Today we talk about The five year lie, a book by Cheryl Ann Hooper published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Cheryl Ann Hooper to get to know her better, to discover the crucial themes of her book The five year lie, as well as what she would like to hear from her readers.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What are the crucial themes of this novel?
The story revolves around the friendship between four women and touches on the themes of trust, loyalty, love, and motherhood. These issues are explored through the individual lives of the friends, who experience them in varying degrees, ranging from a longing for motherhood and Rachel’s inability to conceive, through to the challenges of single parenthood, and a trial separation from her husband for Jenna; the loss of identity, and the subsequent need for a more exciting love life, for Hattie; and the all-consuming dilemma of trust, loyalty, and love that sit beside the friendship between Carrie and her best friend Rachel. As the story unfolds, the themes bring into question what friendship really means, and the strength of character behind the individual women.
- What are the human and character traits of the main characters and how they evolve during the events of history?
The characters of the four friends evolve as the story progresses. As a reader, we get to know them intimately, discovering that Rachel, the central character, lacks confidence, and, is vulnerable. She becomes chaotic and unpredictable as events unfold, and she relies on her friends for reassurance and guidance. We see Jenna evolve from a confident career woman, beginning to lose control over her life until she finally takes control and gets her relationship and career back on track. Hattie, who was once an eclectic, creative, and independent woman, has changed persona and lives a staid and steady existence as a mother, wife, and teacher. She is stifled emotionally and creatively until she meets somebody unexpectedly, who is to change her life forever and help her to rediscover herself. And then there is Carrie, who is the protagonist, who, from the very start of the story, is questionable in her integrity, but her vulnerability allows us to forgive her misdemeanours as she strives to put things right. However, as the lives of the friends entwine, we become to realise that Carrie’s work as a human rights lawyer overcompensates for her lack of integrity outside her career, and this in turn, affects her friendships, relationships, and changes the future for them all.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
I hope that this book will be seen as a good, compulsive read, so that readers want to keep reading to the end to find out how the story finishes. I have written this as something that might be for those readers who are looking for a good story to read on holiday, or for a book group, as there are lots of issues which enter our lives in varying degrees, and which are relatable to most individuals. The story touches on subjects that might be seen as controversial but create a good talking, or, debating discussion. It has been written to entertain, and whilst the characters are sufficiently developed to allow the reader to feel that they know them intimately, it is also easy to read, and the story unfolds very quickly so that readers should be able to get into the story from the opening pages. I would love to hear from those readers, that they have not only enjoyed it, but are looking forward to the next one!
- How was your first publishing experience?
Being published as a first-time author has been a big learning curve! There are processes in the publishing world that were new to me but I have learned a great deal. I didn’t realise just how much work goes into editing and proof reading and that a lot of this falls to the author to sign off. This meant that there were numerous versions of the manuscript going backwards and forwards with the smallest changes, but all of which were necessary. I have found the Europe Books team a great source of support and knowledge, and the feedback and very first meeting with the Commissioning Editor Ginevra Picani, invaluable. It was her thorough reading of the manuscript and her feedback and confidence in my writing, that gave me the push I needed to proceed, and now that I have, I am very happy to be part of the Europe Books collection!
- Are you planning to write more books?
Definitely! I think if you are a writer at heart, it would be very unusual to write just one book and leave it at that. I think that the writing process is a learning experience and that there are lessons to be learned from writing your first novel. There are so many aspects with writing, that second time around, should be possible to draw upon to make the second book even better. ‘I am currently developing the story for my second novel, and hope that my previous experience will enhance my writing and enable me to be more accomplished and established widely as a novelist.
Europe Books thanks the author Cheryl Ann Hooper once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book The five year lie. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my dear reader, I hope that you enjoy reading this book and immerse yourself in the characters and events in their lives which will get you to question and debate issues from your own perspective. Indulge in the story, escape the mundane, and get lost in the twists and turns in the friendships and relationships of the four friends!
So, my dear reader, I just have to wish you to enjoy this reading!!!
Your editor!