LET'S WELCOME PAMELA Q. FERNANDES AUTHOR OF: STARTING OVER

LET’S

WELCOME

PAMELA Q.

FERNANDES

AUTHOR OF:

Rad-Reader:  What made you want to tell this story?

Pamela:  Starting Over was actually submitted to Roane Publishing for their One Story Afternoon Anthology. I kept thinking of what big event could lead to this stormy afternoon between my characters and Cara and Nathan’s secret emerged. I worked the story backward from there. 

Rad-Reader:  How did you come up with this idea for the story?

Pamela:  The idea came up with just two individuals whose life was just thrown apart. I was at that point where I was rethinking my own decisions and wondering had I chosen a different career, life would have been so different and that’s where I saw Cara’s story unfold in her choices.

Rad-Reader:  Can you give us some backstory on the two main characters that the blurb/synopsis may not have given us?

Pamela:  Nathan and Cara were high school sweethearts. They were meant to be. And if it weren’t for the misunderstandings between them, if only they had talked or been more honest, they would have had their HEA long before. There’s a secret between them that is the root cause of all their problems.

Rad-Reader:  How long did it take you to write this story?

Pamela:  I had it down in two weeks. I keep saying this, STARTING OVER is one of those stories I wrote organically. I sat down and even through tears, I knew where the story was going and it just flowed onto the page. There was no struggle writing it and I have to say it came straight from the heart. 

Rad-Reader:  How did you go about developing you two main characters or did they develop themselves?

Pamela:  I gave Cara a background in Botany. This was a fall story and the season is as much a character as Nathan and Cara. So having the foliage, the flowers, scent of maple, rust reds was instrumental in developing Cara and her appreciation of the same. For Nathan, his competitive edge and the swimming aspect was important as far as Brooke was concerned. It kept him tethered to Cara’s niece and also gave him a bit of fierceness.

Rad-Reader:  Nathan is mad at Cara for not going to college?  Is it that she’s not following him or just staying in the nowheresville town?

Pamela:  It’s a bit of both. To be honest, if you see it from his perspective, he built a lot of dreams with her. Future plans and hopes. Then suddenly with no explanation whatsoever, she decides those dreams don’t matter. He’s shattered. The primary problem is he can’t understand why she’s staying and what’s more important than her career.

Rad-Reader:  When Nathan makes a scene and a grand exit, he’s upset Cara didn’t call him to say goodbye after graduation.  Also, when he’s leaving town.  Really, he makes the grand exit and wants her to call?

Pamela:  Anyone who’s been in love and going through a breakup will understand how everyone is teetering on the edge. Both wait for the other to call, ‘should I message, will he message, will she message, will I look desperate, will she look foolish,’ and so no one takes that step towards reconciliation because both sides are waiting, both are hurting, both don’t want to seem like they love more. Like all of us, the wait of minutes turns to days and days to weeks until you finally think it’s over. And so, I think that’s what Nathan and Cara were both agonizing about.

Rad-Reader:  Now fast forward.  Nathan has Cara come for a meeting for a landscaping bid and because she doesn’t fawn all over him upon seeing him, he gets angry.  Why would she when she is in shock and his girlfriend is there?

Pamela:  Both Nathan and Cara are shocked at seeing each other. It's those first moments when you meet someone you once loved and the pain hits you. Anger is the first thing one feels, especially if you see them well-adjusted, settled and happy. Nathan is angry that Cara has settled here in Henderson County and chosen to be a botanist despite the potential she had. And its anger for so many reasons that bubbles to the surface. The fact that despite Kerry’s presence he can’t seem to control his rage makes it more poignant.

Rad-Reader:  He really expected her to do that?  How many times did he call her to check on her?  How about when her mom died of MS not 6 months after he left for college?

Pamela:  Cara and Nathan cut off communication completely. Like I said before, they both agonized over taking any reconciliatory steps. Even though both were expecting the other to reach out. In Nathan’s case, it was a matter of keeping his word, that he was never coming back. So, he stayed out of touch as with most breakups, he cut off all contact completely. 

Rad-Reader:  If Nathan is coming home and knew he was still in love with Cara why did he bring Kerry?

Pamela:  Nathan didn’t realize the force with which he still loved her. He also assumed she’d probably moved on. He asked around and nobody ever told him the truth, so he was under the impression she’d found someone else in life. I also think Nathan didn’t want to come back to Henderson County alone. So, he gets engaged to Kerry who he’s been dating for a few months and realizes she’s not “THE ONE.” It was always Cara.

Rad-Reader:  It sure seemed like the whole town already knew that Brooke was hers and Nathan’s or is that just me?

Pamela:  Ben and Elizabeth knew because Elizabeth was Cara’s doctor. The rest of the town only knew that Nathan had turned his back on Cara and never came back even when she needed him. It’s a small town and people could have figured it out.

Rad-Reader:  If Nathan knew Elizabeth was doing the fix up on that Sunday why didn’t he just call and cancel?

Pamela:  I keep asking myself that. Why didn’t he ask earlier? I think he was waiting for Cara to say it. To probably tell him not to get married because he had a child. Besides, it never seemed the right time. Just when they got along, he’d say something and it would lead to a huge argument. The stormy afternoon proved the right moment because Cara’s in a good mood, they’re both alone and she has nowhere to run but answer his questions. 

