Welcome, book lovers, to this week's edition of Jen's Jewels! Today, we're diving into the captivating world of THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Imagine a tale that spans decades, from the vibrant streets of 1920s Brooklyn to a lively Florida retirement community in the 1980s. At its heart is Augusta Stern, a remarkable 80-year-old protagonist whose journey of love, loss, and unexpected second chances will leave you spellbound. With a dash of magical realism, a sprinkle of historical intrigue, and a heap of heart, Loigman's novel promises to be a literary elixir you won't want to miss. Join me as we uncover the inspiration behind this enchanting story, explore the intricate research that brings its settings to life, and discover why it's never too late for love or redemption. Get ready for a conversation as rich and complex as Augusta herself!
Jen: Augusta Stern is a fascinating character, balancing her past and present while navigating life’s unexpected turns. What inspired you to create a protagonist who is on the cusp of turning eighty, and how did you approach writing her journey of self-discovery?
Lynda: The inspiration for Augusta came from stories I had heard about my husband’s great-grandmother. Married to a pharmacist who died unexpectedly when she was only in her twenties, Goldie Litvin decided to get a pharmacy degree so she could run the store she inherited. She graduated from Fordham’s College of Pharmacy in 1921and ran her Bronx store for decades. When she eventually sold the store, she worked decades more as a hospital pharmacist in Manhattan. According to the family stories, Goldie changed the date on her pharmacy license so no one would know her real age. She worked well into her eighties. As I thought about the character of Augusta, I knew I wanted to write about an independent woman who lived her life on her own terms. Although her life is full of professional success, she is lonely in her personal life. I wanted to explore whether Augusta could really “have it all” even if she has to wait until she’s eighty to have it.
Jen: The setting of Rallentando Springs, an active senior community in Florida, provides a unique backdrop for Augusta’s story. What drew you to this setting, and how does it contrast with the Brooklyn of Augusta’s youth?
Lynda: My parents moved to Florida from Massachusetts when I was thirty years old, so I am very familiar with what that kind of community looks like. People are usually retired, and they want to socialize and make friends. Of course, with all the socializing comes drama and gossip and I wanted to explore that campy aspect of the community. In the novel, Rallentando Springs provides the comic relief for the hardships and grief that Augusta experiences as a young woman in Brooklyn. The 1920s Brooklyn world I tried to create is full of family memories, good and bad. It is layered and mystical and complicated. The 1980s world of Boca Raton is lighter and full of surprises. I think they complement each other.
Jen: Augusta’s relationship with her great aunt Esther and the unconventional remedies she offers add a layer of mysticism to the story. How did you develop this aspect of the novel, and what role do you see the concept of healing playing in Augusta’s journey?
Lynda: In my third novel, The Matchmaker’s Gift, I fulfilled a long-held wish to add some magical realism to my writing. With this book, I chose to write about a pharmacy because, with all of the pills and tinctures being sold, I could not think of a better place to serve as a backdrop for a dash of mysticism. In order to build Esther’s role in the story, I wanted to learn more about Jewish folklore, “love magic,” birth customs, herbalism, and mysticism. For this I turned to a variety of non-fiction sources, including the following: Ashkenazi Herbalism by Deatra Cohen and Adam Siegel and A Time To Be Born: Customs and Folklore of Jewish Birth, by Michele Klein. I also found great inspiration in the following additional sources: “Some Observations on Jewish Love Magic: The Importance of Cultural Specificity, by Ortal-Paz Saar in Societas Magica; “Magic Bowls of Antiquity,” by Samuel Thrope in Aeon Psyche; and “Who Wrote The Incantation Bowls,” by Dorit Kedar. These works helped me create Esther’s mortar as a modern-day incantation bowl—a kind of magical amulet with a formula written along its inner walls.
Augusta’s role as a healer is something that develops as she ages. As a young woman, she is frustrated—not only by the limits of scientific medicine, but also by the ambiguity of the work her great aunt Esther does. Augusta makes terrible mistakes with disastrous consequences because she is impatient and unable to communicate honestly. She grows bitter and unforgiving. Her real healing begins when she forces herself to be more open to forgiveness, to truth, and to compassion for others.
Jen: The novel explores themes of regret, redemption, and the possibility of new beginnings. How did you weave these themes into Augusta’s story, particularly in her reunion with Irving after sixty years?
Lynda: Augusta has several regrets that she carries with her in life, though I’m not sure she could accurately describe them. She might tell you her biggest regret was loving and trusting Irving in the first place, but her true regret is disobeying Esther and using the elixir without being truthful about it.
When the story opens, Augusta is particularly closed off when it comes to her emotional life. Seeing Irving again after so many years is the first crack in her formidable façade. No matter how much she loathes the very sight of him, Augusta can’t help but be deeply affected by this man. His appearance is the beginning of her inward journey, and it is Jackie who guides Augusta toward patience, compassion, and redemption. I loved the idea of making this part of the story humorous and following a bit of the “enemies to lovers” romantic comedy pattern. Augusta’s redemption was ultimately very satisfying to write.
