Ruth F. Steven’s
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
OF
My Year of Casual Acquaintances
Tour
My Year of Casual Acquaintances (The South Bay) by Ruth F. Stevens
Book Summary
When Mar Meyer’s husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it’s not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures – as long as she can keep things casual.
With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant, a kindly older gentleman . . . and Charlie, a handsome best-selling novelist who wants more from Mar than she’s able to give. She learns something new from each encounter. But can she change enough to open herself up to happiness and true connection?
Surrounded by an ensemble of quirky, endearing characters, Mar follows a tortuous and unpredictable path as she navigates the first year of her reinvented life. My Year of Casual Acquaintances is packed with laugh-out-loud moments mingled with scenes of loneliness and self-doubt that will put a lump in your throat.
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (September 26, 2024)
ISBN-10: 168513484X
ISBN-13: 978-1685134846
ASIN: B0D43GW5XZ
Print Length: 322 pages
Purchase a copy of My Year of Casual Acquaintances on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. Add to your GoodReads reading list.
Author Interview
What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book? Do you chase the squirrel (aka “UP syndrome”) or do you finish your current project first?
When I was about halfway through writing My Year of Casual Acquaintances, I decided there would be a sequel. More accurately, I think a character in the book, Gwendolyn, made that decision. My critique partner wanted to kill her off, and it was almost as if Gwendolyn overheard and took matters into her own fictional hands!
That forced me to think about both projects at once: I had to jump ahead and figure out what the characters would be doing in Book Two, and that impacted how I wrote about them in Book One. So this new idea did cause me to change course. But I wrote the two books in order.
Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?
I am definitely a plotter. I had a career in public relations and advertising, and I had to deliver polished copy to my clients. I got in the habit of outlining all my articles and other written pieces, and revising and self-editing before turning anything in to the client. That discipline became so engrained that it carried over when I started writing fiction.
What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?
For literary fiction, I love Elizbeth Strout, Amor Towles, and Ann Patchett. They all write beautifully and know how to craft interesting stories as well as wonderful characters. When it comes to women’s fiction, I like to read—and write—stories that are both funny and sad, so I’m partial to contemporary authors who work in that vein such as Abbi Waxman, Ann Garvin, and Sara Goodman Confino.
Tell us what you enjoy most about writing women’s fiction.
What I find to be the most fun is when the characters take on their own lives. I mentioned the example of Gwendolyn deciding my book would have a sequel—and by the way, she elevated herself from a bit player into a major character in the process. My characters sometimes decide their own actions and come up with their own dialogue, or so it seems. Talking to other authors, I gather this happens with all genres of fiction writing.
Do you identify with your main character, or did you create a character that is your opposite?
Mar, the main character in Casual Acquaintances, is a bit snarky and cynical like me and has inherited my editing skills. She also shares my interests, like wine-tasting and hip-hop classes. So yes, I identify with her in many ways. But her life is not my life.
Another important player in both novels, a woman named Sunny, is a sensitive artist with a hard-luck life and a troubled past. Sunny is very different from me and was much more difficult for me to write than my MC.
Describe the series in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.
Intelligent, mature people experiencing new love, self-discovery, and second chances.
Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
Life can be exciting at any age. It’s never too late to start fresh and experience new adventures. In their review of Casual Acquaintances, Indies Today said, “When Ruth F. Stevens writes about gray divorce and second chances, you’ll believe anything is possible.” I love that comment—it captures what I’m trying to accomplish.
What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author?
With my first novel, Stage Seven, I interjected my own political views in a few scenes, and a reader blasted me for that in his review. He found it self-indulgent and not necessary to the plot. And you know what? He was right. I learned an important lesson from that criticism.
What has been the best compliment?
Stage Seven dealt with Alzheimer’s disease; and despite the heavy subject, it contained a lot of humor and romance. Several readers who had caregiving experiences with Alzheimer’s said the book gave them comfort and hope. That’s been gratifying. Other than that, my favorite compliment is a reader saying, “I didn’t want it to end.”
What is your favorite line from your book?
One of my favorites is a statement of Mar’s that gives readers a window into her personality: “I respect people who meditate, the same way I respect people who never touch alcohol. Both are admirable practices I have no intention of pursuing myself.”
What is your take on book boyfriends? Do they actually exist? Or do they set the bar for “real-life men” impossibly high?
Book boyfriends definitely exist. I always fall in love with my leading men. (Don’t tell my husband, please!) Do they set the bar unreasonably high? Probably, but isn’t that one of the reasons we like to escape into fiction?
About the Author
Ruth F. Stevens likes to create stories that will make readers laugh and cry. A former public relations executive in New York and Los Angeles, she is a produced playwright and author of a previous novel, Stage Seven, which was a featured selection of national online book club and Alzheimer’s awareness organizations. Ruth is a proud member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Dramatists Guild of America and serves as a volunteer and acquisitions editor for AlzAuthors.
Ruth lives in Torrance, California with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, hiking, hip-hop and fitness classes, yoga, Broadway musicals, wine tasting, leading a book club, and visiting her grandsons in NYC. Visit Ruth at https://ruthfstevens.com and consider signing up for her monthly newsletter to receive publishing updates, book reviews, and special offers.
Website: https://ruthfstevens.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthfstevensauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfsauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-f-stevens
Blog Tour Calendar
September 23rd @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin when we celebrate the launch of Ruth F. Stevens’ book My Year of Casual Acquaintances. We’ll be interviewing the author and giving away a copy of her book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
September 24th @ The Faerie Review
Join by Lily’s blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
September 25th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
September 27th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Stop by Lisa’s blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
September 29th @ Book Review From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/
September 30th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
September 30th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post about how casual acquaintances play an important role in our life.
http://www.madelinesharples.com/
October 1st @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
October 2nd @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari’s blog for a guest post by Ruth F. Stevens about why fifty is nifty for a fictional character.
https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
October 3rd @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
October 5th @ What Is That Book About
Stop by Michelle’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com
October 6th @ Storey Book Reviews
Visit Leslie’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://storeybookreviews.com/
October 7th @ Life According to Jamie
Stop by Jamie’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://lifeaccordingtojamie.com/
October 9th @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Stop by Beverley’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 11th @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Visit Beverley’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 12th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join Anthony for his review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/category/blog-tours/
October 13th @ Rosh’s Reviews
Visit Roshni’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://roshreviews.blogspot.com/
October 15th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara Trimble’s blog for a guest post by the author about whether AI is a friend or a foe.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/
October 18th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
October 20th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for an interview with author, Ruth F. Stevens.
October 23rd @ Boys’ Mom Reads!
Visit Karen’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/
October 26th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda’s blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
http://bootsshoesandfashion.com/
Thank you so much for interviewing me and for introducing my new novel to your readers1 -Ruth F. Stevens, Author
Ruth F. Stevens recently posted…Wandering the Virtual Aisles of Shepherd.com