Meet Jayne Jaudon Ferrer and read all about book, Hayley and the Hot Flashes (June 8 2022)!
When five middle-aged girlfriends trade in carpools and casseroles for microphones and music halls, look out!
Hayley Swift, a country music diva who has slipped out of the limelight, gets more attention when she’s mistaken for Taylor Swift’s mom than for her former glory days. When she’s invited to perform at her 35th high school reunion, a bus accident puts her back-up singers in a hospital, Hayley begs her long-gone-domestic quartet from high school to join her onstage for the gig. They’re such a hit that she invites the women to fill in on a low-budget tour for a couple of weeks while her singers recover. Thrilled at the chance to flee routine for a dream deferred for decades, the friends readily accept.
Nefarious flirtations, indiscriminate mood swings, equipment malfunctions, and a few nasty cat-fights combine to wreak havoc on the Retro Rodeo tour, but it’s a crazed stalker, an overzealous fan, and an unexpected pregnancy that ultimately derail the road trip. In the midst of the mayhem, friendships and fantasies are redefined as the women come together to face one’s debilitating illness. True love emerges from the tragedy, though, and the friends discover new strengths and aspirations as this adventure ends and new ones begin.
Hayley and the Hot Flashes will make you laugh out loud and indulge in your favorite “what if” fantasies as they deal with sickness, stage fright, attitudes, egos, temptations, testosterone, and more.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your published book (s).
I’m the author of five poetry collections, a nonfiction book about games, and the founder/editor of www.YourDailyPoem.com. HAYLEY AND THE HOT FLASHES is my first published novel; it’s a fun romp about a has-been country music singer who, after her back-up singers are injured in a car crash, invites her four best friends from high school to do a low-budget tour with her.
Tell us about the genre you like to write, and how is it similar / different from other women fiction genres?
I enjoy writing for women, period—in multiple genres, from advertising and articles to poems and, now, fiction. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tailored my work accordingly. My style tends to be in your face/honest, with a fair amount of humor. I write for smart women who have a positive outlook on life and count their blessings instead of their burdens.
What are some of the biggest challenges hen lit authors face today?
Literary agents seem to be much less inclusive than they once were, and publishers don’t seem nearly as interested in serving an older audience as they should be.
Given the ongoing popularity of chick lit, where do you see hen lit ten years from now?
I’d love to think it will proliferate! It’s still much harder than it should be to find compelling fiction about women over 40.
When did it dawn on you that you wanted to be a writer?
I started reading when I was four and have been fascinated by words ever since. I literally cannot remember when I didn’t write.
Do you have a day job other than being a writer?
Almost all of my jobs have revolved around writing in one way or another. Most recently, I’ve worked in a family business, but I’m retiring this year and look forward to focusing 100% on my own writing projects.
What are some things that inspire you to write?
An interesting person walking down the road, some gorgeous aspect of nature, a frustrating encounter with a store clerk, a memory…
What is your typical writing routine like?
I don’t necessarily create new content every day, but I sit at my computer and do something writing-related—editing, researching, submitting, etc.– for at least 3 or 4 hours almost every weekday. Saturdays and Sundays, I tend to spend with family. When I’m composing, I love to have hours of uninterrupted time with no music or distractions other than the birds outside my office window.
What kind of message do your book (s) convey to readers?
In HAYLEY AND THE HOT FLASHES, I state it flat out: it’s not age, it’s attitude! If your outlook on life is negative, you’re never going to be satisfied or fulfilled.
Does your book (s) incorporate certain aspects of your own life (and / or that of others)?
I think we can’t help but include some of our own experiences and observations in the characters we create, but that’s not something I specifically set out to do.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?Katherine Valentine, Elinor Lipman, Anne Tyler, Sarah Loudin Thomas. I like books about small town life with happy endings, interesting characters over the age of 40, intriguing, believable plots, and humor. These women always deliver.
Any advice you’d like to give for aspiring writers at this stage in life?
Read constantly, of course, from whatever genres interest you to how-to articles and interviews, and writing conferences can be tremendously valuable, for both the knowledge gained and the contacts made.
Read more about Jayne here:
www.JayneJaudonFerrer.com
www.YourDailyPoem.com