Jen: The 1920s Brooklyn setting, with its rich history and cultural backdrop, is vividly portrayed in the novel. What research did you undertake to capture this era, and how did you ensure historical accuracy while still allowing for creative freedom?
Lynda: My first step was to understand the world of Stern’s pharmacy. I began with the book Corner Druggist written by Robert B. Nixon, Jr. in 1941 about his father’s career. It was here that I came to understand the early pharmacist’s role as advisor, therapist, and confessor. I then turned to Drugstore Memories: American Pharmacists Recall Life Behind the Counter 1824-1933, edited by Glenn Sonnedecker, David L. Cowan and Gregory J. Higby and A Pharmacist’s Memoirs: Fifty Years of Ukrainczyk’s Brighton Pharmacy by Julius Lichtenfeld.
In order to better set the scene, I scoured Ebay for early editions of American Druggist magazine, and found several editions close to the time period I wrote about. I found advertisements for all the products Stern’s Pharmacy might have carried on its shelves, as well as all of the equipment Solomon Stern might have used. I was also able to procure a copy of Eventide, The American Druggists’ Syndicate Home Monthly from Aug-July 1908, the 1938 American Druggist Pharmacy Handbook, and an 1897 copy of The Standard Formulary published by G.P. Englehard & Co. Together, these sources helped me bring Stern’s Pharmacy to life.
To amplify the details of living in Brownsville, I turned to the following sources: Images of America: Brooklyn in the 1920s, by Eric J. Ierardi; Brownsville: The Birth, Development and Passing of a Jewish Community in New York, by Alter F. Landesman; and Brownsville, Brooklyn: Blacks, Jews, and the Changing Face of the Ghetto by Wendell Pritchett.
In order to flesh out the characters of Zip and Mitzi Diamond, I read both The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Gangster in America by Albert Fried and Our Gang: Jewish Crime and the New York Community, 1900-1940 by Jenna Weissman Joselit. I also found a 1922 article from Saturday Evening Post called “Inside the Bootleg,” which was helpful in understanding how a bootlegger might start his or her business.
In terms of creative freedom, I take great comfort in the “fiction” part of the “historical fiction” moniker. I try to be as accurate as possible in building the world my characters inhabit, but I allow myself tremendous freedom when it comes to their individual actions and emotions.
Jen: Augusta’s use of Esther’s potent elixir has lasting consequences. How did you approach writing this pivotal moment, and what message do you hope readers take away from Augusta’s choices and their impact on her life?
Lynda: Augusta makes the love elixir twice in this story, and so it was important to me to have the second moment echo the first. In terms of plotting and structure, this was the most difficult part of the novel to pull off. The tone had to feel right, the characters had to be in place, and there had to be a sense of déjà vu without getting too silly or cheesy. It was incredibly intricate work, and I am so proud of the result.
In terms of impact on readers, I do hope they feel inspired by Augusta’s story. One of the central themes of this novel is that it is never too late for second chances, or to heal past wrongs or mistakes. To me, that goes for everything in life—not just romance.
Jen: The novel delves into the complexities of love, particularly through Augusta’s relationship with Irving. How did you develop their relationship, and what do you hope readers will understand about love and forgiveness through their story?
Lynda: I think it’s important to understand that the relationship Irving and Augusta have in their eighties is just as emotional, romantic, frustrating, and charged as the relationship between two younger protagonists. Age does not change who we are. For me, this is one of the most important messages of the story. To convince readers of this, I introduce them to Irving and Augusta when they are young and first falling in love. I believe it is more difficult to dismiss the romance and the sparks between older Augusta and Irving when you have already seen them so vividly in their youth.
Jen: What’s currently on your to-be-read stack?
Lynda: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang and A Reason To See You Again by Jami Attenberg
Jen: Are you working on any new projects or books that you’re excited to share with your readers?
Lynda: I am working on my next novel, but this one is coming more slowly. I’m not quite ready to share anything about it yet.
Jen: What’s the best way for readers to connect with you?
Lynda: I try to post updates on Instagram and readers should definitely check that out. I’d love for people to visit my website for all my events. I’d also love for folks to sign up for my newsletter, which I send only a few times a year. Of course, readers can also email me.
Jen: Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. Wishing you the best of luck with your book's release, and I’m sure readers will be captivated by Augusta's journey. We can't wait to see what's next!
Lynda: Thank you so much for having me!
It's never too late for new beginnings.
On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.
As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.
As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.
Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?
Women's Fiction Historical [St. Martin's Press, On Sale: October 8, 2024, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250278104 / eISBN: 9781250278111]
Lynda Cohen Loigman grew up in Longmeadow, MA. She received a B.A. in English and American Literature from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She is now a student of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, and lives with her husband and two children in Chappaqua, NY.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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