Constellations by Patricia Leavy
Please welcome Patricia Leavy author of Constellations
Patricia Leavy will be awarding a signed set of 3 novels: Shooting Stars, Twinkle, and Constellations to two (US only) randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Constellations
by Patricia Leavy
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GENRE: Women’s Fiction/Romance
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INTERVIEW:
- What or who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve loved creative writing since I was a little girl. When I was about ten years old, I had a wonderful teacher and she really encouraged my writing. I actually tried writing a novel at the time, an epic love story between people who help each other heal, but because I was ten, it didn’t pan out! Even though I always wanted to be a writer, I was too afraid to pursue it. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to put your creative work out and there can be so much rejection and critique. I didn’t think I could handle it so I chose another path, got a doctorate, and became a sociology professor. As a result, I started publishing nonfiction books. After years of doing that I realized life was short and I found my courage. I wrote my first novel, quit my teaching gig, and I’ve never looked back.
- How do you come up with ideas for your books?
It never happens the same way twice, which is why I’m still in love with writing. Sometimes I get a complete idea. I’ll have some experience or even just hear a song or see a painting and an entire story comes to me, beginning to end complete with characters, and it unfolds in my mind like a movie. Then I need to transcribe it. Other times I just get a little spark of idea. For example, a character will come to me and that’s the starting point. Sometimes there’s a topic or theme I want to explore and I try to develop characters and build a plot around it. Other times there will be a structure I want to use, for example, seeing characters on their own, then experiencing something together, and then on their own again. I’ll stew on it until I come up with the story that serves the structure. Recently I was watching a movie and a song played. As it played, an entire scene at a restaurant came to me—the setting, the characters, the conversation. I was like, “Uh, who are they and where does this belong?” The next day I started drafting a novel with that scene as the centerpiece. Like I said, it never happens the same way twice, which makes it magical.
- As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
After the five Tess Lee novels, I fell completely in love with writing about love. There’s been something uniquely joyful about it. So, while “officially” there are five Tess Lee books, I believe there will be a sixth. I’ve also written two other love stories, based on new characters. My roots are in nonfiction and so there are a few nonfiction books I’m currently working on, but I plan to return to fiction, and hopefully more love stories in the future.
- If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
Tess Lee, the protagonist in Constellationsand that whole series. I admire her ability to truly see the humanity in each person she encounters. She always treats people with kindness and compassion. She’s a great friend, she loves her friends fiercely, and she has a beautiful relationship with her beloved Jack. Tess lives a surreal life—one many people might dream of—but she never gets distracted by fame or success. She focuses on what really matters most. Plus, she’s smart and funny. Some people may find her too good to be true, but to me, she’s an aspirational character.
- If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?
Rebecca Gayheart would play Tess and Kiefer Sutherland would play Jack.
- Do you outline your books or just start writing?
In the past, I would usually draft a rough outline and then write the novel in chronological order. This all changed when I wrote the first Tess Lee novel, Shooting Stars. I viewed this one as a compilation of scenes, and that’s how I wrote it – completely out of order. Because I wrote it as a series of scenes, I didn’t know how many chapters there would be so I labeled my files things like “Bar scene” and “Cake scene,” knowing in the end I would string them together. I’ve continued to write in this way—just sitting down and writing, out of order, without a plan. It’s been terrific.
- Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?
Tess Lee is a novelist. I definitely drew on my experiences in the publishing world and as an author.
- Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
The next Tess Lee and Jack Miller novel should be coming out in August. It’s titled Supernovaand it’s the darkest, grittiest book in the series. The novel explores love and trust. What happens when there is a betrayal? Tess and Jack’s love will be tested in a way it never has been before.
- Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series?
Writing the Tess Lee and Jack Miller novels has been the most joyful, engaging, immersive, and cathartic experience I’ve had as an author. Originally, I intended to only write one book, but before I knew it, there were five. I absolutely love these characters, not only Tess and Jack, but all their friends and loved ones. Of all my books, these characters are nearest and dearest to me. When I finished Shooting Stars, I knew there were more stories to tell and I hoped readers would enjoy following their journey as much as I love writing about them. I’m using these characters to explore love, to write a grand love letter to love in all its forms and with all its complexities, one that will unfold over at least five books. Each novel in the series looks at love and another topic. Shooting Starslooks at love and healing. Twinkleexplores love and doubt. Constellationsexplores love and family in every sense of the word. And so on. While I do think readers get more from these books if they follow the whole series, I wrote each in a way that they could be read alone. Even if people haven’t read Shooting Starsand Twinkle, they can still read Constellations.
- Anything else you might want to add?
Constellationscame to me like a bolt and held my hand. I hope it does the same for others. It’svery special to me; it’s my personal favorite of my own books, and the ending brings me to happy tears every time I read it. I rarely go back and reread my own books, but during the pandemic, when I was feeling lonely and isolated, I reread Constellationsmany times. It embraced me in a warm hug. I hope readers looking for a little love and comfort find it does the same for them.
