An O'Brien Family Christmas

Interview with Sherryl Woods, THE INN AT EAGLE POINT

Almost since childhood, Abby has been forced into assuming a mothering role with her younger siblings, especially Jess. How does this affect her decision to return home to Chesapeake Shores?
Abby was seventeen, Jess only seven, when their mom left home. From that moment on, Abby formed a special bond with her youngest sister. Because Jess was diagnosed with a mild case of Attention Deficit Disorder, which caused her to struggle in school and to have difficulty holding jobs, Abby understands just how much it means to Jess to make The Inn at Eagle Point a success. When Jess calls, there's not a chance in the world Abby won't rush home to help

Although Abby and Trace’s breakup was painful, it seems like their relationship would never have been successful all those years ago. Now, after a divorce and twins, how is Abby finally ready to be with Trace?
The turning point with Abby comes when she realizes that she's ready for the kind of future that Trace is offering. Though there will be compromises she wasn't willing to make years ago, those compromises will give her the kind of life -- and love -- she's learned to value.

Although they both fought hard to get away, Chesapeake Shores will always be home for Abby and Trace. How did you manage to create a setting so emotionally-fraught that it almost becomes another character in the story?
I think because I've balanced my life over the years between the excitement of big cities and the warmth and closeknit communities found in small towns, I love inviting readers into exactly those kinds of places. And I enjoy the struggle between conflicting emotions that draw people to either one, probably because it's a struggle I have yet to resolve in my own life.

Abby finds herself struggling to accept that she can have the career of her dreams and a loving family. Why did you decide to add this dynamic to her character?
I think this is a dilemma faced by many women today. We've grown up wanting it all, but there's always a nagging sense that maybe we're being selfish if we go after it. In the end, we all find ways to compromise that work for us as individuals and for our families.

The Chesapeake Shores series features several generations of O’Brien women - did you have an easier time writing one of the O’Briens than another?
Actually, I am blessed in my life to have a 96-year-old aunt who's still feisty and until very recently a 99-year-old friend of my mom's, who was still dating and driving, so that writing about that generation really appeals to me. I think it adds texture and richness and wisdom to the stories. Of course, I'm in the middle age range, as are my friends, so that means I can relate to some of those issues. And I absolutely adore the various youngsters in my life. I'm surrounded by inspirations of all ages.

Although they grew up together, Abby and Jess had completely different childhoods. Has their relationship with their parents affected their outlooks on life and love?
Because Abby was the oldest of the O'Brien siblings -- and ten years older than Jess -- on some levels she had the maturity to understand what was happening between her parents. Her biggest issues to resolve are resentment that, in her view, her mother left her to pick up the pieces of their family. She's also angry at her father for burying his pain in work. At least she can counterpoint all of that with years of good memories. Jess had very few good memories and, in fact, carries the guilt of a child that somehow her ADD caused her mother and, in essence, her father to abandon the family. It will take her a lot longer than her older siblings to make peace with either parent or to trust that love will last.

Because the O’Brien family is so far from perfect – with fights, estrangements, and misunderstandings galore – it seems so realistic. How did you manage to create a family dynamic that is at once flawed and loving?
Isn't that the way most families are? As much as I'd love to believe that the perfect worlds of "Leave It to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best" are the norm, the reality is that most families have issues of one kind or another. It's not the existence of issues and misunderstandings, it's how we learn to handle them that matters. And it also seems to me that if we learn those lessons within a loving family, then we're better prepared to cope with a very flawed world.

Your background is in journalism; how do you think this contributes to your success as a fiction author?
I have a couple of theories about this. First, I was taught to meet deadlines and to write quickly and coherently. Second and far more important, journalism trained me to observe, to ask questions and capture the people I interviewed in just a few short words. Because of that, hopefully, I'll never lack for inspiration. All I have to do is look around me.

Your novels often feature serious issues while still being fun and romantic. How do you strike this balance in your writing?
This was very, very tricky for me initially. When I wrote FLAMINGO DINER years ago, it was very personal for me. It had a suicide storyline, and I had lost two dear friends to suicide. To write it, I had to spend time in a very dark place. It was incredibly difficult, but a wise editor helped me to find a way to inject some much-needed humor into the story. It kept me sane and it also helped me to find a balance in many of the books that have followed. I want readers to finish my books with a sense of hope and triumph. The humor makes that possible. It shows readers that even in the face of the darkest despair, we can find moments of joy and laughter.

You’ve said that you prefer not to plot out your stories, instead letting the ending work itself out. Has this ever led to some surprises for you?
Oh my yes, especially with my mysteries. In one book, I gathered all of the characters together for a final scene, planning to reveal the guilty party and, lo and behold, he hadn't done it! Of course, I had to go frantically through the manuscript to make sure the guilty guy was actually in town when the crime was committed. But I have to admit the surprises in writing keep it fun for me and, hopefully, for readers as well.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
I love the quiet books of Jan Karon and Joan Medlicott, the romantic suspense of Carla Neggers, Nelson DeMille's complex thrillers, and the wonderful worlds created by Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber and Robyn Carr.

What are you working on next?
I'm right in the middle of a new trio of Sweet Magnolias books for spring 2010. Going back to Serenity, South Carolina, for these stories is like spending time with wonderful old friends. I hope readers will be as excited as I am.