When did you first call yourself a writer?
I’ve always felt the pull of storytelling deep within me, but it
wasn’t until I downsized my advertising agency to care for my parents
that I truly embraced the title of “writer.” Writing became my
sanctuary, a way to channel my creativity and release stress. It allowed
me to escape into worlds of my own creation, where
anything is
possible.
How did you come up with the idea to write Soul Love?
Soul Love was born from a deep fascination with the concept of
soulmates and the idea that love can transcend time and space. I’ve
always been drawn to stories with supernatural and science fiction
elements combined with complex, multi-dimensional characters. The idea
for Soul Love pays homage to my spouse and the decades we’ve enjoyed
together. Our deep connection is soul level. The story began to unfold
as I imagined a world where love could be both a source of salvation and
a catalyst for incredible challenges.
What was the most challenging part of the writing process for Soul Love?
The most challenging part of writing Soul Love was weaving the
timeline together with the intricate details of the characters' past
lives and present-day struggles and returning intact to the present day.
It was important to me that each of their experiences felt authentic
and contributed meaningfully to the story’s overarching themes.
Balancing the time travel elements with the characters' profoundly
emotional journey required careful attention to detail and tweaking.
Which of your characters do you relate more to and why?
I relate most to Summer Jewel, the main character of Soul Love.
Like Summer, I’ve always believed in the power of love and the idea
that our connections with others are profound and often preordained and
may be enjoyed lifetime after lifetime. Summer’s journey of discovering
her true purpose and grappling with revelations about her past resonates
with my own life experiences of self-discovery and understanding the
deeper meaning behind our challenges.
If you could spend a day with your main character, where would you go and what would you do?
If I could spend a day with Summer Jewel, I’d love to explore her
bookstore, Jewel’s Literary Gems, or perhaps the trails behind Rogan’s
mansion—whether it’s a secluded spot in nature where she finds peace or a
beloved part of Heartsville where she feels a connection to her past
and present. I imagine we’d have deep conversations about life, love,
and the universe, and perhaps she’d reveal a few secrets about her
abilities that didn’t make it into the book.
Can you share the very first page with us?
Certainly! The first page of Soul Love sets the stage for exploring a possible time portal belonging to her mysterious new neighbor.
Present Day
Summer Jewel left her briefcase on the bench in the mudroom. “Aunt
Em, I’m home.” The only response was her soft sigh in the empty air,
which led her to a familiar conclusion that Aunt Em was likely at the
Heartsville Community Center, lost in the thrill of bingo and the
company of her new beau, Bob.
She shrugged and entered the kitchen. After pouring herself a glass
of milk, she perched on a barstool and indulged in a chocolate chip
cookie from the Cookie Monster jar–one small comfort that reminded her
of simpler times. That’s when she spotted the note:
Darling, I’ll be late getting in. I left your dinner in the microwave. Don’t wait up. Love, Aunt Emily.
Summer’s thoughts drifted to Aunt Em’s newfound love and her own
solitary heart. After falling in love with Bob, the change in her aunt’s
life gave Summer hope that she might find love someday.
The years since college had been a quiet parade of uneventful days
and lonely nights. The inheritance from her parents—the house, the
family bookstore, Jewel’s Literary Gems, and a considerable sum— was a
bittersweet reminder of what she had lost.
She would’ve given it all back to have them in her life. Twenty years
ago, her mom and dad had chartered a plane for a romantic weekend
getaway that turned disastrous—neither the aircraft, black box, nor her
parents’ bodies had ever been found. At nine, she had been too young to
remember much about it. Aunt Emily, her father’s sister, had raised her.
The tragic mystery of their disappearance left a void no wealth could
fill.
Her reverie was broken by a loud backfire from a vehicle outside,
followed by grinding gears. Curiosity piqued, Summer approached the
entertainment room and peered through the three-inch wooden blinds. She
watched a moving van pull in and park across the street in front of the
old Victorian house she’d always admired. The place had sat empty for
years. She once heard that the house had been part of a large farm. She
loved the old Victorian’s steep, varied, red-shingled rooflines, towers,
and turrets and adored the stained-glass windows with their gingerbread
trim work.
The house had always seemed a bit out of place in their neighborhood.
The lovely old home’s renovation had started last year and looked
complete from her vantage point. Whoever the owners were, they’d kept
the charming home’s character. Craning her neck, she couldn’t tell if
the newcomers were a family.
Summer ventured out the side pedestrian door, her gaze drawn to the
moving activity. Three men were unloading furniture from the truck, one
clearly in charge. As their eyes met, Summer felt a sudden rush of
nervousness.
She approached her mailbox, and one of the men raised his hand in
greeting. She fumbled with a piece of junk mail. “Moving in?” she called
out.
He walked to the end of the driveway. “Hi, I’m Erik, the designer.”
