Lorraine Zago Rosenthal delivers a memorable story...plus a book giveaway

Today we are pleased to have Lorraine Zago Rosenthal visiting us. Her latest novel, Always and Forever, is now available and it sounds like a powerful story. Lorraine has one copy to share with a lucky reader!

In addition to her latest novels, Always and Forever and Charmed, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is the author of Other Words for Love, published by Random House (Delacorte Press), New Money, and Independently Wealthy, both published by Macmillan (St. Martin’s Press). 

Lorraine was born and raised in New York City, and she is a graduate of the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in education and English. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband. 

You can visit Lorraine at her website and you can connect with her on Instagram.

Synopsis:

Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.

Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.

Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"An elegant, slow-burning portrait of quiet heartbreak and enduring love.

Always and Forever ...explores love, loss, and the people we can't let go. [Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's] prose is quietly luminous and deeply empathetic...the book is populated with rich supporting characters...the narrative is layered with personal and familial drama...bitter generational conflict, and unresolved grief. At the beautifully melancholic story's heart is Suzanne's aching question: What do we do with the love we can't express?

 OUR VERDICT: GET IT" - Kirkus Reviews

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing?
When my first novel, Other Words for Love, was published, several positive reviews expressed surprise that the book is a debut. These comments are certainly flattering; however, although Other Words for Love is my first published novel, it took many years of work, study, and practice of the writing craft to achieve that goal. It didn’t happen overnight. 

How is Suzanne similar to or different from you? 
One similarity is that Suzanne tries to see conflict from different perspectives. For example, there is tension and resentment between her mother and her grandfather, and even though her grandfather once made a decision that damaged her mother’s life, Suzanne still has compassion for him. As an author of realistic fiction, I strive to view conflicts from all sides and to portray characters neither as saints nor as villains. 

If Always and Forever were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
When I write a novel, I definitely visualize actors as most of the characters—but I don’t publicly reveal the identities of these actors, because I want readers to have their own unique vision based on the descriptions in the story. But if Always and Forever became a movie, I would be quite outspoken about the casting choices! 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
I’ve been so busy lately with the publication process for Always and Forever, I haven’t had much time to read—but when I’m able to find some free time for a good story, I watch TV or a movie—so I’ll recommend a TV series that is very similar to a novel. 

I recently re-watched The Night Of, which originally aired in 2016. It’s about a young man accused of a terrible crime, and his family and his defense lawyer don’t know if he’s guilty—and neither does he. He is imprisoned while awaiting trial, and his personality is drastically altered by the experience. The story, setting, and struggles of all the characters are incredibly well done. The series delves so deeply into the personality and evolution of each character that it feels like a book come to life on the screen. I have learned a great deal about writing from studying TV and film—and The Night Of is a masterclass. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
That’s a tough one! I guess it would be fitting to choose somebody with a New York accent. I think my own accent has been diluted from years of living elsewhere, but people tend to know where I’m from before I tell them—so I guess I still sound more like a New Yorker than I realize. 

If we were to visit you right now, what places would you take us to see?
My house was renovated not too long ago, and I had a great time redecorating, so I would love to show you around my home—especially after I deck the halls for the upcoming holiday season!

Thanks to Lorraine for chatting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

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

Giveaway ends November 25th at midnight EST.

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