Monday, October 12, 2020

Tori Whitaker is a wish come true...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Nina Parker
Today we are pleased to welcome Tori Whitaker. Her debut novel, Millicent Glenn's Last Wish, published earlier this month. Thanks to Kathleen Carter Communications, we have THREE copies to give away!

Tori Whitaker grew up in the Midwest. She now resides outside of Atlanta, Georgia where she and her husband of more than forty years live near their two sons and their families. Tori belongs to the Historical Novel Society and her feature article, "Multi-Period Novels: The Keys to Weaving Together Two Stories from Different Time Periods," appeared in the Historical Novels Review. Tori graduated from Indiana University and is chief marketing officer for a national law firm. She is also an alum of the Yale Writers' Workshop. (Bio adapted from Amazon.)

Visit Tori online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

Three generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart.

Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her.

Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come.
As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love.
(Courtesy of Amazon.)

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
My road was long and winding and filled with big potholes, but when I fell, I climbed back up and kept moving forward until I reached my destination.
 
Which of the three women in your novel can you relate to the most?
Hmm. Certainly parts of all three. I suppose I relate to Millie the most, because in the final analysis, she’s a grandmother who wants what’s best for her family. And I am already conscious of the things I’m passing down to my granddaughter.
 
If Millicent Glenn's Last Wish were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
You’re the first to ask! I would happily leave casting to the pros, but with good make-up artists to transform stars into looking older or younger as needed, I have toyed with this cast: Judi Dench as matriarch Millie; Goldie Hawn as aging ex-hippie Jane; Goldie Hawn’s real-life daughter Kate Hudson as pregnant Kelsey in the modern storyline (and in dual roles—Hudson playing young housewife Millie, too). For Millie’s husband Dennis in his youth? Scott Eastwood all the way.
 
If we were to travel to your hometown, what are some places you would take us to visit?
I was born in Cincinnati and lived there until I was 10, and that’s where my novel is set. I’d recommend going to the art deco Union Terminal which opened in 1933. It still has trains and glorious original murals, but it’s renovated to hold the Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Cincinnati History Museum. While there, ask about the Whispering Fountains (they are featured in my book). If you’re into craft beers, you can wander not far off to the OTR where there are numerous breweries and bars. This neighborhood is filled with restored Italianate architecture, and it pays homage to the city’s German brewery history that dates to the 1800s. Brewing was a major industry here until Prohibition.
 
What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I’ve learned that I love working from home. My day job (marketing for a national law firm) has quite a commute. Only now are our Atlanta office employees returning two days a week. But as a writer, I’m already self-disciplined—especially when writing must be done in my free time. Turns out, I’m productive doing my job remotely. The time that I used to spend getting ready for work or driving a car has allowed more time to walk, handle book launch needs, and often cook a comforting meal. I love that.
 
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I enjoyed Gerwig’s film adaptation of Little Women. Jo March’s journey to publication made my husband and I both get teary-eyed.

Thanks to Tori for visiting with us and to Kathleen Carter Communications for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends October 18th at midnight EST.

19 comments:

Nancy P said...

Officially, I am considered as Generation X by people who track these things but my parents were from the Silent Generation & immigrants to the USA, so not the typical western, Baby Boomers that these categories assume to be my parent's generation.

Mary C said...

Generation X

Michelle L said...

I am at the end of the Baby Boomers generation, and proud of it! :)

Suburban prep said...

Way at the end of the Baby Boomer.

traveler said...

Early baby Boomer.

jtmswim said...

Baby boomer for me. Thanks for the giveaway chance. Stay safe and healthy. 💕📚😷📚💕

Anonymous said...

Before the Baby Boomers - the old people???

kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com

Shannon S said...

I am Gen X. This book sounds so good..I love dual timelines! Thanks for the chance. Fingers crossed!!

diannekc said...

Baby Boomer

Rita Wray said...

End of the baby boomers.

bn100 said...

baby boomer

Mary Preston said...

Born in the 50's.

Amber K. said...

I was born in '82 so I'm technically a Millenial.

Susan Roberts said...

Baby Boomer

Joanne McGrath said...

Generation X

Toni Laliberte said...

I was born in 1970

rubynreba said...

Baby Boomer

Peggy Russo said...

Baby Boomer here.

Pamela said...

Generation X