In this week's Jen's Jewels, we chat with bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne about her latest novel, 15 SUMMERS LATER. Set in the charming town of Emerald Creek, Idaho, Thayne's story dives into themes of betrayal, secrets, and reconciliation. RaeAnne shares her inspiration, the significance of the Idaho wilderness in her writing, and how animal welfare plays a crucial role in Madison's journey. Don't miss this captivating feature that unveils the heart and soul behind 15 SUMMERS LATER.
Jennifer Vido: What inspired you to explore themes of betrayal, secrets, and reconciliation in 15 SUMMERS LATER?
RaeAnne Thayne: I love reading memoirs where people dig deep into their personal histories to recount their struggles and fears and the lessons they learned. I am often struck, though, by how the same circumstances can be interpreted very differently by the various people involved. I wondered what would happen if one person wrote a memoir that alienated her from those she loved most. The whole story evolved from that single question.
Jen: The setting of Emerald Creek, Idaho, is integral to the story. What significance does the town hold for Ava and Madison, and how did you develop its atmosphere?
RaeAnne: I loosely based Emerald Creek on Sun Valley. I wanted somewhere gorgeous and rugged, a mix of outdoor opportunities and small-town living, surrounded by wilderness. The town is important to the story but the mountains outside of town, particularly my fictional Ghost Lake area, plays an even bigger role.
Jen: Animal welfare plays a significant role in Madison's life. How did you incorporate this passion into the story, and what message did you hope to convey through her work at the no-kill shelter?
RaeAnne: Madison finds healing and comfort by working with animals, with their uncomplicated devotion. She is dedicated to providing a home for animals others don’t want, animals who perhaps have nowhere else to turn. She believes every animal is worth saving, perhaps a metaphor for her own struggles after the summer that changed her life forever.
Jen: The theme of love intertwined with tragedy is evident in Madison's relationship with Dr. Luke Gentry. Can you discuss the challenges and rewards of writing about such emotionally charged dynamics?
RaeAnne: Madi has nursed a secret crush on Luke since he and his family rescued her and her sister from an untenable situation, though their relationship has always been layered with guilt. Luke’s father died during their rescue and Madi blames herself. I love writing about characters who belong together but can’t see what is so clear to everyone else in their world. Luke and Madi are perfect for each other, it just takes them a little work to get there.
Jen: Family secrets are central to the plot. How did you balance the pacing of revealing the characters' secrets to keep readers engaged while ensuring they remained empathetic towards their journeys?
RaeAnne: It’s always a difficult line to walk, particularly with Ava. She was so self-protective, even with those whom she loves most. She kept many secrets from those in her life, preferring to focus on the woman she had become instead of the circumstances she couldn’t control as a teenager. I tried hard to make sure readers understood her reasons for holding those secrets close to her – and for eventually revealing them to the world through her autobiography.
Jen: What aspects of Ava and Madison's journey did you find most rewarding to write?
RaeAnne: I really loved writing about the Idaho wilderness. I live in northern Utah, just a few miles from the Idaho border, with a landscape that is not unlike the fictional one I created in 15 SUMMERS LATER. I loved driving into the canyons near me to sit by a river and write, where I could immerse myself in the wild setting around me.
Jen: Do you have a favorite character in the book, and if so, what makes them stand out to you?
RaeAnne: I love all the animals I created in the book for the comfort and unwavering love they provided to the people in their lives.
Jen: What books are currently on your to-be-read list this summer?
RaeAnne: So many! I have a dozen new releases on my to-be-read pile, including books by Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, and Kristan Higgins.
Jen: What’s the best way for readers to stay up to date on your latest news?
RaeAnne: They can find me on social media, particularly Instagram and Facebook. I’m Author RaeAnne Thayne on Facebook and RaeAnne Thayne on IG. They can also subscribe to my newsletter through my website.
Jen: What summer destination holds a special place in your heart, and what makes it your favorite?
RaeAnne: I feel extraordinarily fortunate to live in the kind of place some people travel to for their summer vacations. Ten minutes from my house I can be in a mountain canyon, surrounded by silence broken only by the sound of the breeze in the pines and birds flitting through the dogwood branches. I absolutely love where I live! If I drive through the canyon for an hour, I can reach a huge lake that is a destination for people in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, with a beach that on an August afternoon can be as blue as the Caribbean. It’s a truly gorgeous place that fills me with joy every time I visit.
Jen: Thank you for stopping by to chat about your new release, 15 SUMMERS LATER. Happy summer!
RaeAnne: Thank you so much for having me!
15 summers ago, everything changed…
Ava Howell seemed to have it all. She moved away from Emerald Creek, Idaho, married the love of her life and published a bestselling memoir. But she never expected that her husband would feel so betrayed by a secret from her past—the truth of what happened to her and her sister all those years ago—that he’d walk away. Now Ava is back home and trying to move on with the only person who can truly understand…
Following years of healing, Madison Howell is finally happy. After college she built a no-kill shelter where she works with animals every day, and she’s in love with the town veterinarian, Dr. Luke Gentry. But she can’t ever bring herself to tell him. Years ago, his dad died protecting Ava and her sister, so how could he ever love her back?
With the truth laid bare, and the past that Ava and Madison have worked so hard to leave behind threatening everything they have built for themselves, the Howell sisters’ reunion is bittersweet. And as Ava and Madi attempt to remedy the rifts in their lives and reconcile their futures, they must face the demons of their past together.
Romance Contemporary | Women's Fiction Contemporary [Canary Street Press, On Sale: June 18, 2024, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781335009333 / eISBN: 9780369748027]
Amazing tale of two sisters who escaped from a cult.
Sisters find happiness 15 Summers Later.
Stories of Hope, Healing, & Heart
RaeAnne Thayne will do anything to tell a story. In 15 years as a newspaper reporter and editor, she rode along with a motorcycle gang, took a trip in a hot air balloon and even gave a hunky country music star her home phone number (it was for an interview -- honest!).
When she wasn't working as a journalist, though, RaeAnne worked on her real love -- writing romance novels. She dreamed of publishing a book long before she ever thought it was possible. In fact, college friends used to spend hours when they should have been studying, trying to help her come up with a good pseudonym (none of which she actually ended up using, since she writes under her own name!).
After graduating from college, she took a job as a reporter at a daily newspaper, then moved to news editor. It wasn't until she was home on maternity leave after the birth of her first child in 1990 that RaeAnne seriously tried her hand at fiction writing. She sold her first book in 1995 and quit her editor job two years later to write full-time.
She is a two-time recipient of the Heart of Romance Reader's Choice award and has been a finalist for the RITA and for the National Reader's Choice award.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry filled with southern charm and hospitality. In between chapters, she interviews authors for her bi-weekly Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com. Most mornings, she teaches an arthritis-friendly water exercise class for seniors before heading to the office to serve as the executive director of a legal non-profit. A New Jersey native, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two rescue dogs and is the proud parent of two sons who miss her home-cooked meals. To learn more, please visit her website.
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