What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
The seeds for Anywhere But Here were planted when I wrote Beach Therapy over two years ago. Beach Therapy is the first book in my Tuckaway Bay women’s fiction series, and it’s where we first met Wren and Willow Harper. The identical twin sisters have been part of a close-knit group of women friends since college. Both whip-smart, Wren was the quieter, more practical of the two. Willow was the free spirit, the savvy businesswoman. They burst onto the scene in Beach Therapy with issues right out of the gate. I pondered those issues for two years while writing books two, three, four, and five in the series—and then, finally, dove headfirst into the twins’ story. I didn’t realize how deep-seated some of their issues were, grounded in history, secrets, trauma, and abandonment.
As I wrote, their story uncovered more than I expected. But that’s life sometimes, isn’t it? My goal with all the books in the Tuckaway Bay series is to write women’s fiction focused on genuine women’s issues—to follow women’s journeys and watch them find their way through the problems life hands them. Were all of Wren’s and Willow’s issues resolved in this story? No. Which is why I think there is more story to tell. But I say that about all the women of Tuckaway Bay, don’t I?
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
Wren: “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. Wren is quieter and more introspective, and there’s a lot written into the person she has become—the choices she’s made, the secrets she’s carried, and the past she finally has to confront. Willow: “Roar” by Katy Perry. Not because Willow ever lost her voice—Willow has never had trouble finding her voice! But in this book, much of what normally gives her power and control is stripped away. She discovers that her real strength was there all along.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Lately, yes. I want to write what I’m reading and watching. I rarely read fiction when I’m actively writing, but I watch movies. I like big worlds, complicated relationships, tricky plots, and unique situations. Lately, my preferences have turned toward drama, suspense, and thrillers. That’s a switch from a few years ago, when Hallmark-type fiction was my go-to escape. I have to say the same is true for my fiction reading. I’ve also learned to let my husband choose and surprise me with movies because he always picks stories I would never choose for myself. I’m usually quite surprised when I realize I’m totally engaged—even while watching Viking battles and sci-fi! 😊
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
The current TBR pile is all nonfiction—research for a current project! I’d say more, but right now I’m going to plead the fifth on the grounds that my answer might incriminate me—or, rather, give away a spoiler or two that I’m not ready to share!
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
There is a scene from Wren’s point of view where she takes a cab to an area in Bermuda during a tropical storm. She has the cab driver drop her off down the street, then hustles off in the driving rain toward the back entrance of a home—a mansion set on a private lagoon. It’s familiar, and it’s not. We don’t know where she is going or why, but she is determined to get there. She knocks. Finally, someone opens the wide French door to the verandah, the wind whipping rain inside. And Wren says....
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Silence. Coffee. Sunrise. Repeat.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
I’m not sure I have a motto, exactly, but I do believe it’s never too late to become who you’re becoming. Life changes. We change. Sometimes the path we thought we were on takes a sharp turn, and we have to figure out what comes next. Maybe that’s why I write the women I do. They’re rarely finished becoming who they are. And neither am I.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I want readers to remember the emotions of separation and abandonment—and that the two are not necessarily the same, although they are related. As twins, Wren and Willow have shared an incredible bond since birth, and circumstances throughout their lives have only strengthened that bond. When the sisters have to separate for their own safety, it’s difficult—but they do it. They figure it out. They manage. And they find their way back. The abandonment issues they face—not from each other, but from their estranged mother—also play a part in the emotional push and pull experienced by both sisters. While writing, I wanted readers to feel the heartache and loss—the absence of the other person—that Wren and Willow feel when they’re apart. If I accomplished that, then I’m happy.
Madeleine Jaimes is the author of the new book Anywhere But Here: Wren & Willow (Tuckaway Bay Book 6)
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