Jack soon discovered that Tess had been traumatized as a child, and the only thing that helped her overcome her trauma was Jack’s love.
Shooting Stars, written by Patricia Leavy, is a beautiful love story about the true value of love and friendship. Tess finally allows herself to love and be loved when she realizes that Jack will never hurt her and will always be there to protect her. Jack soon learns that Tess would not have become the person she did become had it not been for her close friends, who came to know and accept her just the way she is. Life is complicated, and if we can find someone to help us through the tough times, we can consider ourselves fortunate.
In addition to being a love story, it is a story about survival and resilience. Tess must learn about trusting her chosen family and herself. This novel is about healing and overcoming your past to keep it from stealing your future happiness.
I love Patricia Leavy’s succinct and easy-to-read writing style. Each character is introduced individually, and the reader learns more about their background, allowing you to connect with the characters. A few surprises are woven into the plot, which makes the novel more interesting and adds a new dimension to Tess and Jack’s relationship. Anyone who reads Shooting Stars will experience the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.
Shooting Stars is a heartwarming literary fiction novel about finding love, learning to trust, and discovering what it means to live. Anyone that enjoys a feel-good romantic story will find this novel hard to put down.
Pages: 155 | ASIN : B08THRSHPX
LITERARY TITAN 