Thrilled to welcome Jessica Maffetore to the Author Spotlight this week to chat about her latest women’s fiction novel
Author Name: Jessica Maffetore
Book Title: Eleanora in Pieces
Book Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: Sept 5, 2024
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Welcome, Jessica! How would you describe Eleanora in Pieces?
Eleanora in Pieces is the story of a heartbroken woman struggling to survive the years following the unexplained disappearance of her 4-year-old son.
What sparked the idea for this book?
When my kids were very young I obsessed a lot about their safety, as I’m sure all parents do. I spent a lot of time worrying about all of the bad things that could possibly happen to them, and the idea of keeping them safe often felt impossible. In the book, Eleanora’s 4-year-old son disappears from his bed in the middle of the night–really a parent’s worst nightmare. So, writing about this fictional scenario was one way to deal with some of those worries and get them out of my head in a safe way.
What drew you to writing women’s/book club fiction?
I love to write stories and characters that stir a strong emotional reaction from readers. Those are the kind of books I love to read. I don’t necessarily set out to write women’s fiction. Instead, I am drawn to creating stories about emotionally challenging experiences. Those are often about families and relationships. This one happens to center around a woman going through the hardest thing a mother can experience.
What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?
I love how passionate people are about books. It’s so fun to be part of those conversations. I was raised in a family of avid book-readers. My grandmother, who my book is dedicated to, was a huge reader and that rubbed off on our whole family. I know how important books have always been to us, so I love the idea of my book on people’s bookshelves and, in a small way, being part of their lives. The most challenging part is finding the time to write. It’s way too easy to deprioritize writing in lieu of everything else that needs to be done. It takes a good deal of concentration, creativity, quiet, and, for me at least, stretches of time to really get my head in the right place and gain some momentum on whatever I’m working on. It’s difficult to fit that in, despite how much I enjoy it.
What about the writing/editing/publishing process has been the most surprising to you so far?
I had no idea how many times you end up reading your own book! Between writing, drafting, and querying, plus all the rounds of edits, a lot of the writing and publishing process is actually spent re-reading your own words, over and over. So it’s important to love what you write!
Any words of wisdom you give your pre-published writer self (or to a new writer)?
Find other writers to connect with. I haven’t found anyone who has as much patience, passion, and willingness to support each other as other writers. I joined a local writer’s group about a year ago. They are so fabulous and have not only helped brainstorm ideas for book promotions, critiqued writing samples, and given feedback on stories, they’ve also been so encouraging through the launch of my first book that I now couldn’t imagine having done it without them.
What are your interests outside of writing and reading?
Besides spending time with my three teenagers (when they will allow it!) and my husband, I like to train for and run marathons. My husband and I are on a quest to run all the World Major Marathons. I am a big gardener–I have two huge vegetable gardens and a number of flower gardens around our yard. We also have two rescue dogs and two cats who are always in need of some attention!
Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.
I am–it’s the story of two sisters raised in the same family, one of whom is adopted. The sisters come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds but the adopted sister isn’t exposed to or given any context for her native heritage or traditions, which ultimately causes a huge rift between the two of them. It’s a story I’m very excited to write, but one that I want to tell with a lot of thought, compassion and respect, so I’m taking the time to make sure I do it right.
Where can readers find you? (Website, blog, social media, etc.—feel free to include any upcoming, live/online events, workshops, too!)
Folks can find me on Instagram at @jessicamaffetoreauthor, on Facebook at JessicaMaffetore.Author or on my website at jessicamaffetore.com.
Thank you, Jessica! Eleanora in Pieces is available now.
Eleanora in Pieces
It’s been two years since her 4-year-old son… her baby… her Owen… disappeared from his bed in the middle of the night.
Every day Eleanora waits for news that he’s been found. And every day she lives with the nightmare of knowing that she failed to protect her son.
Intuition tells her that Owen is alive, and Eleanora shuts out everyone who doesn’t believe. But she fails to see that her single-minded hope has come at the expense of everything else she used to care about. With her career ruined, her marriage disintegrating, and her family coping with the loss in ways she can’t understand, Eleanora is left trying to claw her way out of the black hole her world has become.
When an unexpected surprise suddenly offers Eleanora a second chance at happiness, she is shocked to feel…nothing.
Author bio:
Jessica is the author of Eleanora in Pieces, a women’s fiction novel from Black Rose Writing. Her work has appeared in a number of literary journals. She has also been a guest columnist in the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.
Jessica attended the University of Hartford for Public Relations and Journalism and holds a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Fitchburg State University. Jessica lives north of Boston with her husband, three children, two rescue dogs and a pair of very opinionated house cats.