Rad-Reader:  If your book was made into a movie who would you want to play…

Cara:  Zooey Deschanel

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/44262008817129519/

Nathan:  Conor Dwyer

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/553450241691872766/

Brooke:  Skylar Dunn (with dark hair)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/412149803389724944/

Ben:  Michael Chiklis

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/563372234617335094/

Elizabeth:  Teri Hatcher

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/322148179588789745/

Kerry:  Hailey Bieber

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/848295279786662617/

Pamela:  

Cara:  Blake Lively 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319517345999/

Nathan:  Nathan Adrian looks good too! :)

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/543528248758181434/

Brooke:  I’d go with Skylar whom you chose.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/812125745278569559/

Ben:  The same: Michael Chiklis

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/563372234617335094/

Elizabeth:  Marguerite MacIntyre

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/339881103104205235/

Kerry:  Hailey is perfect. 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/141370875782961392/

Rad-Reader:  What song or songs best describes your couple relationship or your book best?

“Never Like This – Danielle Bradbery”

On the day that Cara got the nerve to tell Nathan that college was no longer an option.  Because of other circumstances he blows both their worlds apart and leaves.  No longer giving her a way to breathe the same way again.

https://youtu.be/AlvPNZDhlXU

“Devastating – Roman Alexander”

Ten years have gone by and Cara is a professor of botany and she enjoys doing landscaping on the side.  With raising Brooke, she can always use the extra money.  So, almost a year ago she put into landscape the estate when her and her ex-boyfriend together.  It is down to her and two other bids.  When she and Nathan see each other.  It is not good.  You see he bought the house they used to dream in.

https://youtu.be/9yP_FCGCRLs

“Got It Right This Time – Keith Urban”

Nathan came with a girlfriend but soon finds out that he is still in love with Cara.  But he has no clue she is a package deal.  Not to mention to mention the townspeople all are invested in how and who gets close to Cara and Brooke.

https://youtu.be/CwUa3M_Ots4

Pamela: 

"I was made for loving you - Tori Kelly ft. Ed Sheeran"

https://youtu.be/D90iRWHwHBQ

Or if a sad version:

Over and Over Again

"Break Up in the End - Cole Swindell"

https://youtu.be/YibQdKpqRfU

Rad-Reader:  When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Pamela:  I wanted to be a writer in college. I intended to take up arts and journalism. None of that happened and here I am a decade later trying again.

Rad-Reader:  Where is the place you find yourself being the most inspired to write in a special room, a place outdoors, a restaurant?

Pamela:  I sit at the same desk every day, I’m most inspired after a long walk. After that, I just retreat to the setting of my book and stay there till I’m done writing for the day.

Rad-Reader:  What would you tell a young Pamela who was just starting out as a writer if you could?  Giving her something you have learned since starting out, it would be?

Pamela:  Don’t be afraid of rejection and criticism. Go for it. If there’s a story beating at your heart, write it. And say yes to everything!

Rad-Reader:  What is your favorite genre to read?

Pamela:  I love romance. In a hard world, it’s the hope and promise of an eternal love that makes life so much better.

Rad-Reader:  What is your favorite genre of music to listen to and dance to?

Pamela:  I love jiving! I love some of the ’80s and 70’s music, I guess because my parents listened to it and I watched them dance. Today, every party I go to I love the jive numbers and just wait if someone can partner me on the jive. So, if it’s a fast Walk of Life by Dire Straits or More of you by Bellamy Brothers, I’m itching to jive! 

Rad-Reader:  If money was no object what style of clothing would you like to be dressed in…vintage, mod, couture, I forgot to the wash again and it is whatever available on the floor this morning?

Pamela:  I’m fashion challenged. I’d love to just be in a floral dress every day if I could. If it wasn’t for work, I’d be in jeans and a tee or a simple dress. I hate ironing clothes but still love chiffon!

Rad-Reader:  Are you in a writing group where you have people or even a person that you bounce ideas off?

Pamela:  No, but I’m part of various publishing houses and all the authors have a group on Facebook where we talk to each other if we’re facing issues or we’re having a problem. I remember getting a one-star review a few weeks ago and reached out. All the authors had amazing advice on how to learn and grow from that while respecting the reviewer.

Rad-Reader:  Do your friends and family ever say, “Hey this character seems a lot like me?”

Pamela:  Nah, they barely read my work. A prophet is never recognized at home and that’s the case with my writing. It’s been very unpopular so they have no clue if shades of them are in the book. Good for me! I still leave notes in my book for them, hoping one day they’ll find it worth reading.

Rad-Reader:  If you could visit anywhere in the world to get the feel of the place in order to get the lay of the land and write it into a book for your characters where would it be?

Pamela:  Ooh, I love traveling but I think Greece would be top of my list. I can’t picture much of Greece in my mind. I can’t reconcile the country that was and that it has become. 

Rad-Reader:  If you could write any other genre what would it be?

Pamela:  Suspense maybe. I already write it into romance, but I’d love to write a mystery. So far, I write romance and women’s fiction. They do tend to have an element of mystery and suspense so yes, mystery would be my go-to.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers buy your books on the Web?  Links

Pamela:  

STARTING OVER:

books2read.com/u/38xZZr

WISH UPON A BOLLYWOOD STAR: 

books2read.com/u/mdWzzW

NEVER FORGET:

books2read.com/u/47xrrE

Rad-Reader:  Where can our reader find you on the Web?  Links

Pamela: 

Website:

https://www.pamelaqfernandes.com/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/PamelaQFerns

Pinterest:

https://in.pinterest.com/pamfdes/

Bookbub:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/pamela-q-fernandes

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-Q.-Fernandes/e/B00HWO5KX4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Facebook: 

http://www.facebook.com/PamelaQFernandes

Pamela, 
Thanks so much for being with us.  Your sorry was an interesting concept to walk through.  Although you had an idea of where it might lead you did see the small twist along the way.  Thanks for letting us know your process on how you went about the follow through of writing this book also.
Thanks again,
Char