BLURB:
Constellations follows Tess Lee and Jack Miller after three years of marriage as they navigate the meaning of love and family over a series of holidays. Tess is a wildly successful and world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore our innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jack is a former federal agent. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. Both healing from past trauma, together they have finally built the life they wish to live. What will happen to their blissful union when Jack’s childhood family resurfaces? When Tess and Jack visit the Millers for Christmas, how will insecurity, a sense of missed opportunities, and the need for redemption test their relationship? When a terrible accident threatens everything in an instant, will they learn the true meaning of unconditional love? Their loved ones are along for the ride: Omar, Tess’s sarcastic best friend who calls her Butterfly; the female president of the United States, with whom Tess talks politics and bakes cookies; Joe, Jack’s friend from the Bureau who understands the sacrifices he’s made; Bobby and Gina, their younger friends who never fail to lighten the mood; and the Miller family. Constellations is a novel about family – those into which we’re born and those we create – the human desire to belong and feel connected, the true nature of intimacy, and the power of love to heal and redeem. Written as unfolding action, Constellations is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between melancholy, humor, and joy.
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EXCERPT:
Tess clung to Jack as they sped along the cliffside road on their Harley, winding around the last curve as they approached their house. When they arrived home, Jack carefully took off Tess’s helmet, kissed her, and grabbed the bag of fruit they’d bought at the farmers market. She pulled the scrunchie out of her hair, releasing dirty blonde locks down to her waist. They headed inside. “You thirsty, baby?” he asked.
She nodded.
He quickly tapped a coconut, stuck a paper straw in, and handed it to her.
“You’ve gotten so good at that,” she said, taking a sip.
“Yeah, just in time to go back to DC. I can’t believe we have to leave our Hawaiian paradise tomorrow morning. We’re crazy to leave Maui this time of year.”
“I know, baby. But we’ll be back in less than three months to throw Omar and Clay the tropical Valentine’s Day wedding of their dreams. Besides, it’ll be fun to see our friends.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Here, have some,” she said, handing him the coconut. “Let’s leave the pineapple out. We can grill it tonight for our Thanksgiving feast while we sit on the lanai and watch the sunset.” She kicked her shoes off, slipped her T-shirt over her head, and shimmied out of her shorts, revealing a hot pink string bikini. “Bet I can beat you to the ocean,” she teased, darting off.
Soon, they were splashing around in the warm water, the sun beating down on them. Jack wrapped his tanned arms around Tess and kissed her. They stared at each other, the energy between them electric.
“I could get lost in your big, brown eyes,” he said.
She smiled and said, “Come on, let’s dry off.” They walked to their pool and lay together on a chaise lounge.
“Jack?” Tess whispered.
“Yeah, baby.”
“I know you hold back sometimes, but you don’t need to.”
“Tess…”
“Baby, I know you do. There’s nothing that could ever happen between us that I wouldn’t want.”
He caressed the side of her face. “You’re so beautiful and delicate. I just want you to feel safe and loved.”
“I do and I always will.”
“You’ve been through so much. It wasn’t that long ago that Ray was stalking you; I know that brought up memories of your childhood abuse. I don’t ever want to be the cause of your pain or remind you of the ways you have suffered.”
“You couldn’t. You only push those thoughts further away. I trust you, Jack. Nothing could ever change that. I want to share everything with you. I’ve never felt as close to another human being as I do to you.” She ran her fingers through his wet, salty hair and said, “I still remember the first time we came here, before we owned this place. You took me in the shower and we were so free.”
He grazed his fingers along her cheek.
“I’m gonna rinse off,” she said. She untied her bikini top, let it fall to the floor, and headed for the outdoor shower.
Jack hustled out of his swim trunks and followed her. She flipped the water on, turned toward him, and smiled. He cupped her face in his hands, kissed her softly, and with one swift movement, swung her around and pulled her bathing suit bottom down. “Don’t let me hurt you,” he whispered. He pushed her against the wall and they made love passionately.
With his quivering body pressed tightly against hers, Jack kissed Tess’s neck and nibbled on her ear. Finally satiated, he turned the shower off and wrapped towels around each of them. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms as he carried her to a lounge chair. They resumed their tender kisses, Jack caressing the side of her face. He looked at her with unadulterated adoration.
“I love you so much,” he said.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a bestselling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chair of Sociology and Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. She has published over thirty books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. She is also series creator and editor for ten book series with Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense, including the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. Patricia has received dozens of accolades for her books. Recently, her novel Film won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, her 3-novel set Candy Floss Collection won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Anthologies, and her novel Spark won the 2019 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2019 Living Now Book Award for Adventure Fiction. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network, named her an “Influencer.” In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” She has residences in Maine and Massachusetts where she lives with her husband, daughter (when she’s not away at college), and her dog. Patricia loves writing, reading, watching films, and traveling.
Website: www.patricialeavy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricialeavy
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Constellations-Patricia-Leavy-ebook/dp/B0932N2DWZ/
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Patricia Leavy will be awarding a signed set of 3 novels: Shooting Stars, Twinkle, and Constellations to two (US only) randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
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