About The Book
Book: Sylvia’s Mother
Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: February 26, 2023
She’s an overprotective single mother…
…He’s a former protector who can’t give up the role.
But who will guard their hearts from scheming high school matchmakers?
Eileen Avery is determined her daughter Sylvia won’t experience the heartaches she did. Even if it means taking parenting lessons from her mother, the dragon lady. But she is not like her mother. Not even remotely.
If only Sylvia could see that.
But she wants independence. How much is a good thing? And how much is too risky?
Besides, Sylvia is in love and needing a little freedom. It’s not like she’s about to run away to a commune and become a hippy. However, she is willing to try about anything to get her mom to loosen up, even play matchmaker. Maybe if her mother had her own love life, she’d quite trying to put Sylvia’s under a microscope.
But will it all blow up in her face?
Seth Matthews thought he’d said goodbye to Kokomo until an on-the-job injury with the FBI changed his plans. This town holds more than his family, and those memories had better stay buried for all concerned. But how was he to put his honed instincts on the back burner and stop safeguarding the ones closest to him?
He was willing to help his family with almost anything. But pretending interest in some woman to help with his nephew’s romantic endeavors? That was one thing he couldn’t see himself doing.
Until he realizes there was more than coincidence at play.
Forget about Women’s Lib. Return to 1972 Kokomo, Indiana for the second installment of The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series—Sylvia’s Mother—and the fight for personal independence. Join Sylvia, her mother, Eileen, and the kooky mix ups that all point to romance in this small town romp. If you enjoyed the Weather Girls and Judy in Disguise, then this book is a must read.
You will love Sylvia’s Mother, inspired by the pop 1960s song by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, because everyone dreams of a second chance with a first love.
Click here to get your copy!
About The Author
Historical Christian Romance author, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chroniclesseries, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Sylvia’s Mother is the second book of her spin-off series The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue.
More from Jennifer
Do you remember your high school prom? The one in Sylvia’s Mother is based on an actual prom—the Stardust Ball at Kokomo High School. I didn’t attend it—I’d gone to the Autumn Prom, but not the Stardust Ball in 1972, so I had to contact fellow classmates to get the scoop.
The date in the book is actually when it really occurred. And there are a couple other real events and personalities added to this otherwise fictional dance. It was fun to have friends tell me of their memories and to find out what some of the nominees were doing now.
Something else I learned that made me want to write this story. I had been researching and found an old interview by Chuck Buell who used to be a disc jockey for WLS in Chicago. I’d always liked him so when I ran across the interview, I wasn’t too worried about getting anything specific—it was pretty much a stroll down memory lane.
And then he told a story about meeting up with Dr. Hook. They were hanging out in Monterey, California on the good doctor’s houseboat when he offered to introduce Chuck to the guy who wrote the lyrics for “Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Turns out the guy lived a couple boats down the marina, so they walked over and Chuck Buell met Shel Silverstein for the first time.
Yep, the man who wrote The Giving Tree and those childhood collections of poetry—Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Runny Babbit—got his start writing rock and roll lyrics. Among them are “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “Sylvia’s Mother.” And once I learned that, I couldn’t help hearing his style (“voice”) in the songs since I had taught from his books in my elementary classrooms for many years. The thought made me smile and I had to write a story from one of those. “Sylvia’s Mother” fit the plan for my new series, so I borrowed the title.
I hope you will enjoy the story, even if you’ve never heard the song. But if you do know that old pop hit, I think you will enjoy a couple Easter egg surprises I hid along the way.
Q&A with Jennifer Lynn Cary
Many authors say that they have always been a writer — making up stories as a child. When did you first become a writer?
I wrote my first story when I was in third grade. My mom had just bought a new typewriter and let me try it out. After that I wrote my own version of Cinderella as a play and cast my friends in the roles so I could direct. In high school my sister got me to write a short story for her class—she said she couldn’t come up with anything and knew I could do it over lunch. Well, it took a bit longer. I had my friends in class help me and then I delivered it to her room saying I’d found her homework. Okay, I didn’t always make the best choices back then, but I did get practice with writing.
Was there a special someone, such as a teacher, parent, or other relative, who encouraged you to pursue writing?
My mother. When I was in elementary school, she started a correspondence course in writing. I don’t know why she didn’t stick with it—probably a combination of life and another baby—but I think she had talent. And she encouraged me to write along with her. She died when I was in 8th grade so doing what she used to do has brought me some closeness with her.
Why did you choose Christian historical romance genre?
Oh, that’s a roundabout story. I’d retired from teaching and wanted to start writing again. I’d written two books before but hadn’t published them. I had no ideas and that was bugging me the most. So I prayed about it. For six months. January of 2018 my hubs and I were watching the Ken Burns documentary about Viet Nam. Then in the morning I did my quiet time before going to our daughter’s to babysit. I started praying on the way, like I did every day, only this time I felt like God was saying I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I thought about the documentary and about what I’d read that morning in Ruth and suddenly I had an idea. What if I retold the story of Ruth but set in in 1968 Viet Nam and Indiana (substitute cornfields for wheatfields). I was so excited, and the result was Relentless Heart. I thought that was it, but I ended up adding two novellas and one more novel to complete that series. And it brought back a lot of memories of growing up in Kokomo, Indiana. So, after writing Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café about my parents’ restaurant, I wanted to stay in that time period for writing. Then while listening to the oldies station, the songs “Sunny” and “Stormy” were played back to back. I started thinking about them, remembered the song “Windy” and came up with the idea for The Weather Girls. But I didn’t want these books to be too serious. They needed a lighter touch, a nod to romcom. Only in 1970. It has snowballed from there. Technically they are historical romances, but the whole point is for them to be fun and quirky. It’s like I’m carving out a new niche in my genre and I’m calling it Retro.
What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing one of your novels?
I want them to sigh and feel like they’ve enjoyed a fun romp down memory lane—or their grandmother’s memory lane. Ha! But what I really hope for is the lingering feeling that God loves them, He is for them, and no matter what, He is faithful.
Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for asking that. Sylvia’s Mother is book two in the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. My plans are that this will be a long series of standalones. As long as I can write and can come up with 60s music that contains girls’ names in the titles, I’m in business. But for now, I’m in the middle of book three, Runaround Sue, and hope to start book four very soon—Cracklin’ Rosie. Sue is a church secretary with a secret and Mac is a Viet Nam vet with one of his own. I’m really liking the two of them together and can’t wait for you to meet them, hopefully in July/August. Then, with Cracklin’ Rosie, she’s a chiropractor. She’s starting to want her story told but Sue was here first so Rose must wait her turn. The plan, that might need to be changed, is for a fall release for Cracklin’ Rosie. But I’m thinking there should be some real excitement with that book.
You can stay up to date with what I’m doing either on my website https://www.jenniferlynncary.com or better yet, go to my website and join my newsletter family. They are the first to learn of things and I like to give out goodies every once in a while. Hope to see you there. Thanks so much, Beckie.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17
Texas Book-aholic, March 18
By The Book, March 19 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, March 20
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 21
Sylvan Musings, March 22 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, March 22
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 23
Connie’s History Classroom, March 24
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, March 25 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26
Blogging With Carol, March 27
Pause for Tales, March 28
For Him and My Family, March 29
Beauty in the Binding, March 30 (Author Interview)
Books I’ve Read, March 30
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon card and an eBook copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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