Women’s fiction author Jennifer Klepper is on the blog today. Her book, Unbroken Threads is available now from Red Adept.
Welcome, Jennifer!
Author Name: Jennifer Klepper
Book Title: Unbroken Threads
Book Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: Out now
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Please tell us about your book.
Unbroken Threads is a story that lies at the intersection of the day to day life of an American family and the challenges faced by a Syrian refugee seeking a secure future in our country.
What sparked the idea for Unbroken Threads?
The family connection component of the story has always been a part of my life, something I’ve valued and contemplated a lot. Tying that into the story of a woman who had to flee her home and leave her family behind came a few years ago when the news was filled with images of Syrians fleeing war in their country. It seemed natural (and appropriate) for my character to look at how she connected to what was going on around her and to have a deepening awareness of her place not just in her family but in greater society as well.
How long did it take for you to write the book? Did you do have to do any research?
Some of this book was years in the making, but only in rumination form. From pen to paper, it took three years to get the book written, edited, and published. My main research focused on events in Syria and the asylum process in the U.S. I am mindful that I am not an expert in these areas, which are ever changing–particularly in the past few years, but I can say I learned a lot and gained great empathy for the victims of the Syrian war and great appreciation for the efforts of organizations and individuals who work to provide assistance.
How did you celebrate when you learned Unbroken Threads was going to be published?
I forgot to celebrate! After I got the call, I was focused on reviewing the contract (being a law nerd, I enjoyed this part) and then figuring out how the heck all of this was going to work. I suppose the celebrating can happen after my launch.
If you were speaking to someone who hasn’t read your writing before, why should they want to read Unbroken Threads?
My goal was to bring realistic characters to the page in a way that would be relatable to readers and spark discussion. I believe everyone who reads the book will get something different out of it, depending on their own life experiences.
What’s one piece of advice you would offer your younger writer self?
You aren’t as good at grammar as you think you are. Study up.
Where can readers find you (website, blog, social media, etc.)?
I’m on Facebook: @JenniferKlepperAuthor, where I love to engage with readers. On Instagram: @jennifer_klepper, I post bookish photos as well as lots of pictures of things I see in the woods. My website is www.jenniferklepper.com, and you can sign up for my email list there.
Thank you, Jennifer! Once again, Unbroken Threads is available NOW.
Jessica Donnelly’s life is beginning to unravel. When the attorney turned stay-at-home mom tentatively volunteers to represent Amina Hamid, a woman seeking asylum, Jessica must learn an unfamiliar area of the law. Soon, rising opposition to Muslim immigration and unexpected prejudices put her relationships on shaky ground.
Amina fled Syria with little more than memories that now fight against the images splashed on the news. Seeking a secure future and freedom from guilt and grief, she must learn to trust others amidst the reality of fear and hate.
To find stability, Jessica and Amina will both need to harness their own strengths, which may lie in connections that transcend generations, cultures, and continents.