Writer Kerry Crisley joins me today to chat about her debut women’s fiction, Summer of Georgie.
During her virtual book tour, Kerry will be giving away a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Kerry Crisley is a communications professional with a focus on the nonprofit sector. Fiction, however, is her first love; she wrote and directed an original play performed by her second grade classmates, and has been writing ever since. She lives in Wakefield, Massachusetts with her husband, their children, and their (very spoiled) rescue dog. When not at work, Kerry can usually be found reading, hiking, or getting into a wide variety of shenanigans with her book club. Kerry is a current member of the Women’s Fiction Writing Association, and she blogs about life as a writer/dance mom/autism mom/rescue dog mom at lazysundaybooks.com. Summer of Georgie is her first novel.
Welcome, Kerry. Please tell us about your current release.
Summer of Georgie is about a woman who uses her summer of unexpected unemployment to find her true north. Georgie, a married mother of two, is wondering where the cool, smart, funny woman she used to be went, and whether there’s a way to get her back. When writing, I tried to keep it real – there’s no magical financial windfall that allows my heroine to keep paying her mortgage indefinitely – so she needs to quickly figure out what her dream job is, and how to make it happen.
What inspired you to write this book?
I spent 11 miserable months at a toxic job before my husband and I agreed that I was better off temporarily unemployed. In fact, a lot of what happens to Georgie in her job were based on things I actually experienced. Writing it was very cathartic. I also loved the idea of exploring a “middle age do-over” that didn’t involve divorce or a new relationship. Georgie is happily married, and I deliberately kept it that way. I wanted the drama and growth to be about regaining her creativity and self-worth as an individual.
Excerpt from Summer of Georgie:
What the hell?? Gilda shrieks.
I pull open the door and find myself facing a heavyset man dressed in a suit jacket, a button down shirt, tasteful tie, white athletic socks, black sneakers and what can only be described as denim man-capris. I pause and check the door. I’m in the right place. But, again, what the hell? I carefully avoid eye contact and make my way over to the reception desk. Welcome to Career Building Class and Social Hour Day.
Dear God, what if he’s the instructor?
This is not starting off well.
As I’m signing in, someone calls “Joe! You made it to Picture Day!”
Picture Day?
My mind automatically goes back to elementary school, and before I can stop myself, I’ve put Joe and his ensemble in Miss Hatch’s second grade class picture. He’s sitting in the middle of the seated front row holding the black letterboard with “Washington School, Second Grade.” What is going on with Picture Day?
In a room off the reception area, a photographer has set up a miniature JC Penney-esque Portrait Studio, with lighting, a neutral backdrop screen and a bar stool. At the reception desk, a staff member tells a guest that they’ve hired the photographer for the day to take headshots for use on LinkedIn, business cards and anywhere else a snazzy picture will help get you noticed.
Ah, a headshot. Oh, thank goodness.
But really, Joe, whispers Gilda. You’re already halfway there with the coat and tie. Would it have killed you to wear khakis? Or at least pants that reach past your ankles? I know Tommy Lee Jones made the jeans-jacket-tie thing work in The Fugitive, but remember Joe:
I saw Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive.
I loved Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive.
Tommy Lee Jones was my Hollywood crush.
You, sir, are no Tommy Lee Jones.
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently writing my second novel, Friendship Lessons, about a life-long friendship between two women that goes badly awry. The journey that I want readers to take is for them to start with a firm idea of who’s the victim and who’s the villain, but gradually reveal that it’s far more complicated.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Second grade. My teacher noticed that I was always scribbling on random sheets of paper, so she gave me a composition notebook that I (quickly) filled with short stories.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I would absolutely LOVE to write novels full time! But until Summer of Georgie gets a movie adaptation deal, I’ll keep going to my full-time job outside of writing fiction; I’m the marketing manager for an independent school in Massachusetts.
It took me a while to figure out how to fit my writing around my job and my family. What worked for me was to schedule a series of two-hour blocks in the evenings when my kids were at activities. The fewer people in the house, the better! What made the biggest difference was joining a writers group. Knowing that I had to have new pages ready to send by a specific date was great motivation.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
For Summer of Georgie, it’s the “character” of Gilda. Gilda is Georgie’s snarky inner voice. I loved the idea of giving this voice her own name. When the story begins, Georgie and Gilda are constantly bickering; as Georgie starts to practice more self-care, the voice becomes softer and more supportive. It was such a fun side story to write.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A private investigator. I loved mysteries (still do!) and to me it sounded like the most exciting career ever.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
On my website, I post installments of Summer of Georgie every Saturday. “Sneak Peek Saturdays” are a way for readers to take the book for a test drive before deciding whether to order it.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon
Thank you for sharing your interview and book details and for offering a giveaway. Summer of Georgie sounds like a great story and one that I can certainly relate to.
