The Author Spotlight is pleased to welcome Lee Bukowski this week, here to chat about her latest novel
Author Name: Lee Bukowski
Book Title: Painting Over Cracks
Book Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Welcome, Lee! Please tell us about Painting Over Cracks.
Her husband died in a tragic accident, but the man she’s mourning never really existed.
What sparked the idea for this book?
The phrase “painting over cracks” is simple. It brings to mind the small imperfections in a wall—tiny fractures that form over time, the kind you might notice in the corner of a room or above a doorway. They’re easy to dismiss and even easier to cover. A fresh coat of paint makes everything look new again. But underneath, the crack is still there.
That image stayed with me because it reflects something many of us do far beyond our homes. We paint over cracks in our relationships, our families, and sometimes even within ourselves. We ignore warning signs because looking too closely feels dangerous. We sense something is off, but we push the feeling aside. We tell ourselves we’re overthinking. We convince ourselves it’s nothing. That instinct became the inspiration for Painting Over Cracks.
What drew you to writing women’s fiction?
Women’s fiction follows a character’s emotional journey. I’m drawn to stories about complicated relationships because I think they resonate with readers. Life is messy (for most of us, anyway!) Readers of women’s fiction take the journey along with the protagonist. I hope they see a bit of themselves in my characters. My goal is to lead both my characters and readers to personal growth and self-discovery. My books explore “what would I do?” questions perfect for book club discussions.
What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?
Hands down, the best part is the reading/writing community. Writing is a solitary endeavor, and I’d be lost without the support of gracious authors (like you!) and our wonderful readers. It’s the most positive and supportive community imaginable.
The most challenging part is marketing and promoting my books. It doesn’t come naturally to me, and I avail myself of all the help I can get!
Fans of which authors or books might gravitate toward your book?
Fans of Liane Moriarty, Kristin Hannah, and Alison Ragsdale will love Painting Over Cracks. Also, because my book has elements of domestic mystery and suspense, it will appeal to readers who love Sally Hepworth and Laura Dave.
What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
As the story unfolds, my protagonist transforms from someone who avoids discomfort into someone who seeks clarity, even when it hurts. She learns that ignoring cracks does not prevent collapse—it only delays it. Most importantly, she realizes that living with open eyes is not a punishment; rather, it is a form of freedom.
I hope readers come to that same realization: the idea that truth, while painful, can also be empowering. And that second chances—especially those that are hard-won—are not only possible but worth it. We all “paint over cracks.” I hope Beth’s story encourages readers to live their lives with eyes wide open.
What are your interests outside of writing and reading?
Those are my two main interests, but I also love to travel. I have a large, close family, and I love spending time with them.
Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.
Yes, I’m about two-thirds finished with a first draft of novel whose working title is The Same Moon. It’s the story of two people in marriages that have gone quiet who meet each other by happenstance. They have an instant connection and begin a relationship. Ultimately they have to decide if they will remain in their comfortable but unsatisfying marriages so as not to hurt their families or confront the truth of who they’ve become and have the courage to choose who they will be next.
It’s still in the first draft stage, but I love the story. As my work always does, it poses complex moral questions that I think will resonate with readers.
What was the last book that stuck with you? Why did it make such a lasting impression?
I’ve read so many impactful books lately, it’s hard to choose. I just finished How to Read a Book by Monica Wood, and I can’t stop thinking about the three main characters: a widow who runs a book club at a women’s prison, a twenty-two-year-old recently released prisoner who served two years for killing a kindergarten teacher in a DUI, and the widower of the woman who died in the accident. The way they are brought together through books, redemption, and forgiveness is such a beautiful and poignant story. It reminded me that, as it says in the book, “We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time.” That got to me. I actually wrote it down after I read it.
Where can readers find you?
I host a podcast called The Road Show on Facebook’s Bookish Road Trip, where I interview authors whose work shares a common thread. To check out this wonderful group of readers, writers, and travelers, join Bookish Road Trip here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookish.road.trip
Website: https://www.leebukowski.com/
IG: @leebukowskiauthor
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086086478321
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leebukowskiauthor
Newsletter: leebukowski.substack.com
Thank you, Lee! Painting Over Cracks is out NOW.
Painting Over Cracks
Beth Collins has spent years outrunning a secret, pouring everything she has into building the perfect life with her attorney husband, Danny. And for a while, it seems she has succeeded—until a freak car accident kills Danny and shatters her world in an instant.
Desperate for a fresh start, Beth quits her job, opens a café, and slowly begins to heal. Unexpected friendships take root, and a sense of purpose returns. And then, cautiously, so does love.
But in the aftermath of her grief, Beth discovers disturbing truths Danny left behind: hidden accounts, clandestine activities, and a shocking secret that she never could have imagined. The man she’s been mourning begins to unravel, piece by piece, forcing Beth to wonder whether she ever really knew him at all.
Now Beth must wrestle with questions she never thought she’d face: Can she forgive a man who is no longer here to explain himself? Can she reconcile Danny’s mistakes and redefine the real meaning of family? Can she trust her heart when the new love in her life carries complications she never anticipated? When the life she built on illusion finally falls away, Beth must decide what kind of future she is brave enough to claim.
A powerful, emotionally layered novel about love, loss, and the courage to choose truth over illusion, Painting Over Cracks is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Laura Dave.
Author Bio:
Lee Bukowski writes stories about complicated relationships of every kind. The messier, the better. Faced with navigating difficult situations, her characters grab the reader and take them along for the ride. Her goal is to lead both her characters and readers to personal growth and self-discovery.
After raising her two daughters and teaching seventh grade English for sixteen years, the writing bug bit her. In 2017, she obtained an MFA in English and Creative Writing, which led her to write her first fiction novel A Week of Warm Weather.
Lee lives near her large family in Reading, PA, and is admittedly useless until she’s had two cups of morning coffee. When she is not writing, Lee loves reading, traveling, and trying cocktails with creative names. She’s a Seinfeld aficionada and a Billy Joel superfan with a live concert count of fifty shows. Rumors of stalking charges are greatly exaggerated.