Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Soon Wiley to HJ!
Hi Soon and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Cece Downing’s Start Over Summer!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
The novel follows the story of Cece Downing, a recently-fired actuary who calls off her engagement and starts working on an oyster farm.
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
“He makes me feel like I’m living life, not just passing through it.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
This book takes place in the New London, Connecticut area, which is where I attended college. Oysters are one of my favorite foods to eat, especially in the summer, and so it was super interesting to do my own research into oyster farming, which figures heavily in the book’s plot.
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
The romance at the heart of the novel is an unlikely pairing between Cece, a former actuary, and Morgan, a boat builder who lives in her neighborhood. Initially, Cece is attracted to Morgan’s rugged good looks and unfamiliarity, but her affection for him quickly grows into something genuine when she discovers that there’s more to him than meets the eye. For Morgan, he finds Cece’s gumption and bravery refreshing, even if she’s fresh off a canceled engagement and a bit of a mess!
Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?
What a great question! There’s a scene in the book where Cece has a particularly tough day at work on the oyster farm, and she ends up sobbing uncontrollably in her car. Worse yet, she’s discovered by the guy she has a major crush on. That was a tough scene to write. I don’t think there’s anything more embarrassing than crying in public and then being discovered by someone you’re trying to impress!
Readers should read this book….
You should read this book if you want a feel-good beach read about finding yourself, oysters, and reinvention.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
I try not to talk about ongoing projects too much, but I am currently working on my third novel.
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: A copy of CECE DOWNING’S START OVER SUMMER by Soon Wiley
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🎉 Giveaway Rules 🎉 ✨ Must be 18 years or older to enter. ✨ MUST leave a comment answering the giveaway question. ✨ Bonus Entry:Share this post on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and drop a comment below letting me know you've shared it. ✨ Winner(s) will be selected at random. ✨ No purchase necessary—just enter and cross your fingers! ✨ If you win, I'll need your full name and mailing address to send your prize. This information will be shared with the author, publisher, or publicist solely for prize fulfillment purposes. ✨ Giveaway closes 3 days from the date this post is published.
Book Info:
A witty, heartfelt novel about a young woman who leaves everything behind to work on an oyster farm in a small New England town.
Recently fired from her dependable career as an actuary, and recovering from a messy breakup with her fiancé, thirty-two-year-old Cece Downing is holed up for the summer in New London, Connecticut, without a plan. Mounting financial debts soon force Cece to take the first job opportunity that comes her way—one she’s wholly unsuited for—as a deckhand on an oyster boat.
Surprisingly, Cece finds herself loving the job: working with her hands, breathing the fresh sea air, and learning the ins and outs of oyster farming. And despite her overbearing mother’s pleas to get a “real” job and reunite with her wealthy fiancé, Cece plunges headlong into an ill-advised romance with her neighbor, a handsome shipyard worker named Morgan.
When a proposal to expand the oyster farm throws the community into an uproar, pitting wealthy waterfront owners against blue collar workers, Cece finds herself caught in the middle. And as a family crisis forces her to reevaluate her reckless choices Cece must come to terms with what she’s willing to sacrifice for the life she wants to live.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N |
Meet the Author:
A native of Nyack, New York, Soon Wiley is the author of the novel When We Fell Apart. He currently teaches English in the Upper School at Greenwich Country Day School, where he also serves as chair of the English department. He resides with his family in Connecticut.
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