Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: Songs for Lucy by Philip Wilson @GoddessFish

Songs for Lucy

by Philip Wilson

GENRE:  Women's Fiction

BLURB:

It’s spring, and Allison Connelly has it all – pretty, popular and smart. With a summer job teaching tennis and starting Harvard Law School in the fall, Allison plans on a successful law career, marriage and kids – and dreams of becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

When relentless headaches drive her to her doctor, Allison receives a terrifying diagnosis that destroys her plans and imperils her life. Devastated, Allison struggles to accept her
shattered dreams and uncertain future. One night, she happens into a small-town pub and, on a whim, takes a job singing, finding solace and a measure of peace in her music. She settles in the town, and from that small beginning finds love, a new life and a new reason for living.

Excerpt:

Doctor Mackay spoke for the first time. “Allie, I’ve known you since you were a kid,” he began sadly. “You’re a fighter. Your first reaction is to look for other options, to refuse to accept defeat. But — both Doctors Smythe and Graham are experts in their fields. They’ve conferred with some of the leading oncologists at Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, and others; and the response has been unanimous and unequivocal. If I thought there was the remotest chance that something might work, I’d say go for it. You’re young, healthy, and should have your whole life ahead of you. But I just don’t believe there are any legitimate realistic treatment options out there, and I don’t want you spending your remaining time chasing false hopes, only to be disappointed. I’m so terribly sorry.”

Allison looked at him, hearing the pain in his voice and seeing the anguish in his face. Doctor Mackay had known her since she was a baby. He’d watched her grow up; he had been close friends with her father. Now he was telling her she was going to die – and it was tearing him apart.

“How long do I have?” Allison asked quietly.

“Each case is different,” Doctor Graham replied.

“We’d estimate two months. Could be one, conceivably three. We’ll prescribe corticosteroids which reduce the swelling around the tumors. This should also reduce the headaches and any drowsiness you’ve been feeling. You will probably feel fine for a month or so.”

“And then?”

“The headaches and nausea will eventually recur, and will increase in frequency and severity. All we’ll be able to do then is treat the symptoms.”

Interview with Philip Wilson

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Songs for Lucy?

Allison Connelly, the main character, is the young woman who as it all – smart, pretty, about to enter law school, with a promising future ahead of her. She then becomes diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and moves to a hospice in McKenzie Cove – a small town off the cost of Cape Cod. Allison later meets another young woman – Terri Wright in the hospice in McKenzie Cove who faces the same diagnosis. They quickly become best friends, supporting each other and sharing their feelings and fears. Jack Rollins is a refugee from Wall Street who owns the local pub and falls in love with Allison. His nine-year-old niece, Lucy, finds in Allison the mother she never had.

Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?

Songs for Lucy is very different from my first book, The Librarian – a revenge thriller with a once timid, but transformed librarian, Sarah, who exacts savage retribution on the men who destroyed her life. Many readers of The Librarian were looking for a sequel, or at least another novel with a kickass female protagonist. The Librarian doesn’t provide much opportunity for a sequel, but after completing Songs for Lucy, I’m working on a novel in the same, suspense/thriller genre. It is the story of a young Syrian woman whose family is slaughtered and whose life is destroyed as Syria descends into that county’s brutal civil war. She is hired by the CIA, first as an interpreter, then as a spy and eventually as an assassin becoming one of the most prolific and successful assassins on the CIA payroll. Eventually, wanting to build a real life, she gives it up, moves from the Middle East to New York and starts a criminal law practice. There she becomes a successful lawyer; but finds herself frequently forced to fall back on her old skills. The working title for my next book is Ayla’s Arc.

How long would you say it takes you to write a book? 

I write when I have time and feel like it, which means many days I don’t write at all, and I rarely write for more than three hours a day.  At this leisurely pace, The Librarian took approximately three years, Songs for Lucy just one and Ayla’s Arc is looking like two.

What is your favorite childhood book?

The book that first got me hooked on reading when I was a kid was Lassie Come Home, which I read in a weekend when I was about ten.

If you could spend the day with one of the characters from Songs for Lucy who would it be? Please tell us why you chose this particular character, where you would go and what you would do. 

Probably Terri Wright, a young woman that Allison meets and becomes close friends with in the hospice where she goes to die, and who has the same illness as Allison. In contrast to Allison’s occasional feelings of hopelessness and despair, Terri is determined to make whatever time she has left count to the fullest. She’s tough, funny and a survivor. As I wrote, Terri’s character grew substantially from my original intent. I’d probably buy her a beer at the Seawind Pub (aka the local pub.)

What was the hardest scene from Songs for Lucy to write?

Interesting question. If I’m finding a scene hard to write, I usually feel there’s something wrong with it and I rethink the scene. I believe the best scenes are the ones I found easiest to write.

What made you want to become a writer?

Another interesting question. I don’t think of myself as a writer. For me writing is a retirement hobby and I have others, including sailing.

Just for fun 

Favorite Song: Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins

Favorite Book: Probably Exile by Richard North Patterson

Favorite Movie: The Last Samurai

Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones

Favorite Food: It varies

Favorite Drink: Talisker scotch

Favorite Website: That also varies

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Philip Wilson is a retired financial executive who spends winters in Florida and summers sailing on the Great Lakes in his 32-foot sailboat. Songs for Lucy is his second book. His first, The Librarian, was rated one of the best reviewed books of 2017 by IndieReader and featured in the Huffington Post. Learn more at www.philipmwilson.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads


Buy Links:
Amazon ~ B&N

Giveaway:

A signed paperback copy

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