After experiencing an awesome loss in her life years in the past, Anna Gomez determined it was time to channel her emotions on paper and see the place it might take her. At present, with a number of books beneath her belt, she considers herself “a hopeless romantic” who writes about actual life, flawed characters and the saving grace of unconditional love.
Her newest work, the soon-to-be-released Someplace Alongside the Approach, isn’t any exception. It’s a heartfelt novel about love, therapeutic, and self-discovery. Charlotte “Charlie” Hastings embarks on a cross-country journey to California after discovering letters her estranged mom had written to her father over time. That discovery, revealed in a dream by her deceased father, stirs feelings in Charlie she by no means thought she would really feel and drives her to hunt a connection she had at all times resisted.
On this interview with BookTrib, the creator discusses the private challenges that each impressed — and bought in the best way of – penning this street journey journey of the center.
What impressed you to write down Someplace Alongside the Approach, and the way did the story come about?
Thanks for having me! Kobo approached my agent and requested that I write a e-book for them. I pitched a couple of high-level concepts — one in every of them being a couple of lady who goes in the hunt for her mom. I had no concept how the story would play out, however I had misplaced my dad unexpectedly a couple of months earlier than and located myself interspersing the story of my dad and mom into the love story of Charlie and Graham. I wished to honor them and thank them for loving me and my sisters regardless of being two damaged folks whose circumstances tore them aside. Ultimately, I believe I completed simply that.
The journey of Charlotte “Charlie” Hastings is central to the e-book. Are you able to share extra about her character improvement and what you hope readers will take away from her story?
The e-book begins with Charlie grieving the lack of her father. Shortly after, she finds out he had hidden away letters from her mom, who had deserted them when she was a toddler. Charlie is offended and resentful at first, however later succumbs to the needs of her father to learn these letters and get to know her mom. As she reads her mom’s phrases and sees life by way of her dad and mom’ eyes, Charlie begins to know why issues turned out the best way they did — and why her father had saved this secret from her. I don’t need to reveal an excessive amount of, however in opening up her coronary heart to these letters, she opens up her coronary heart to like.
Graham Mead, the mysterious stranger Charlie meets, performs a major position in her journey. How did you develop his character, and what does he signify within the narrative?
It’s by a accident that Graham meets Charlie and accompanies her on this street journey to seek out her mom. He symbolizes the proper planning of the universe and the alignment of the celebrities. That is one thing that we frequently overlook when questioning life’s hardships or twists and turns. At first, he’s a quiet bystander, accompanying Charlie on her journey and being a shoulder to lean on. However he has a narrative of his personal, and as he watches Charlie change and develop all through their street journey, her resilience teaches him the best way to forgive himself.
The theme of self-discovery and confronting one’s previous is outstanding within the e-book. How do you assume these themes resonate with readers in at the moment’s world?
Nicely, let me inform you that the readers at the moment are fairly completely different from the readers from ten years in the past after I started writing. So, I don’t need to assume this can resonate — however that’s what I’m hoping for! I’ve at all times believed that the previous is what molds us into who we’re at the moment. And this story is an instance of that.
How does the setting of the e-book affect the story, and why did you select it?
I’m fortunate sufficient to have the ability to journey in my job, and I fly to Brooklyn fairly a bit, given the situation of one in every of our companies. I simply love the vibe in that metropolis — the buildings are so distinctive and clearly the DUMBO is magnificent. I wished Charlie to be from there so I may describe the vibrancy of that place.
Are there any private experiences or real-life occasions that influenced the plot or characters in Someplace Alongside the Approach?
I’m the kid of somebody who was out and in of psychological well being services and selected to discover that as one of many plotlines on this story.
What message or feeling do you hope readers will carry with them after ending the e-book?
Hope, acceptance, forgiveness. The love of a mom for her baby and a toddler for his or her mom, although imperfectly executed at instances, is everlasting. Which you can’t escape from what the universe has deliberate for you, however you possibly can determine the best way to deal with and react to what comes your manner. Real love is that which stays within the face of adversity, and that peace will solely come to you in case you can actually forgive.
What do you assume units Someplace Alongside the Approach aside out of your earlier works, and the way has your writing developed over time?
This can be a nice query, though fairly tough to reply! I’ve developed in so some ways as an individual, a girl, a mom, a spouse and a colleague, that I’m positive my writing now displays it. Now I discover it simpler to write down after I cease specializing in utilizing too many phrases – “saying extra with much less,” as pal described this e-book. I believe that’s such an effective way to characterize the present stage of my life. It’s the no nonsense, no drama section, the place I write the best way I would like with out worry or self-consciousness. I used to assume that the extra lyrical my phrases had been, the extra emotional they’d be. However I discovered to get to the purpose. And that’s how I’ve been residing my life.
After all, the transition from indie to conventional publishing within the ten years which have handed has additionally taught me a lot about my writing fashion.
Judging from social media, you’ve had one heck of a yr! How did you stability the calls for of your profession with the pressures of finishing a brand new novel? What challenges did you face?
The ever-present problem of time! I used a lot household trip time and allotted a set schedule to maintain writing so I may end. These had been largely self-imposed deadlines — a lot wanted although — as a result of my precedence record is endless! 2024 has been a yr of milestones for me in so some ways! I acquired the most important recognition of my profession and my world crammed with fantastic alternatives. I had few free moments between the day by day challenges of my job, planning my son’s wedding ceremony, a life-changing journey to the Philippines, and I additionally turned 60!
However regardless of the dearth of hours in a day, writing will at all times be a significant a part of me. And as one in every of my mentors at all times says — if you love one thing, you merely make time. I acknowledge the truth that I’m writing for myself, and this relieves fairly a little bit of the stress that others could really feel when publishing a e-book. And though my profession comes first, I used to be in a position to eke out some hours on weekends to give attention to penning this story. I’m proud that I bought it accomplished in 4 months. And I’m much more proud that I’m sitting right here speaking to you a couple of story that’s actually close to and pricey to my coronary heart.