Without waiting for her response, he quickly asked, “Have you ever met
the owners?”
How odd. “Um. No. Why? Haven’t you?”
“I hoped you might know them. We worked through an attorney who never disclosed their names.” He shrugged. “No harm in asking.”
“I love the house. Is there any chance I could peek inside?” Sure, it
was forward of her, but it might be the only way to satisfy her
curiosity.
Erik nodded. “This is our last load of furniture, so why not? I love
showing off my work.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a
business card. “I’m posting the project online. I would appreciate it if
you’d leave a glowing comment on social media.” His hands tented.
“Sure thing.” Summer hated social media but took his card anyway.
She followed him up the painted plank steps through the open door.
An elaborate crystal chandelier hung in the entry. In front of her,
the rich mahogany staircase dazzled against a backdrop of blue-green
textured walls. A baby grand piano was positioned in the living room
corner to the left of a rock fireplace. The art over the mantel looked
like a Renoir. She wondered if it was an original or a reproduction.
Then something weird happened. The hair on her neck and arms rose.
She had a deja vu feeling as if she had been there before. Trying to
shake off the unsettling sensation, she turned in a slow circle and
said, “It’s beautiful, better than I even imagined. I love it!”
Erik seemed pleased with her assessment, grinning from ear to ear. “I
chose warm, rich colors. I can’t stand the fact that most designers are
like sheep. The minimalists’ interior design with white is so overused
and blah,” he said with an eye roll. “I updated the lighting fixtures
and completely renovated the central kitchen. It’s three stories with
the attic and a downstairs complete with a cookery and staff rooms.”
A mover dropped one end of a very expensive-looking bureau. Erik
shouted, “Do not scratch the floors or furniture.” Then he glanced
apologetically at Summer. “I’ve got to work. I have a deadline with
instructions to leave the house by seven o’clock this evening. Feel free
to look around.”
Yippee—freedom’s call echoed in her heart, inviting her to explore
uninhibited. Summer drifted through the library first. Its walls were
lined with ancient, leather-bound books. The scent of old paper and the
hushed tales of forgotten lore surrounded her, igniting a thrill only a
true book lover could understand and appreciate. Each step was a dance
with history as her fingers trailed over the spines, noting the weight
in their textured covers.
The library seamlessly gave way to an entertainment room, where
contemporary met old-world design, asserting itself with an audacious
flair. A large, ultra-high-definition television screen dominated one
wall, surrounded by a state-of-the-art sound system. Soft, ambient
lighting emanated from cleverly hidden sources, casting a glow that
accentuated luxurious furnishings from the plush, angular sofa to the
gleaming, geometric coffee table.
The kitchen made a bold statement with its brand-new stainless-steel
appliances, rustic oak cabinets, and white and gray marble counters. The
walk-in pantry door was ajar, so she peeked inside to find it vast and
orderly, a trove of culinary possibilities. She suspected exotic spices
and gourmet delights filled the closed shelves and drawers.
Adjacent to this culinary haven, a set of narrow, almost secretive
steps curled upward, their very existence a whisper of intrigue. She
glanced furtively over her shoulder. Erik was absorbed in positioning
the remaining pieces in the living room.
Her pulse quickened with the thrill of undercover exploration.
Memories of countless novels she had devoured over the years surged
within her—a cascade of adventures, hidden rooms, and undiscovered
treasures that had always seemed worlds away were now seemingly within
her grasp. With each step into the unknown, her pulse quickened with
anticipation, and her mind buzzed. What secrets and mysteries lay hidden in this century-old home?
Summer hustled up the stairs, bypassed the second floor, and
continued into the attic. She’d long fantasized about writing a novel in
such a superb, renovated space with its black, charcoal walls and a
shade darker woodwork, a cozy white sofa with black and gold accent
pillows—and how she loved the black lacquer desk. The lighting included
several sconces with candle-like bulbs that glimmered warmly. It was a
nice touch. She murmured, “Totally jealous of the owners.”
She peered through the horizontally installed cameo windows, the view
of which looked directly at her house. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a
shimmering swirling blue light materialized on the other side of the
room. It formed a doorway of sorts, like beams of a hidden sun trapped
within its frame, defying the laws of physics and reality.
What the heck? Summer cautiously approached, each step filled
with fear and fascination. She reached out tentatively toward the
opening, her hand trembling slightly. Was it a gateway to worlds unseen?
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
Soul Love is perfect for fantasy romance readers who crave a
blend of time travel, past life mysteries, and the supernatural aspect
of secret societies. My ideal reader believes in the power of love to
overcome obstacles, enjoys getting lost in richly detailed worlds, and
loves characters with depth and complexity. If you’re the type of reader
who enjoys time travel, the concept of past lives, and being swept away
by a story that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last
page, then Soul Love: a past life, time travel romance is for you.
