Constellations
by Patricia Leavy
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GENRE: Women's Fiction/Romance
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BLURB:
Constellations follows Tess Lee and Jack Miller after three years of marriage as they navigate the meaning of love and family over a series of holidays. Tess is a wildly successful and world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore our innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jack is a former federal agent. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. Both healing from past trauma, together they have finally built the life they wish to live. What will happen to their blissful union when Jack’s childhood family resurfaces? When Tess and Jack visit the Millers for Christmas, how will insecurity, a sense of missed opportunities, and the need for redemption test their relationship? When a terrible accident threatens everything in an instant, will they learn the true meaning of unconditional love? Their loved ones are along for the ride: Omar, Tess’s sarcastic best friend who calls her Butterfly; the female president of the United States, with whom Tess talks politics and bakes cookies; Joe, Jack’s friend from the Bureau who understands the sacrifices he’s made; Bobby and Gina, their younger friends who never fail to lighten the mood; and the Miller family. Constellations is a novel about family – those into which we’re born and those we create – the human desire to belong and feel connected, the true nature of intimacy, and the power of love to heal and redeem. Written as unfolding action, Constellations is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between melancholy, humor, and joy.
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EXCERPT:
Excerpt One:
Tess clung to Jack as they sped along the cliffside road on their Harley, winding around the last curve as they approached their house. When they arrived home, Jack carefully took off Tess’s helmet, kissed her, and grabbed the bag of fruit they’d bought at the farmers market. She pulled the scrunchie out of her hair, releasing dirty blonde locks down to her waist. They headed inside. “You thirsty, baby?” he asked.
She nodded.
He quickly tapped a coconut, stuck a paper straw in, and handed it to her.
“You’ve gotten so good at that,” she said, taking a sip.
“Yeah, just in time to go back to DC. I can’t believe we have to leave our Hawaiian paradise tomorrow morning. We’re crazy to leave Maui this time of year.”
“I know, baby. But we’ll be back in less than three months to throw Omar and Clay the tropical Valentine’s Day wedding of their dreams. Besides, it’ll be fun to see our friends.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Here, have some,” she said, handing him the coconut. “Let’s leave the pineapple out. We can grill it tonight for our Thanksgiving feast while we sit on the lanai and watch the sunset.” She kicked her shoes off, slipped her T-shirt over her head, and shimmied out of her shorts, revealing a hot pink string bikini. “Bet I can beat you to the ocean,” she teased, darting off.
Soon, they were splashing around in the warm water, the sun beating down on them. Jack wrapped his tanned arms around Tess and kissed her. They stared at each other, the energy between them electric.
“I could get lost in your big, brown eyes,” he said.
She smiled and said, “Come on, let’s dry off.” They walked to their pool and lay together on a chaise lounge.
“Jack?” Tess whispered.
“Yeah, baby.”
“I know you hold back sometimes, but you don’t need to.”
“Tess…”
“Baby, I know you do. There’s nothing that could ever happen between us that I wouldn’t want.”
He caressed the side of her face. “You’re so beautiful and delicate. I just want you to feel safe and loved.”
“I do and I always will.”
“You’ve been through so much. It wasn’t that long ago that Ray was stalking you; I know that brought up memories of your childhood abuse. I don’t ever want to be the cause of your pain or remind you of the ways you have suffered.”
“You couldn’t. You only push those thoughts further away. I trust you, Jack. Nothing could ever change that. I want to share everything with you. I’ve never felt as close to another human being as I do to you.” She ran her fingers through his wet, salty hair and said, “I still remember the first time we came here, before we owned this place. You took me in the shower and we were so free.”
He grazed his fingers along her cheek.
“I’m gonna rinse off,” she said. She untied her bikini top, let it fall to the floor, and headed for the outdoor shower.
Jack hustled out of his swim trunks and followed her. She flipped the water on, turned toward him, and smiled. He cupped her face in his hands, kissed her softly, and with one swift movement, swung her around and pulled her bathing suit bottom down. “Don’t let me hurt you,” he whispered. He pushed her against the wall and they made love passionately.
With his quivering body pressed tightly against hers, Jack kissed Tess’s neck and nibbled on her ear. Finally satiated, he turned the shower off and wrapped towels around each of them. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms as he carried her to a lounge chair. They resumed their tender kisses, Jack caressing the side of her face. He looked at her with unadulterated adoration.
“I love you so much,” he said.
“I love you too. More than anything.”
A Word With the Author
1. Did you always want to be an author?
Yes. I’ve loved creative writing since I was a little girl. When I was about ten years old, I had a wonderful teacher and she really encouraged my writing. I actually tried writing a novel at the time, an epic love story between people who help each other heal, but because I was ten, it didn’t pan out! Even though I always wanted to be a writer, I was too afraid to pursue it. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to put your creative work out and there can be so much rejection and critique. I didn’t think I could handle it so I chose another path, got a doctorate, and became a sociology professor. As a result, I started publishing nonfiction books. After years of doing that I realized life was short and I found my courage. I wrote my first novel, quit my teaching gig, and I’ve never looked back.
2. Tell us about the publication of your first book.
My first book was a co-edited nonfiction book, but in some ways that seems like another lifetime. My first novel on the other hand, Low-Fat Love, came out ten years ago and was a turning point for me as a writer and author. For sure, lots of things didn’t go well. I definitely did not go with the best publisher for the book, so I was on my own a lot, figuring out the world of fiction writing with little support. That said, I was fortunate that readers found the book and many embraced it. While it’s by no means my best work, there was a rawness and honesty in the book that resonated. Many readers shared their personal stories with me as a result and that was an incredibly enriching experience for which I’m forever grateful.
3. Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?
I know too many authors to share favorites. You never want to leave someone out or hurt someone’s feelings.
4. What's the best part of being an author? The worst?
The best part of being an author is the writing itself. Getting lost in story worlds. Characters revealing things you didn’t know. It’s a magical process. I’m completely in love with writing. The hardest part in many ways is sharing the work once it’s published. It makes you feel incredibly vulnerable and exposed. Readers can have all kinds of responses to what you’ve written, which of course they’re entitled to, but it can be hurtful at times. As an author it’s important to have your own relationship with your work that’s not dependent on others, but we’re all human so that can be tricky in practice. Sometimes people say authors and artists need a thick skin, but it’s our sensitivity and compassion that allows us to create. Like I said, it can be tricky.
5. What are you working on now?
The next Tess Lee and Jack Miller novel should be coming out in early August. It’s titled Supernova and it’s the darkest, grittiest book in the series. The novel explores love and trust. What happens when there is a betrayal? Tess and Jack’s love will be tested in a way it never has been before. It’s been written for a while, so I’m just waiting to release it. In the meantime, I’m working on a love story that takes place on a film set in Sweden.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a bestselling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chair of Sociology and Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. She has published over thirty books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. She is also series creator and editor for ten book series with Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense, including the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. Patricia has received dozens of accolades for her books. Recently, her novel Film won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, her 3-novel set Candy Floss Collection won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Anthologies, and her novel Spark won the 2019 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2019 Living Now Book Award for Adventure Fiction. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network, named her an “Influencer.” In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” She has residences in Maine and Massachusetts where she lives with her husband, daughter (when she’s not away at college), and her dog. Patricia loves writing, reading, watching films, and traveling.
Website: www.patricialeavy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricialeavy
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:
Patricia Leavy will be awarding a signed set of 3 novels: Shooting Stars, Twinkle, and Constellations to two (US only) randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring my work!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very good book.
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