Episode 54: Jessica Strawser, author of A Million Reasons Why
Jessica Straswer, author of four books including A Million Reasons Why, which released in March, 2021.
Key Topics:
Jessica Strawser talks about her latest release, A Million Reasons Why, which was named a most anticipated book by Goodreads, SheReads. E! News. and Frolic as well as being chosen for Booktrib's 10 Books by Women to Read this Spring.
Interview Notes:
A Million Reasons Why tells the story of two women, strangers living hundreds of miles appart, who are linked by a mail-in DNA test kit – as half sisters.
For one woman she goes into it with her eyes open, but for the other, she thinks she comes from an ordinary close-knit family with no secrets- until the results show her otherwise.
Jessica shares how the real-life stories of unexpected results from DNA tests inspired this story. This is a book that has lots of layers; secrets, and twists and turns galore!
We talk about Jodi Piccoult’s review of the book, which she calls “a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask: what constitutes family, what are our obligations to those we love, where does American healthcare fail the most, what secrets are unforgivable?”
The reviews of this book are calling it “gripping emotional drama”, “suspense-filled”, and “thought-provoking”.
Jessica shares that she loves writing about themes and question that she does not know the answer to; and how this book does that.
This is Jessica’s fourth novel, and her best writing advice for your manuscript comes from the parenting realm – “You are the expert on your own baby”. You know the heart of your book and what you want it to; learn to balance all the external feedback with trusting yourself to know what’s best for your story.
Reading wise, Jessica loves book club fiction like her own; books that make you want to talk about them as soon as you set them down. Her top recommendation is THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND by Colleen Oakley which releases this coming week on June 7th and Jessica describes as “so heartwarming, and quirky and heartbreaking” -all the things she loves!