Kerry Lonsdale
author & co-founder of Women’s Fiction Writers Association
Kerry Lonsdale is the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Amazon Charts & #1 Kindle bestselling author of standalone and series-based emotionally charged domestic drama. A mash-up of domestic suspense, family drama, and contemporary romance, her novels straddle genres, and with over twenty-seven foreign language translations, they appeal to a wide, global audience. She lives in Northern California with her husband, teenage son and daughter, two cats, and an aging Golden Retriever convinced she’s still a puppy. When Kerry’s not writing, she can be found binge-watching anything with big CGI effects or high drama. She’s a sucker for stories about second chance romance, strong women overcoming odds, and families with dark secrets.
Me: What is women’s fiction?
Kerry: The Women’s Fiction Writers Association defines women’s fiction as a layered story where the plot is driven by the protagonist’s (be it man or woman) emotional journey. I consider women’s fiction a story as defined by the WFWA but also ones that appeal to a female target audience.
Me: Is women’s fiction just a new term for romance novels and chick-lit?
Kerry: Women’s fiction has been around for decades. The term has gained traction in the past ten years for those books that don’t neatly fall in the romance, chick-lit, or genre-specific categories. Often, women’s fiction is shelved in the general fiction category at bookstores, but many of us would love to see a special section just for these books.
Me: What inspired you to write women’s fiction?
Kerry: I didn’t set out to write women’s fiction. I thought I was writing a romance, but as the story evolved and I started pitching the book to agents, I had to acknowledge that the romance wasn’t driving the plot. There was much more to the story on an emotional level. After some digging, I realized my debut Everything We Keep fit nicely in the women’s fiction pocket.
Me: For people unfamiliar with your work, which book of yours would you suggest they start with and why?
Kerry: My debut Everything We Keep is the first book in a three-part series and always a good place to start. I have several stand-alones (All the Breaking Waves, Last Summer, and Side Trip, which publishes July 7, 2020). Any of those are a good start.
Me: What two books would you nominate for an All-Time Best Women’s fiction books and why?
Kerry: That’s a tough question. There are so many good books out there. If I must choose, I’m going old-school. Gone with the Wind is a favorite. I absolutely loved Thorn Birds. That’s an all-time favorite. Outlander is amazing and bridges many genres. The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of the best-plotted books. Okay. That’s more than two. I’ll stop. (Though I could keep going….)
Check out Kerry’s wonderful books, here. Her debut novel Everything We Keep is included in First Love Book Recommendations.
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