| Joy marries a widowed bank executive caught in an ethical dilemma and misreads his obvious frustration while struggling to integrate into her new family. This novel explores the challenges of second marriages and dealing with step-children during the crucial years of puberty and teenage angst. A college professor coming up shortly for the huge tenure decision, Joy finds herself falling apart as her career and her home issues deteriorate and collide. Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction Release Date: February 26, 2019 Click here to get your copy! |  |
Interview with Debra
#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Carl Jung says: “The afternoon of life is just as full of meaning as the morning; only, its meaning and purpose are different.” Jung goes on to describe life's afternoon as the time when we begin to shift away from the ego being the dominant force in our life and move toward a journey that has real meaning.
I have always admired the writing of Daphne du Maurier, who wrote Rebecca among others. I've read Rebecca more than once, and the idea of being a second wife captivated my imagination, even though I've only been married once.
My husband and I recently watched the movie, We Bought a Zoo. Although I wrote the first draft of my novel, Joy after Noon, before seeing the movie, one aspect resonated with me. Benjamin Mee, the character played by Matt Damon, is grieving the death of his wife. At one point he remarks to Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) that a love like his for his first wife only comes along once in a lifetime. By the end of the movie, Benjamin and Kelly have not exchanged more than a kiss. Still, the question comes to mind: What would it be like to be the second wife to someone who had loved that deeply?
Carl Jung says: “The afternoon of life is just as full of meaning as the morning; only, its meaning and purpose are different.” Jung goes on to describe life's afternoon as the time when we begin to shift away from the ego being the dominant force in our life and move toward a journey that has real meaning.
I have always admired the writing of Daphne du Maurier, who wrote Rebecca among others. I've read Rebecca more than once, and the idea of being a second wife captivated my imagination, even though I've only been married once.
My husband and I recently watched the movie, We Bought a Zoo. Although I wrote the first draft of my novel, Joy after Noon, before seeing the movie, one aspect resonated with me. Benjamin Mee, the character played by Matt Damon, is grieving the death of his wife. At one point he remarks to Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) that a love like his for his first wife only comes along once in a lifetime. By the end of the movie, Benjamin and Kelly have not exchanged more than a kiss. Still, the question comes to mind: What would it be like to be the second wife to someone who had loved that deeply?
 | #2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book? There’s always a bit of myself in each of my characters from the least likable to the most. In Joy After Noon, the character I most identify with is Jenny, the younger daughter. Jenny knows she could never come near to the example set by her older sister, Marianne, so why try? Jenny plays clarinet in band. As she practices for tryouts, she has a loose pad, causing her horn to squeak rather than play properly. Naturally this happens on the last night before tryouts, and she has no idea what’s causing the problem. |
I was a clarinet player, and had this exact experience myself. Jenny becomes friends with a wild girl named Claudia, who leads her to trouble. I had a similar friend as a teenager, and she was even named Claudia. Claudia is a tragic figure in the novel, but not an unsympathetic one.
#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book
In Joy After Noon, Joy is the second wife of a widower. Not a great beauty, Joy lacks self-confidence, especially in the domestic realm. Much of the plot hinges on her failure to express her fears and Ray’s failure to articulate his feelings. Like many men, he assumes she knows how he feels, and she’s not secure enough to tell him that she needs to hear it from his lips.
This type of communication problem isn’t limited to second marriages but extends to many first marriages (or even third) as well. Nor is it limited to one sex or the other. Too often we assume our partner knows our needs, or knows how we feel; and, too often, they do not. One of the messages I would like readers to take away is to tell our spouses and other loved ones how we feel about them, and what we need to hear from them, rather than assuming that they already know.
In Joy After Noon, Joy is the second wife of a widower. Not a great beauty, Joy lacks self-confidence, especially in the domestic realm. Much of the plot hinges on her failure to express her fears and Ray’s failure to articulate his feelings. Like many men, he assumes she knows how he feels, and she’s not secure enough to tell him that she needs to hear it from his lips.
