What is the title of your latest release?
SHAKEN TO THE CORE
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
After her mother’s sudden death, Joy discovers her diary - one entry inspires an idea that changes the trajectory of her life. Then her husband receives devastating news, which threatens their future and forces her to find the courage to pivot. SHAKEN TO THE CORE is an uplifting novel about love, loss, resilience, and how motherhood transcends biology.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Vermont is my serene sanctuary in the mountains. Our family has visited for years, making memories and creating meaningful moments. The landscape, people, food, and energy there is the perfect setting for Joy’s journey.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Yes!
What are three words that describe your hero?
Creative, empathetic, and intuitive
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned to trust where my heart leads me. If something did not work, I pivoted or deleted the scene. One of the main themes of SHAKEN TO THE CORE is “what do we do with the time we have left?” I lean into this in life - both on and off the page.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
It’s tortuous because I absolutely adore editing! But I wait until it is done. This intentional choice has expanded and enriched my writing process. The distance from a draft often brings clarity and insights.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Must I only list one? A decadent, warm gluten-free chocolate chip cookie dipped in almond milk.
Describe your writing space/office!
I am surrounded by books of all genres. I light a candle, set an intention, and write on a hand-crafted, oak desk from Vermont. And I prefer, whenever it’s possible, to write in the morning.
Who is an author you admire?
Jill Santopolo
Is there a book that changed your life?
Too many to list!
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Oh, I love this question! I shrieked, read the email at least five times, and I’m grateful I get to do this work.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Rom com and upmarket fiction.
What’s your favorite movie?
I gravitate toward movies that are character driven, witty, and have happy endings! When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorites.
What is your favorite season?
Fall
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Conversations with friends, spending time with my husband and children, reflecting, and setting intentions for the upcoming year.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Shrinking. It’s also a comp for my book.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Mediterranean
What do you do when you have free time?
I love dancing, reading, Pilates, walking near the ocean or lake, and taking photos.
What can readers expect from you next?
Books that continue to, I hope, empower, inspire, and impact people at a heart level. As a former speech-language pathologist, I am passionate about creating characters who communicate differently and emerge radiant even after breaking points.
A Novel
When life is cut short, what do we do with the time we have left?
Joy Stern, a free-spirited photographer, thought she had it all together. She built a traveler’s life with her husband, Andre, an architect who designed their days like the buildings he created. Children weren’t part of the plan.
When Joy’s mom dies suddenly, everything changes. Being behind the lens, capturing photos of families, doesn’t feel like enough anymore—until Joy discovers a hidden key to her mother’s diary. One entry inspires a choice that could transform the trajectory of her life.
Then the unthinkable happens: Andre receives devastating news, which upends their carefully constructed world. As Joy struggles to pursue her own dreams while supporting the man she loves, Joy wonders: Can she do it all?
An uplifting story of hope amid heartbreak, Shaken to the Core explores motherhood, chosen family, and love that transcends life’s greatest hardships.
Romance Medical [ Regalo Press, On Sale: June 23, 2026, e-Book, ISBN: 9798895652534 / eISBN: 9798895652541 ]
Dara Levan writes about love, loss, resilience, and how radiance emerges from our breaking points. She’s the founder and host of the Every Soul Has a Story podcast and blog. A graduate of Indiana University, Dara is a former pediatric speech-language pathologist who lives in Fort Lauderdale.
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