One family. Three women. Big secrets.
Cheaters never fall far from the tree…
Author Interview with Jen Craven
- At what point did you decide to be an author and what was your path to publication?
I’ve always been an avid reader and started writing personal essays about 10 years ago. The idea to write a book was in the back of my mind, like a bucket list item that I wanted to someday check off. About three years ago, I really got the itch…and the rest is history! I originally planned to go for a traditional publishing deal, but after a few months of querying I realized my gut was telling me to go indie. I’m thrilled to be putting out an indie title on my own—one that I’m proud of and that is receiving great response so far.
- Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot and plan, or is your writing more organic?
I’m most definitely a plotter—at least at the beginning. I need to have an idea where the story is going and the major plot points along the way. I usually know the ending in my head right away, and then it’s just connecting the dots to get there.
- Tell us what you enjoy most about writing women’s fiction.
Women’s fiction is such a broad genre, but the true hallmarks center around female protagonists going on emotional journeys. I like the idea of a good hook—something unique that will appeal to readers—but I’m also drawn toward what the character goes through in terms of personal growth and consequences of decisions.
- Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in higher education in your writing?
Yes! I taught higher ed for eleven years, and my time working on a college campus definitely influenced my book. The story is fictional, but I drew from my experiences in terms of setting and atmosphere.
- Describe “Best Years of your Life” in 10 words or less for people who are just learning about it.
When a college professor falls for a student, she’s not the only one in the family who’s cheating. (Whoops, that’s 18 words).
- What is your favorite line from your book?
“Sometimes the lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous.”
- What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
My day job is as a full-time copywriter, so I’m quite busy with that. I also have three young children, so my days are filled with activities and homework and all the things little kids demand—but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Personally, I enjoy reading (no surprise there), going for walks in the summertime and snow skiing in the winter.
Advance praise for “Best Years of your Life“:
When I started reading BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, I did not intend to read it one sitting. But, alas, that’s just what I did. I fell in immediate love with the characters and was so compelled to follow the twists and turns of their unique stories. Jen Craven is a reader’s writer. Her prose flows so easily that you find yourself fully immersed in the narrative. Book clubs will love this one! —Kim Hooper, author of WAYS THE WORLD CAN END
BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE by Jen Craven deftly explores the complexities of familial relationships in a vividly created academic setting. As secrets pile up like driftwood on a beach, this compelling page-turner forces a reckoning over the real-life consequences of secrets, whether they are kept out of guilt or in the name of love. —Tracy Dobmeier & Wendy Katzman, co-authors of GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES
Against the backdrop of a small liberal arts campus where stepping out of line could carry serious consequences, three women—a newbie college student and her two professor moms—navigate the tricky shoals of loyalty, lust, and illness as they struggle to come to terms with what it means to be a family. You’ll want to lecture them about their poor decision-making at the same time you give them a great big hug. Fans of women’s fiction writers like Barbara Davis and Diane Chamberlain will enjoy this multi-layered, fast-paced debut novel. —Maggie Smith, award-winning author of TRUTH AND OTHER LIES
BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE gripped me from the first page, and had me racing toward the end. This story of complicated women, each at a pivotal moment of their lives, making questionable decisions will leave you wanting to discuss with a reading buddy or book club. This is a white-knuckle ride of a novel. —Lauren Edmondson, author of LADIES OF THE HOUSE
Title: Best Years of your Life
Author: Jen Craven
Blurb:
Married college professors Christine and Joss thought they had it all: jobs they love, a beloved daughter, and most of all, each other—that is, until Joss’s research pulls her further and further away. Lonely and seeking the emotional connection she once shared with her wife, Christine forms a friendship with a student that quickly walks the line of right and wrong.
Eighteen-year-old Abbie is an outcast desperate to fit in. When the most popular girl on campus suddenly befriends her, Abbie can’t believe her luck. But the friendship comes with strings attached—stealing exams from her mom’s computer for the in-crowd.
Soon, both mom and daughter are in deep—and everything’s on the line. When their secret lives collide, their indiscretions culminate in a catastrophe no one saw coming.
With an eye for suspense perfectly blended with the tender mystery of human connection, BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE explores the consequences of bad decisions and the tension between desire and dignity.
About the Author
