Author: Leslie A. Rasmussen

Title: After Happily Ever After: A Novel

Genre: Women’s contemporary fiction

Pub date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: She Writes Press

Welcome, Leslie! Please describe After Happily Ever After. 

It’s the humorous and heartbreaking journey of Maggie Dolan as she hits midlife and wants to rediscover who she is and what she wants, even if it means throwing her marriage and the rest of her world up in the air.

What sparked the idea for your story?

As I raised my children and hung out with a lot of mom’s, I noticed I was hearing the same stories over and over again about their marriages, the jobs they had decided to leave to raise their children, and how they were dealing with their parents aging. I originally thought I’d write a nonfiction book, but then decided with my background in writing television, I’d be more suited to write a novel. That way I could take many people’s experiences and characteristics and combine them into what became my main character, Maggie Dolan.

How long did it take for you to write the book? Did you do have to do any research?

The book from beginning to end took me about three years. I was raising my children and actually trying to learn as much as I could about writing a book, since I’d never done anything like that before. I did do research on different forms of illnesses that Maggie’s father had in the book and met with a neuropsychologist, and joined Facebook groups in order to make sure I was writing situations that were real.

What drew you to women’s fiction, especially given your background in screenwriting?

While raising my kids, I was also writing personal essays for both Huffington Post and Maria Shriver’s online site. My essays were humorous but dealt with everyday things that happen in a mom’s life. When I decided to write a book, it seemed only natural to write a women’s fiction book about what moms in the middle of their life may be going  through

For you, what’s the hardest thing about writing?

I love the process of writing, but I would say the hardest thing for me would be the initial outline. In the past I would write an incredibly detailed outline for a television script, but when I sat down to write this book, I wanted to just keep writing and not take the time to figure out all the details. As it turned out, I ended up getting stuck in the middle, and then needed to go back and take the time to write an outline. With my second book that I’m writing now, I definitely started with an outline because I wanted to do the harder work upfront and not get stuck again.

What do you love most about it?

The thing I love most about writing is the dialogue. I enjoy writing banter between characters and letting the reader find out who these people are by the way they talk to each other. A great description of someone is helpful to visualize who they are, but to me, hearing how they talk, and what their opinions are, helps you feel more connected to them and they become more relatable as people.

If you were speaking to someone who hasn’t read your writing before, why should they want to read After Happily Ever After?

I would want them to read the book to see that they weren’t alone in going through many things that women go through in midlife. Whether it’s feeling anxious that your children are leaving the nest, wondering if your marriage can survive the long-haul, worrying about the health of your aging parents, or just feeling like you want to contribute something new to the world.

What about the writing/editing/publishing process has been the most surprising to you so far?

I had no idea how hard it was to get an agent or get published. I had an agent the entire time I was writing television, and when I decided to write a novel, it was impossible to get anyone to even talk to me because I didn’t have a platform as a novelist.  The whole thing seemed very daunting.

What advice would you give your pre-published writer self?

I would tell her to keep writing and to believe in herself and know that if she does the best possible job she can do, she will eventually find a way to get it published.

What are your interests outside of writing and reading?

I like to work out, I enjoy going out with friends, going to movies, and going out for great food. I’m also a huge dog lover and have trained one of my Labradors as a therapy dog, and I have volunteered at an animal shelter in my neighborhood.

Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.

I’m about 2/3 the way through my second book. It takes place in 2004 and is about two young women from very different backgrounds who find themselves thrown together as they navigate the most difficult and painful decisions of their lives.

How are you adjusting to promoting a book during a pandemic? 

Since this is my first book, and I don’t have anything to compare it to, I have just gone with the flow. I’m doing a virtual launch party on April 7^th, I’ve been doing a lot of social media posts and ads, and I’ve been doing podcasts and Facebook live interviews.

Where can readers find you? 

I’m having a virtual launch party on April 7^th, where I’m being interviewed by Amy Silverberg, a writer and comic.

I’m doing a podcast for DIY MFA, which will be up in June

And July 8^th, I’m being interviewed by Zibby Owens.

My website is www.lesliearasmussen.com

I’m on FB: @afterhappilyeverafternovel

I’m on IG:  @leslierauthor

I’m on Twitter:@leslierauthor

Thank you, Leslie! After Happily Ever After is out NOW.

After Happily Ever After