Jacinta’s father, a tea towel over his shoulder, shuffled sizzling onions in the Teflon pan. The onions spattered and translucent billows of steam permeated the room. Lowering the flame, he turned to flip through a pile of letters from the post on the counter. Stopping on one envelope, he opened it, piqued interest lifting his brow slightly as he read its contents. He turned to his adolescent daughter at the kitchen table. -Jacinta, do you want to explain this? Jacinta recognized the letter in her father’s hand as her report card and glared at it as if it were a snitch. She knew what it said. Knew that it said she talked too much. Knew that the marks reflected homework that was completed too quickly just before their deadline. Knew that her Maths and Science scores didn’t stand up to what her father expected them to be. She clung to the hope that the only strong grade, English, would curb the disappointment that unfolded on her father’s face. -The teacher doesn’t like me. It’s not fair. Anger and embarrassment welled up inside Jacinta as she grappled for an explanation to placate her dad. She fought her instincts to look away in shame. -Excuses – dad snapped, and stalked back to the stove, the clatter of lids magnified by his frustration. Jacinta knew that the discussion was over and that he, a man of few and perfunctory words, wouldn’t speak to her for days, the absence of his attention more powerful than a tirade of words.
Today we talk about The other girl, a book by India Simone published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, India Simone, to get to know her better, when she decided to write her book The other girl, as well as how much of herself she sees in the protagonist of her novel.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Was the idea for this book born at a particular moment? What was that?
When I was a teenager I always wanted to be an author -I use to write poems and people who read them thought I had a creative mind -over the last few years I had started to write but was never been able to finish the novel -but I write a lot of educational books -so one day I was travelling to work on the train and due to Wi-Fi issues could not listen to my music -I started to think of what would be interesting to write about -that is where Jacinta was born.
- What would you like to hear from you readers?
I would like to know how they have found the character of Jacinta -and did she make the right decision -also this could be a story of any girl who has conflicts with her ambitions and life.
- How much of you is there in the protagonist of the novel?
I am ambitious and I grew up in a background similar to Jacinta -though my life was not as complicated as hers
- What does it mean to be a woman in 2022?
To be a woman of 2022 -you need to be independent -you need to know what you would like from life and do not let external factors affect your lifestyle -she is seen spinning many plates but she is true to herself -she needs to know her sexual wellbeing and strive to keep herself happy and healthy -she is a daughter, mother, aunt, sister, lover, friend and wife but most importantly she is herself.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Yes -there will be a further 2 books based on Jacinta -as her story continues -this will take her through more experiences and whilst she becomes stronger, she also learns that not everything can be controlled.
Europe Books thanks the author India Simone 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 other girl. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish this book will capture yourself with the desire to learn more about the protagonist’s story, reading after reading, and that at the same time, it provides you with food for thought that you can apply in your vision of life.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!