The girls in the BOOK CLUB went crazy over The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller (as did I)!! We had a lot of questions that we wanted to ask the author, L.B. Simmons, and she was ready to answer! If you haven't read this book yet, you should!! Here is [my review].
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| LB Simmons |
Hey L.B.! Erica here. Thanks for being our first Back Porch Book Club Special Guest! The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller, your newest release, has received some major buzz lately. After several recommendations from ladies in the book club, I decided that I had to read it right away. And read it I did!! I loved it and so did all the other girls in the book club. Naturally, since we loved it so much, we have a ton of questions. Feel free to overshare and tell us all your secrets ;) We won't mind.
Ok, we will now begin the interrogation (haha)
Bianca: Kaeleb
is the epitome of one's soul mate. What inspired his character?
When I start to write a book, I typically know the
heroine pretty well. I already have in mind her issues, her humor, her quirks…most
of it. And then hero typically balances her out. I write freely as the story
begins and let them play off each other as they interact in my head. With my
first book, Running on Empty, Alex was incredible stubborn so Blake was
extremely patient. In my second book, Running in Place, Tatum was a crazy party
girl and Noah was the perfect, grounded polar opposite. And in The Resurrection
of Aubrey Miller, of course, Aubrey was lost and she needed someone strong to
push her and call her on her bullshit. But he also had to be wise enough to
give her time and room to fight her own battles. I really can’t take credit for
him, that’s just how he was when it came to her.
Tori:
What was the toughest scene for you to write from this book?
GAH! So many heart-wrenching scenes, but I can say that
when Adley dies was the first scene I have ever cried in while writing. I’m not
a crier at all. So when tears started forming, I knew it would be an emotional
one. I have three little girls, all of which were fans of sliding in the
bathtub. My husband started to read it and flat out walked away, but not before
turning and asking how the hell I can write something like that. It wasn’t
easy, but it had to be done. Linda’s death scene was very hard for me to write
as well. I felt the emotion right along with Aubrey when she crawled up and
pulled that blanket up over the both of them. Kaeleb’s goodbye was also very
difficult, because I knew both of them so well at that point, I knew how hard
it was for him to let her go. To trust that she would find her way. Even though
he had to give her that tough love push toward the end, he knew she needed to
reach her low before he would ever get her back. The amount of frustration he
felt with her in that moment, I still get a lump in my throat. I miss him so
much!
Bianca:
Were there times you cried during the writing process?
LOL! I already answered that one. Linda and Adely were
the two that really got to me. It’s different when you write, because I read
avidly as well, but when you are creating the story in your mind as you type
it, you are omniscient. You feel everyone’s emotions, not just the central
character. So, the scenes can become compounded with everyone’s feelings
hitting you as you write. So in Linda’s and Kaeleb’s scenes, as mentioned
before, they were probably even more emotional for me than the readers. Linda’s
thoughts while approaching death and Kaeleb’s fear to let her go were
definitely at the forefront.
Tori:
Did either Aubrey or Quinn's struggles require much research?
I have had the same struggles that both of them had in
the book. Depression definitely, maybe not to Aubrey’s degree, but definitely
feeling lost and wanting to give up. In order to write the story, I had to find
those feelings and I really hone in on them to be able to depict them for
readers. I also had an eating disorder, so a lot of Quinn’s statements were my
own. That was a very long time ago, but I did not find it difficult to recall
them. And as for Palmer’s sessions, even though he was a doctor, his role was
not to psychoanalyze her. His presence was really to help guide her, as a
friend. So when writing him, I really just asked questions I would ask as a
friend. I don’t have a Psych degree, and wouldn’t feel comfortable playing that
part in a book.
So, to answer your question, (LOL), the research was more
internal than external. Finding those feelings of despair and sadness and getting
them out on paper for the both of them and praying to God I do them
justice.
That being said, I did research Linda’s illness. I had to
build a believable timeline for her, and address her treatment, surgeries, and
the affects that both of those along with cancer would have on her body.
Hospice also. I would say because hers was more physical, that required more
outward research than the emotional aspects of Aubrey and Quinn.
Tori: Would ever consider writing scenes
from The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller from Kaeleb's POV :D????
LOL! I would definitely. It’s funny, you let them go
after release, but it’s not really hard to recall them. Although I have already
started planning my next project, I would be able to slip back into Kaeleb’s
character easily. I really fell hard for him. So revisiting him definitely
wouldn’t be out of the question.
Erica:
I've read Running on Empty and The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller (I loved them
both). There's a little bit of a genre hop there. I was wondering what genre
your next book will be? Are you more comfortable writing one genre more
than the other?
LOL! Yes, they are very different. I would say that
Running in Place is kind of the bridge between the two, because it has the same
feel as Running on Empty but is of the NA genre. As stated earlier, I am
already planning my next project. It will be another genre hop as I am going to
be writing something in the YA genre. I don’t really feel bound by genres,
because I write what I feel. If a story calls to me, and I can emotionally
connect and feel that initial excitement when I start to develop a plot, I know
I’m onto something. My writing is mostly emotional, so that connection is all
that is really required for me to invest in a new book. Not the genre.
Group
Question: We just want to
thank you so much for stopping by our book club and chatting with us. It's so
nice of you to take the time out of your schedule to chit-chat with readers. We
think you're awesome. Is there anything else that you want to add about your
books or future books? Also, since we all have a serious book hangover from
YOUR book, do you have any suggestions for books we should read now
(while we wait on another release from you)??
Regarding my future books, I just hope they continue to
get better and the stories continue to touch people as they have in the past.
With each new one, I feel more confident as I really try to perfect the way I
write. Running on Empty was my very first one so personally, I feel it could be
improved upon. But, then I wrote Recovery (novella), Running in Place, and then
Aubrey. With each new book, I feel more confident and I think that carries over
into my writing.
I have a really random list of favorites: For major book
hangover, I would say The Fault in Our Stars. I love the writing and the banter
between the two is laugh out loud funny. But it also has the emotional depth
that I love. For paranormal, I always recommend the Charley Davidson series by
Darydra Jones. Also laugh out loud funny, but super sexy. For Romance, I loved
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton and Tangled and Twisted by Emma Chase. Now that I
am listing these, I am seeing that the funny books seem to be my favorites. So
maybe not so random. LOL! J
Thank you so much for having me and reading The
Resurrection of Aubrey Miller! I have been so overwhelmed by the response her
story has had and the way that the lessons were received by so many. It means
so much to me that you even wanted to ask me anything. LOL! I really enjoy
reliving the story, so this was very fun for me. Thank you ladies for
everything.
About Elizabeth Lee:
When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!
