In counseling, I not only dealt with the effects of being in a toxic marriage, I also had some breakthroughs concerning my biological mother leaving our family when I was young. I merged those themes in the book.

Lee Bukowski – 7 June 2022

The Back Flap

Tessa Cordelia appears to have it all—a loving husband who’s just opened a dental practice, a beautiful baby girl, a big house in the suburbs, and a large, supportive family. But when her husband’s reckless choices resurrect a trauma from her childhood, she must decide which is more costly: keeping his secrets or revealing them. He manipulates Tessa into believing his career and their happiness depend on her silence. She feels like she’s losing her mind. Is her husband’s habit so awful? In many ways, he’s an ideal husband; should she let him have this one thing? Determined to maintain the lie that she’s living the perfect life, Tess lies to everyone she knows—except for CeCe, a woman new to the area whom she’s just befriended. But after confiding in her, Tessa learns that CeCe has an explosive secret of her own, and her world is further upended.

A gripping, nuanced exploration of the havoc addiction can wreak on a family, A Week of Warm Weather is the story of a woman who has to figure out how much she is willing to lose in order to find herself.

About the book

What is the book about?

A Week of Warm Weather is about Tessa, a woman whose husband’s substance abuse awakens her buried childhood trauma of being abandoned by her alcoholic biological mother. Ken, Tessa’s husband, knows her weakness and fear of abandonment and uses it to manipulate and control her. The book is really about breaking the cycle of abuse through facing the pain of the past and making the decision not to carry shame that does not belong to us.

When did you start writing the book?

Though I had the idea for years, I began seriously writing A Week of Warm Weather in 2018.

How long did it take you to write it?

From start to finish, it took about 18 months.

Where did you get the idea from?

I was married to a substance abuser for 15 years. I struggled for years whether to stay or leave. After a long contentious divorce, I began seeing a counselor. In counseling, I not only dealt with the effects of being in a toxic marriage, I also had some breakthroughs concerning my biological mother leaving our family when I was young. I merged those themes in the book.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There is a character in the novel (CeCe) who begins as a sort of confidante of Tessa’s. She doesn’t know Tessa, Ken, or any of their family, so Tessa feels she can let down her guard and be herself around CeCe. CeCe is really the only person Tessa doesn’t feel she has to pretend around or lie to. It turns out Tessa isn’t the only one with secrets. Later in the book, I reveal an explosive secret that CeCe is keeping. I think the most difficult part of writing the book was revealing bits of information and small hints without giving away that aspect of the plot. I had to go back and edit some of CeCe’s scenes many times before I was satisfied. I also had some early readers who helped me with that.

What came easily?

Describing what it feels like to be married to a substance abuser came easily because I lived through it. I woke up every day trying to figure out how I was going to manage my husband’s addiction. It became my whole world. It got to the point where I wasn’t sure I could exist without it. Writing Tessa going through that was emotional but also cathartic.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Both. Some have personality traits that are borrowed from real people, and some are entirely fictitious.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m an avid reader. There is never a time when I am not reading. I have piles of books, and as soon as I finish one, I begin another. Not surprisingly, my preferred genre is fiction. I particularly love women’s and literary fiction, both for the subject matter and for the writing craft. I love discovering new authors, but a few of my long-time favorites are Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Berg, Kristin Hannah, and Anne Tyler. In recent years I’ve discovered Brit Bennet, Lucy Foley, and Mary Beth Keane to name just a few. These authors have influenced me tremendously. They all dive into the human condition and all its complexities. I love reading books that show a character’s growth through difficult and sensitive situations. I think they encourage us to consider all sides of an issue.

I’ve been reading a lot of the books by She Writes authors as well. We really have a talented group of authors!

I’m also a crime fiction and thriller fiction junkie. John Grisham, Harlan Coben, Lisa Scottoline, and Michael Connelly top my list of favorite crime fiction authors. For thrillers, it doesn’t get any better than Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware. They get you on page one and tell their stories in a fast-paced, plot-driven, can’t-put-down way.

Do you have a target reader?

I suppose my target readers are women of all ages, but I’d love to hear from men who read A Week of Warm Weather. It certainly contains themes that anyone and everyone can relate to.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I do have a process. Writing requires self-discipline, and every writer approaches it differently. I begin with an outline even if it is incomplete. I add to it as I brainstorm how to connect pieces of the plot. I have one really old school habit…I create a narrative arc on a whiteboard. That allows me to erase and edit as needed!

My one hard and fast rule is that I don’t quit for the day unless I know exactly what I’ll begin writing the next day. I never quit if I’m stuck. For me, that is a recipe for disaster. Picking up when I left off with writer’s block the day before leads to my finding ANYTHING to do other than write. That’s when I notice the windows are dirty or my spices need to be alphabetized. 😊 As grueling as writer’s block is, there is no greater thrill than a productive day of writing. There is a quote by Ernest Hemingway that I love: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

As I mentioned above, I do outline. I begin with a bare bones outline and add to it as inspiration hits me.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. I often went back and rewrote scenes as I wrote A Week of Warm Weather. I edited the MS when I finished, and I also had another author edit it.

I also rely on beta readers. There is absolutely no way an author can critique her own work as an objective reader. Beta readers point out where timelines don’t make sense, POV is confusing, etc. Their feedback is so valuable.

Did you hire a professional editor?

See my previous answer.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I work best without music, TV, or my phone near me. I’m too easily distracted!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Ugh. Yes, I did, for about a year. When I finished writing A Week of Warm Weather, I was not familiar with hybrid publishing. I began writing to agents to try to obtain representation, and I actually had a few bites and lots of interest, but none of them turned in to an offer of representation. It’s grueling. I like to joke that I got some lovely rejections!

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

A good friend of my family who works in the publicity business introduced me to the hybrid model. The more I researched it, the more I liked its author-centered mindset. The same friend told me that She Writes/Spark Press and Brooke Warner are the best in the business, so I submitted my manuscript for their consideration.  I was thrilled when Brooke reached out and said she was interested in my book!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

She Writes Press did my cover. This is a hard rule with She Writes. They know which covers sell in each genre. They gave me lots of images to choose from, but in the end I trusted that they knew best. I’m really happy with my cover!

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I hired the talented publicity team (Book Sparks) that my publisher is partners with. Even though it is expensive, I understand that the publicity phase is not the place to drop the ball. I want to reach as many readers as possible. I didn’t have much of a social media presence before I began writing. My team at Book Sparks understands hybrid publishing, has a large platform, and is enthusiastic about getting my book into readers’ hands. They can help me get national and online media attention that I do not have access to. I also love connecting with both authors and readers on social media.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Writing is just part of the process, and it’s a long one. After you’ve written the last word, it’s on to publishing, marketing, and publicity. Do your research. The publishing model that is right for you depends on your writing and publishing goals.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Reading, PA in a suburb about 50 miles west of Philadelphia.

Where do you live now?

I’ve moved around a bit, but I am back in Reading near where I grew up.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m really excited to connect with readers as I launch my writing career. I hope they will relate to my stories and even open up about some of their own struggles. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that our secrets make us sick. I hope to use my platform to promote dialogue and awareness.

I’m also a Seinfeld aficionado (I drive people crazy likening every single life event to a Seinfeld episode!) and a Billy Joel superfan (43 live concerts and counting)!

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m very busy working on publicity for A Week of Warm Weather. And, I’m outlining my next book, also a women’s fiction novel.

End of Interview:

For more from Lee Bukowski visit her website, follow her on Instagram and on Twitter.

Get your copy of A Week of Warm Weather from Amazon US or Amazon UK.