Interview with Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Marriage is an incredible rite of passage. From the proposal to walking down the aisle, these are unforgettable moments that will last a lifetime. But, what happens afterward? When the dust finally settles, how do you move forward? Decisions like buying a house or whether or not to have children make marriage so much more than just saying ‘I do’. If only there were a day-to-day manual we could reference when times get tough. Truly, there is no simple answer.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Aidan Donnelley Rowley explores this very question in her debut novel, LIFE AFTER YES. It’s the story of Quinn, a young Manhattan attorney, who is embarking on the next phase of her life. As she tries to balance her high-powered law career with her upcoming nuptials, she is faced with the reality that it may not be a bed of roses.

As part of this interview, Avon Books, an imprint of Harper Collins has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: Your writing career took flight after pursuing a law career at a prestigious law firm in New York City. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us a brief overview of your educational and professional background.

Aidan: I am very proud of my education and feel indebted to my three alma maters – The Dalton School here in New York City, Yale, and Columbia Law School. To be honest, I glided through my first two decades-plus of life as a bit of an academic/resume robot, working hard, getting top grades, going for gold. It wasn’t until I spent some time at a high-wattage law firm that I decided it was time to finally stop and think about what I actually wanted and not just what would be impressive or applauded.

Jen: Walking away from a high salary career such as yours in pursuit of a writing career is quite frankly a risky endeavor. Please describe for us the “Ah! Ha!” moment when you knew that it was time to make that leap.

Aidan: My “Ah! Ha!” moment interestingly (given the subject matter of Life After Yes) came right on the heels of my own honeymoon. It was late on a Friday afternoon in January and I sat at my document-strewn desk at the law firm staring out the skyscraper window at the stunning views of the city in which I was born and raised. I did this often, but on that particular day, I looked out and decided to jump. To take my very first risk. In that moment, I chose life over law. Looking back, this seems very indulgent and impulsive.

Jen: LIFE AFTER YES is the story of a strong, young woman named Prudence Quinn O’Malley who has just recently lost her father in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Her raw emotions fuel her disgruntled feelings towards her work, friends, and fiancée. Why did you choose to incorporate this tragic event into the book?

Aidan: I did not want to write a story about 9/11, but I was very interested in writing a story that takes place against the backdrop of this national tragedy. Why? Because I am a lifelong New Yorker and I was here on that day and though I was so fortunate not to lose anyone close to me in the attacks, the day affected me and deeply. I think that day woke many of us – and Quinn – up to the reality that life is fragile and the future is not a guarantee. I think that day focused so many of us on the fact that we should be purposeful about our lives; that we should spend our days committing ourselves to people and things we love. This is what Quinn struggles to do on the pages of Life After Yes.

Jen: And, why did you choose that title? What significance does it have in terms of Quinn’s journey to self-discovery?

Aidan: The novel is named Life After Yes because it is the story of the time in a woman’s life after she says yes to that infinitely important and culturally heralded question. In so many ways, I think our society is unduly focused on the fanfare of the fairy tale: the utterance of that question, on the sparkling diamond, on the triumphant yes, at the expense of other important things. I set out to write a more realistic tale about the revealing emotional and existential tumult that can, and frequently does, ensue after engagement.

Jen: The naming of your lead character has much significance to the flow of the story. Born Prudence Quinn, she has now chosen instead to use her middle name as her first. How does her choice affect her attitude towards life?

Aidan: Quinn’s choice to forsake her given name is hugely important to her identity and attitude. In many ways, Quinn is fearful of clichés and eager to rebel. Moreover, Quinn harbors a deep and abiding fear of predictability and prudence, a fear that manifests in her often counterintuitive and self- destructive behaviors. It is important to note that as Quinn evolves over the course of Life After Yes, her attitude toward her name (and all that it symbolizes) becomes less barbed.

Jen: Quinn’s relationship with her childhood sweetheart Phelps is quite poignant. In what ways does it mirror the relationship she had with her deceased father? And, how does it reflect her reluctance to let go of the past?

Aidan: Quinn, a self-proclaimed “Petra Pan” is reluctant to grow up. Her relationship with Phelps, like that with her late father, is profoundly interwoven with her childhood and the past. She associates these two men with fishing trips as a girl, with unmarred happiness, with that irretrievable and glorious naïveté of youth. I think Quinn realizes, slowly but surely, that to move on, to live her life, she must let these men reside solely in her memories. But she is not necessarily willing to do this.

Jen: The friendships we share with our girlfriends enable us to feel nurtured and loved while at the same time allow us the freedom to delve into the unknown. What makes Quinn and Kayla such a compatible pair?

Aidan: Ultimately, Quinn and Kayla make such a compatible pair because they have vast common ground – education, profession, privilege – but are also very different people. At the outset of Life After Yes, these differences are more stark, but as the story unfolds and both women confront existential challenges – as well as challenges to their friendship – it becomes more and more clear how similar they are. At bottom, both women (and maybe all of us?) are two souls stumbling through the morass of modern life trying to find meaning and happiness.