Thank you, Bea! My goal was to create something that many women/working moms could relate to. I’m so glad that the story resonated with you.
I forgot to congratulate you on your debut release so let me say Congratulations! I am sure that this book is an excellent read and I am adding it to my TBR
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you so much for having me!
Sounds like a fun read and the perfect read for my upcoming beach trip!
Thanks, Tracie! Hope you have a fantastic time at the beach – there’s NOTHING like a good book, a comfy beach chair, and the sound of the ocean.
Yes I agree 100%- so soul soothing~
Sounds like a great read.
Thanks, Rita! It was so much fun to write, so my hope is that the book is just as much fun for others to read.
Great excerpt and giveaway. 🙂
Thank you, Cali! I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Sounds like a great book.
Thanks, Sherry! I had a lot of fun writing it.
I found it interesting that your writing of “Summer of Georgie” is based on your own personal experiences. Sounds like a good story.
Thanks Kim! Yes, there was a lot of material to work with from my own life. The most satisfying part for me was finding out that former coworkers were sneaking my book into the office and passing it around 😂
I love that!
sounds intriguing
Thank you!
Great interview and excerpt, Kerry, Summer of Georgie sounds like an excellent book for me to read! Good luck with your book and the tour! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a fantastic week!
Thanks so much, Eva. I’m so grateful for the warm reception to my book by everyone here today. You have a great week, too!
I just love this cover – best of luck with the tour.
Thank you, Michele! I am IN LOVE with this cover. The cover artist, Ashley Siebels, knocked it out of the park.
Here’s to a terrific day!
⛱️🩴🌞
Kerry Crisley’s book Summer of Georgie sounds like a book I need to read this summer!
Thanks, Nancy! If you do, I hope you enjoy it!
Have a wonderful Wednesday and take time for some reading!
I will! Just picked up Where the Crawdads Sing. (Better late than never!)
Love to hear your thoughts when you finish!
Great interview
Thank you!
Do prefer beaches or mountains?
Ooooh, so tough! I live near Boston, so it’s easy to get to both. I think I have to go with beach. What about you?
Beach , I’m in Tampa Bay, FL
Enjoy your day!
Do you have a favorite movie?
Happy Tuesday!
Who is your favorite character in fiction?
Do you have a favorite travel destination?
Do you have a favorite genre you like to read personally?
What inspires you?
What is your favorite movie?
Happy Monday! Do you have a all time favorite book?
Do you have a go-to comfort read?
What is a surprising fact about you?
Who inspired you when you were growing up?
Did you always want to be a writer?
Is there a writer you’d ever want to collab with?
If you weren’t a writer, what would your occupation be?
Any weekend plans?
When you’re writing a book, what does your workday look like?
Is there a character you’ve found really difficult to write?
Happy Wednesday!
What famous person would you find it inspirational to meet?
What is your favorite place that you’ve visited?
Do you have a favorite character from a movie or tv that you wish you could incorporate into your books?
What is your favorite way to relax?
What is the best book you’ve read so far in 2022?
If you celebrate, how are you spending your fourth of July?
What story of yours did you find it difficult to write?
What’s your best memory from 2022 so far?
Is there a certain part of the story that you love the most?
What are you looking forward to the most in the second half of 2022?
What fiction tropes are your pet peeves?
What is your favorite setting to write in?
Do you have any more books you are planning to release this year?
If one of your books was made into a Hollywood movie, who do you picture portraying the main role?
How much writing do you do in a day?
Do you have any other new books planned for this year?
What’s your favorite book series by another author?
How long have you been a writer?
This sounds like an excellent read.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
What is a line of dialogue that stuck out to you and you’ll always remember?
Is there a particular event or moment that inspired you to be a writer?
What has been your proudest moment as an author so far?
What book are you currently reading?
What books do you recommend starting out with for your backlist?
Which of your characters do you relate to the most and why?
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
How do you select the names of your characters?
What part of the book was the most fun to write?
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Have you read any of the old classics? What did you think of them?
What do you think makes a good story?
What author do you look up to the most?
What book are you the most proud of writing?