In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome Audrey Ingram, author of the captivating new novel THE SUMMER WE RAN. Set against the high-stakes backdrop of a political campaign, this sweeping love story follows Tess and Grant—former teenage sweethearts turned rival candidates—as they navigate ambition, identity, and the pull of a shared past that refuses to stay buried. With dual timelines, razor-sharp emotional insight, and a plot that reads like The West Wing meets second-chance romance, Audrey delivers a novel that’s both timely and timeless. Trust me—you won’t want to miss this one.
Jen: What inspired you to write THE SUMMER WE RAN? Was it a particular place, a news story, or maybe even a “what if” scenario that sparked the idea?
Audrey: This idea has been percolating for years. In high school, I worked on a gubernatorial campaign and fell hard for the drama and passion that surround elections. I love shows like The West Wing and Scandal and thought a political campaign would be the perfect backdrop for an unlikely love story between opposing candidates forced to confront their past.
Jen: Tess and Grant's romance spans decades and political ambitions—what drew you to write a love story with such high emotional and public stakes?
Audrey: In my experience, love is messy. It’s easy to fall for someone, but staying in love requires confronting the emotional, complex, and difficult aspects of life together. My favorite love stories tackle that journey.
Jen: You weave dual timelines beautifully in this novel. What challenges or joys do you find in writing across different decades?
Audrey: Thank you! I love dual timelines as a reader because it’s like a puzzle, seeing how the stories fit together. As an author, I spent a lot of time with notecards and timelines to make sure I was getting the pacing and details right. Tess and Grant share a deeply complicated relationship, first falling in love as teenagers and then years later becoming political rivals. Their backgrounds, families, experiences, fears, and dreams all swirl together to shape who they become. By sharing each character’s narrative, in both the past and present, my hope is that the reader can understand and even connect with two very different perspectives.
Jen: Who came to you first—Tess or Grant—and how did their personalities evolve during the writing process?
Audrey: Tess came first but Grant was the most surprising. I was nervous about writing from a male point-of-view and spent a lot of time thinking about Grant’s character and his motivations. In the end, Grant’s chapters were some of my favorites to write.
Jen: The story touches on class, ambition, and identity. How do those themes reflect your own interests or observations about society today?
Audrey: Maybe it’s because I’ve often felt like an outsider, but I’m fascinated with class disparity and the way it impacts our sense of belonging. I grew up in Alabama, went to college in Vermont, and settled in Washington, DC. With each move, I met new people and tried to figure out where I fit. When there are seemingly impenetrable class lines, it can feel very isolating. I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people navigate those situations.
Jen: Can you give us a sneak peek at what’s currently on your TBR stack? Any books you're loving or looking forward to reading?
Audrey: I read WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy and adored every page. It was a deeply emotional love story, a page-turning mystery, and a thought-provoking commentary on the fragility of our world. But it’s a heavy novel. I’m looking forward to lots of escapist beach reads this summer. ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid, IT’S A LOVE STORY by Annabel Monaghan, and BEACH HOUSE RULES by Kristy Woodson Harvey are all on my most-anticipated list.
Jen: What are you currently working on? Is it another emotional, dual-timeline novel—or are you exploring something new?
Audrey: It’s early stages but it’s an emotional love story with mystery elements set in the deep woods of West Virginia and the marbled hallways of Washington, DC.
Jen: Where’s your favorite place to write, and what helps you get into the creative zone? Do you have any rituals, playlists, or quirky habits?
Audrey: I always write to music. Each novel has a playlist, and I listen to those dozen or so songs over and over again as I’m drafting. It started as a way to focus when I was writing in stolen moments while my children played in the background. Now, it’s become an almost Pavlovian ritual. I put on the music, and I’m immediately transported into the story.
Jen: What’s the most rewarding part of being an author? Is it hearing from readers, the writing itself, or something else entirely?
Audrey: It’s all magical in different ways. Connecting with readers is a tremendous gift. There are so many wonderful books out in the world that it’s an honor whenever a reader chooses to spend time with one of mine. Publishing a book is a team sport and working with the editors, marketers, publicists, and agents who tirelessly work at all stages to launch a novel is such a rewarding process. But my favorite days are spent writing. There are moments when the story evolves in surprising ways, or I write a sentence that manages to convey the emotions of that scene and it’s an amazing feeling.
Jen: What advice would you give to someone dreaming of writing their first novel? What’s one thing you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Audrey: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s polished final product. For years, I’d read a book, feel inspired, and start writing. But then I’d get frustrated that the words on my page looked and felt nothing like that perfect novel I’d just finished. First drafts are supposed to be messy. The true craft emerges in the revision process, but you cannot edit an empty page. Push fear aside and embrace the messy, clumsy first draft because it’s an essential part of the process.
Does your past define your destiny? Told through multiple perspectives, rich with emotion and immersive dual timelines, The Summer We Ran weaves together a story of lost love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, and the painstaking decision two people must make in order to fulfill the futures they each desire.
In the summer of 1996, Tess Murphy’s mom gave her two rules to abide by: keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn’t want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken teenage daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.
Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant’s love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes.
Now, more than two decades after their epic teenage romance, Tess and Grant are both running for governor of Virginia, and secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, their political futures, and the memory of the first love that shaped their lives.
Romance | Women's Fiction [Zibby Books, On Sale: June 3, 2025, e-Book , / eISBN: 9798989923069]
Audrey Ingram is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center. She practiced law in Washington, DC for fifteen years. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains. Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.
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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