Jen: Quinn’s usage of alcohol is quite prevalent throughout the book. In what way does it directly correlate to the numbness she is feeling in her heart? Does she recognize the stronghold it has over her?

Aidan: Quinn’s relationship with alcohol is complicated to say the least. On the one hand, her drinking is emblematic of more universal aspects of contemporary corporate culture where alcohol is often ubiquitous. On the other hand, Quinn’s reliance on her Pinot Grigio is a more personal problem. She uses it to escape. To blur the sharp edges of her life, and numb the pain that envelops her as she navigates her life after loss and life after yes. Quinn is only partially conscious of the fact that by depending so heavily on alcohol, she is in fact diluting her engagement to her man and to her life.

Jen: Although Quinn feels the pressure to live up to her boss Fisher’s high expectations, she is just going through the motions as if she were on the outside looking in. What makes Fisher reach out to her? How are these two dissimilar beings, unbeknownst to themselves, actually kindred spirits?

Aidan: Fisher sees a younger version of himself in this young, smart, and self-searching woman. He feels compelled to let Quinn in; to dispel the myths, to be honest, to keep her from making the same personal and professional mistakes he and so many others did. When Quinn first encounters Fisher, she stereotypes him as a fungible corner-office-cuff-link-wearing partner. Once they are given the opportunity to get outside the firm and actually talk, they both realize that despite the obvious differences (gender, age, and rank) they are indeed kindred spirits.

Jen: Quinn’s fiancée Sage comes from a long line of Southern gentile. Calm, focused, and determined to land his bride; he accepts Quinn’s insecurities with open arms. What makes Quinn such the femme fatale in his eyes?

Aidan: For Sage, Quinn is a unique and loveable creature. Unlike many of the women he has encountered, she is at once riddled with profound confidence and deep insecurity. And like Quinn, Sage has a bit of a rebel in him. By wooing a Yankee career girl and settling in the Northeast, he is striking out on his own. Also, something magical happened on that first night when he met Quinn; He was able to open up about his own loss and, for him, this was an early sign that she was it for him.

Jen: Sage’s mother Mrs. McIntyre is a woman with a definite agenda…to hold on tight to her son. Would she have felt as threatened by Quinn’s arrival if Quinn were simply a school teacher rather than a successful lawyer? In some ways does she feel perhaps a bit inferior to Quinn?

Aidan: Mrs. McIntyre proves to be far more complex than the polite, pastel-clad Southern lady she appears to be. Much of her resistance to Quinn is rooted in a simple unwillingness to let go of her son. But this natural maternal possessiveness is no doubt exacerbated by the fact that Quinn is smart and successful and feisty.

Jen: Who is Quinn’s hero? Ironically, is it Prudence?

Aidan: I love this question! I’m not sure Quinn believes in heroes because heroes are the stuff of storybooks and Quinn prefers reality. That said, I do think Quinn manifests a deep reverence for Prudence, her younger self, who she was before life grew more gray and complicated. Interestingly, as Life After Yes progresses and Quinn matures, she embraces Prudence – the optimistic little girl and the concept – more and more.

Jen: A question I just have to ask, will there be a sequel? If so, what can you share with us?

Aidan: A lot of people have been asking this. And it certainly has me thinking… Truth be told, I am hard at work on my next novel, one that is not a sequel, but never say never! Given the wild change in my own life after my honeymoon, it could be fun to see what happens with Quinn after hers!

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be participating in a book tour?

Aidan: Yes. I will be doing several events here in New York and in the Northeast. I will also be participating in a wonderful online book tour.

Jen: Do you have a website? If so, please take us on a brief tour.

Aidan: I have a website called Ivy League Insecurities. I started this blog a little over ago when I had the epiphany that despite my illustrious Ivy League education, when it comes to many things (parenting for instance), I have no clue what I am doing. Alas, the premise of my site is that no league prepares us for life and that insecurities can very often be inspirations. (Which is good because I have plenty of them!) The blog contains all information about my book and book events and is also hearty mixture of silly and serious (and often quite vulnerable) stories about my life as a mother and writer and worrier. Please stop by!

Jen: Do you have e-mail news blasts? Will you be participating in Author Phone Chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?

Aidan: I love connecting with readers. If anyone would like to chat with me about Life After Yes or anything else, they should contact me through my blog. For me, one of the most rewarding parts of writing and blogging has been interacting with fellow readers and writers and existential troopers, so please get in touch!

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. I really enjoyed LIFE AFTER YES, especially the way in which it made me take a step back and evaluate my own life. A novel is so much more than just a story when it leaves such a profound lasting impression. Bravo! I wish you the best of luck.

Aidan: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my rookie novel and thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer these thoughtful and nuanced questions!

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Aidan. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of LIFE AFTER YES today. Better yet, how would you like to win one? Answer the following question and you could be 1 of 5 winners.

What is the name of Aidan’s website?

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Lauren Belfer, author of the sensational novel A FIERCE RADIANCE. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time...

Jen