Today I’m happy to welcome back my fellow Wild Rose Press author Charlotte O’Shay, here to present her newest release Always Almond Fudge, another sweet treat in the One Scoop or Two series of summber beach reads.
On a lengthy car ride to their annual seaside vacation, a mother recounts the true story of a sweet family tradition.
It’s the summer of 1941 in the seaside town of Langford, Rhode Island, and seventeen-year-old Meredith Franklin works as a server at Seymore’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
When aspiring baseball player Anthony Fanelli strolls into the ice cream shop, his teasing banter leads to romantic sparks and dreams of forever love.
Their whirlwind courtship comes to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941, when America enters World War Two, forcing the couple to put their future on hold.
Decades later, a treasure trove of wartime letters details the romance of Merry and Anthony and the sacrifices of a generation.
Excerpt:
Merry swallowed. Her powers of speech deserted her as she soaked in his animated features. What was happening to her? A planner by nature, Merry wasn’t ready for the way her imagination was flying off, far into the future. A future where she’d see the strong planes of Anthony’s tanned face every day for the rest of her life. Frightened by the strength of her vision, she occupied her trembling fingers, rearranging the cups and napkins behind the counter. It was getting near to nine p.m. She had work to do to close the shop.
“So, I’ve come for my ice cream. Your favorite.”
“You’re very confident,” she said. Her heartbeat fluttered then galloped forward with a curious combination of nerves and exhilaration.
He pressed his big hands to his thighs and shrugged. “Confident is the only way to go through life.”
Merry felt herself sinking deep into his densely lashed eyes. “I couldn’t agree more. Okay, Mr. Anthony Fanelli, which flavor do you choose?”
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Let’s meet the author!
Award winning Author Charlotte O’Shay was born in New York City into big family and then married into another big family.
Negotiating skills honed at the dinner table led her to a career in the law.
After four beautiful children joined the crowded family tree, Charlotte traded her legal career to write about happily ever afters in the City of Dreams.
Charlotte loves to challenge her heroines and heroes with a crisis and watch them figure out who they are while they fall in love.
It’s great to be back visiting you today to talk about the writing life and my new release, Always, Almond Fudge.
What’s your favorite part of the writing life?
There are so many things I love about writing it’s tough to narrow them down.
Foremost has to be the moment a story idea springs from my over-imaginative mind into a line of dialogue or a scene, which becomes a rough plot outline, then many chapters later, a story. The powerful thrill of creating, then nourishing a story from conception to a completed book never gets old. That incomparable feeling gets me through all the harrowing levels of Editing Hell I endure till I reach Proper Grammarland Purgatory, and finally, publication Heaven. (Yes, I was raised Catholic. ; )
Second has to be the solitude of writing. I totally don’t mind falling down a rabbit hole of ideas and research, only to emerge from the writing cave hours later eager rejoin the real world and decompress. Still, my desire for solitude flew out the window during Covid time. I crave time with my family and friends. I’m desperate to hug and kiss, celebrate and socialize. I miss concerts and baseball games and other casual times I took for granted. But I’ll never take for granted how lucky I am to pursue a writing career.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
I’m still climbing the learning curve which is another way of saying I have a lot to learn. One big lesson I’ve learned is: no matter how many talented writers have gone before you, your voice is unique. No one can or ever will, write the way you do. A writer’s job is to be true to herself while gaining inspiration and skill from reading, studying and enjoying the work of those who have mastered the craft. Writers are a generous group always willing to help another with issues of craft, editing and marketing. My caveat here is: sometimes too much in the way of well-intentioned assistance with your writing can weaken your voice. Listen carefully to constructive criticism, especially from a trusted source, but don’t dilute your individual voice by acceding to everyone’s ideas for changes designed to make your story better. Be true to yourself and your vision of the story. It’s a fact that even the most gifted and successful authors have readers who dislike their work. Subjectivity is the nature of the beast. Even “universally beloved” books aren’t.
What does your writing space look like?
I’m distractible so I’ve learned the value of a boring writing space with no real view, no music. Horrible, right? But it works for me. I have an accumulation of journal type notebooks (one for each story) and a couple of legal pads for editing. Otherwise all I need is my laptop, coffee, multiple glasses of ice water and the voices in my head. I set a timer and write in sprints, NOT GETTING UP TILL THE TIMER GOES OFF< I’m yelling at me, not you. J
What makes you put down a book without finishing?
Two things can make me put a book down although I usually will read till the end. I know how hard it is to get grammar right, and I have a hate-hate relationship with commas, but it really takes me out of the story when an author lets the wrong (homophone) word slip into the story like using bare instead of bear or if rain/rein/reign is misused.
And although I read across a variety of romance genres, I avoid so called mafia romances and if somehow the blurb didn’t alert me, when I realize I’m reading one, I can’t finish.
Which authors have inspired you? What’s on your TBR pile?
I’m awed by the uber-talented authors I’ve read at The Wild Rose Press, including you, Sadira. I enjoy reading within and outside of my (contemporary) genre. I read tons of non-fiction and memoir too. I just finished a compelling novel, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. My TBR is overflowing with the fun One Scoop or Two stories I haven’t gotten to yet. So many authors inspire me and for different reasons including K.A. Tucker, Frank McCourt, Lauren Layne, Georgette Heyer, Sarina Bowen, William Styron, Nora Roberts, Ron Chernow. I love authors who make me think, who are skilled enough to bend, shape and just play with the English language but at the same time tell a good, emotional story.
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Great interview! Best of luck with your writing. D. V. 🦉
Excellent interview!
Thanks Donna and Jennifer and thanks to Sadira for hosting me!
🌻