This type of communication problem isn’t limited to second marriages but extends to many first marriages (or even third) as well. Nor is it limited to one sex or the other. Too often we assume our partner knows our needs, or knows how we feel; and, too often, they do not. One of the messages I would like readers to take away is to tell our spouses and other loved ones how we feel about them, and what we need to hear from them, rather than assuming that they already know.
| #4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book. When I was writing the first draft of this novel, I attended a writers’ conference at Mt. Hermon. I received a lot of good input there. I already planned to call the novel Joy After Noon. One remark that has stayed with me came from a member of my group who said the title reminded her of the song “Afternoon Delight.” The connection hadn’t occurred to me, and her remark made me reconsider. Still, I ultimately decided to stick with the title because of a totally different connotation, related to the afternoon of life and how our perspectives change over the years as we mature. |  |
#5. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I am a wife, mother of two and grandmother of three. I grew up in a Christian home. Some of my earliest memories are of the little country church I attended with my parents and grandparents.
When you grow up in the church, as I did, I think it’s harder to tell a dramatic conversion story. When I was quite young, we had a revival meeting. One of my friends was the daughter of our local preacher. She went down the aisle one night. A few days later, another friend and I went down. Years later, though, I looked back and questioned my level of understanding at the time and recommitted my life to Christ.
My grandmother was one of nine children in a little farm community in western Kentucky called Bell City. When she was growing up, they went to tent revival meeting when they came to town. Later, her brother and a friend who ran an orphanage there built the church I attended as a small child. I remember going on Easter egg hunts with the kids from the orphan’s home and being thankful I had parents and grandparents who loved me. I’ve started writing a trilogy called the Bell City Bottom. So far I’ve written a draft of the first book in the trilogy, which is my grandmother’s story. She was born in 1900.
I am a wife, mother of two and grandmother of three. I grew up in a Christian home. Some of my earliest memories are of the little country church I attended with my parents and grandparents.
When you grow up in the church, as I did, I think it’s harder to tell a dramatic conversion story. When I was quite young, we had a revival meeting. One of my friends was the daughter of our local preacher. She went down the aisle one night. A few days later, another friend and I went down. Years later, though, I looked back and questioned my level of understanding at the time and recommitted my life to Christ.
My grandmother was one of nine children in a little farm community in western Kentucky called Bell City. When she was growing up, they went to tent revival meeting when they came to town. Later, her brother and a friend who ran an orphanage there built the church I attended as a small child. I remember going on Easter egg hunts with the kids from the orphan’s home and being thankful I had parents and grandparents who loved me. I’ve started writing a trilogy called the Bell City Bottom. So far I’ve written a draft of the first book in the trilogy, which is my grandmother’s story. She was born in 1900.
 Debra Coleman Jeter | Debra Coleman Jeter has published both fiction and nonfiction in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist for a Selah Award, as well as for Jerry Jenkins’ Operation First Novel. Her story, “Recovery,” was awarded first prize in a short story competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her nonfiction book “Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson”: Tales of a Young Actor was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several domestic and international awards. Joy After Noon is the first novel in her Sugar Sands series. She has taught at Murray State University, Austin Peay State University, and Vanderbilt University, where she is currently a Professor Emerita. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Debra is giving away the grand prize package
of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
For Him and My Family, August 17
lakesidelivingsite, August 18
Splashes of Joy, August 19 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20
Artistic Nobody, August 21 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Inklings and notions, August 22
Simple Harvest Reads, August 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 25
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 26
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 27 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 28
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, August 29 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, August 29
Texas Book-aholic, August 30
lakesidelivingsite, August 18
Splashes of Joy, August 19 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20
Artistic Nobody, August 21 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Inklings and notions, August 22
Simple Harvest Reads, August 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 25
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 26
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 27 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 28
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, August 29 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, August 29
Texas Book-aholic, August 30
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