HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES - Amanda Cox - One Free Book
Bio: AmandaCox is a four-timeChristy Award–winning author. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible andtheology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first loveis communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurtingfamilies over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters whoconnect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with herhusband and their three children. In 2020, Amanda Cox’s debut novel, The Edge ofBelonging, was released into the world. Her story quickly garneredrecognition, winning the 2021 Christy Book of the Year Award and the Christy Award for best debut novel. Her first book wasfollowed by The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery (2021), which alsowon two Christy Awards—the 2022 Christy Book of the Year Award and the GeneralFiction Award. Now Cox utilizes her background in professional counseling tounveil an insightful look at the complexities of family in her newest saga, HeShould Have Told the Bees.
Aboutthe story: Beckett(Beck) Walsh loves working alongside her father in their apiary. But when herfather passes away unexpectedly, her life takes an unexpected turn. Suddenly,it is up to her to run Walsh Farm, including managing the finances, which shehas never done. But there is a catch—she is only part owner of the farm, andthe other owner, someone she knows nothing about, has the power to sell thebusiness. Why would her father risk something that meant so much to both ofthem?
CalliePeterson is attempting to open her first storefront for her natural body careproducts. So, when she learns that she has been named in the trust of a manshe’s never heard of, she views this as an opportunity to take care of herstruggling finances. Not only will the extra money support her new start-upbusiness but it will also help her absent mother get into rehab for herlifelong substance abuse issues.
He Should Have Told the Bees is packed with complex secrets.What was the inspiration behind your new work? This story and all its layershappened little by little, each little thread coming from different touchpointsin my life. But I’d have to say it all started with my love for bees and mypassion for crafting stories that explore family dynamics and pathways torelational healing.
You have two main protagonists inyour new novel, Beckett (Beck) Walsh and Callie Peterson. Can you pleaseprovide a brief description of both of these women? Beck is a country girl, and farmlife is in her blood. She has lived a very isolated life on her farm, in partbecause she loves it so much and in part because of some early childhoodexperiences that have had a significant impact on her life. She is a littlerough around the edges, but she has a good heart. Even though she has somesignificant struggles to overcome, she is strong and independent in a lot ofways.
Callie was raised by a mother whoselife was consumed by substance abuse, which caused Callie to grow up at a veryyoung age. She’s worked very long and hard to build a stable life with abusiness of her own, but things keep happening that push her goals just out ofreach. She is resilient and compassionate, broken but determined to grow andheal.
Beck Walsh is a beekeeper who hasworked alongside her father in their apiary. What type of research was requiredto accurately portray all the details and tasks that come with beekeeping?I have always beenfascinated with bees. I began to get serious about learning about beekeepingseveral years ago. After spending a lot of time learning about their care, mydaughter and I started keeping a few hives of our own. Many, many hours havebeen spent reading books, scrolling through online forums, watching videos, andtending my own hives. (I am an amateur, not a professional like Beck!) Beck struggles with anxiety. Whydid you choose to include her struggles as part of your story line? Even if readers don’t struggle withanxiety on the same level that Beck does, most people have some level ofexperience with it, whether as a short-lived emotional state or as an ongoingbattle.
While I was writing this book, theworld was going through a lot of changes—from people being quarantined to returningto the workplace. Struggles with anxiety were on the rise. In writing Beck, Ihoped to craft a character who would connect with readers sharing the samebattle.
In addition to Beck’sstruggles, Callie’s mother, Lindy, isalso struggling with her own issues. Can you please provide some insight on howthis initially affect’sCallie’sdecision about the trust? Lindy’slife has been plagued with substance abuse. After being estranged from Calliefor several months, Lindy shows up asking her daughter to help her get into arehabilitative program. Callie, who has been working so hard to get her newbusiness off the ground, suddenly finds herself saddled with her mother’sbills. Callie feels like she, once again, will have to choose between thefresh, new, healthy life she is trying to build and helping her mother. Whenshe is named in the trust, the financial gain that could come from selling herportion of the inheritance could be enough to allow her to both get herbusiness going and get excellent care provided for her mother.
You have a master’sdegree in professional counseling. How do you feel your knowledge in this areahas helped you create real and relatable characters? As a counselor I spent time sitting with individuals and families ontheir most difficult days, serving as a guide while they processedtheir thoughts and emotions and helping them take steps toward healing. Listening, observing, and simply being present with another person has always been a passion of mine.When forming characters, I invest a lot of my time imagining whothey are and what life experiences have shaped them. I “sit with” thesecharacters in order to bring them to life on thepage in an authentic way. As a counselor I functioned as a guide toward healingfor my counseling clients. As a novelist I strive to do the same for mycharacters, using the story as their guide on the path to healing.
What do you hope readers will gainfrom reading He Should Have Told the Bees? Ihope that this book inspires those who are on their own healing journey to staythe course and continue to do the hard work involved in the healing process. Ihope it helps those with struggling friends and family members to grow inempathy and compassion.
And, of course, I do hope to spreadmy love of honeybees!
How can readers connect with you? Readers can connect with me on my website, www.amandacoxwrites.com. I am also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as @AmandaCoxWrites.
Where can readers purchase a copyof He Should Have Told the Bees? HeShould Have Told the Beesis available wherever books are sold! I would especially love it if youpurchase it from your favorite local bookstore.
Thank you, Amanda, for sharing thisbook with me an my blog readers.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
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