CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: The New Ever After by Julie Farley
**Interview**
Can you describe The New Ever After in a tweet (140 characters or less)?
Heather’s strength is put to the ultimate test as she faces losing not only her best friend but her new happily ever after as well.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading Looking for Alaska by John Green. His books are so raw and filled with emotion. I had The Fault In Our Stars on my kindle for a year before I read it. I was so scared to read about teenagers who were dying of cancer but I kept hearing great things about it. It lived up to the hype and made me a better person and a better writer.
Do you experience writers block? Any tips on overcoming it?
I do experience writer’s block and the only cure I’ve found is doing a monotonous task like ironing or even running. Somehow the monotony clears my mind and the ideas start coming.
I always try to stop writing at a point where I know what’s going to happen next. That way I have a good starting point when I have a minute to sit down and write again.
Worse than writer’s block for me though is being distracted by the internet. I am easily distracted and can write a sentence then go jump on a celebrity website. It’s such a waste of time but I can’t stop myself.
Where do you complete most of your writing? Any certain time of day that you prefer?
I write on my laptop in my office. After I finish teaching preschool, I come home and have a few hours before my four kids arrive home from school. That’s my best writing time! The house is quiet and I can play my music and get lost in my words.
Are you currently working on another novel?
I’m getting book three of The New Ever After Series ready to send to my editor. Book three focuses on Heather’s best friend, Jenny. I’m also almost done with my stand-alone novel Mapping Magic. I’ve been working on it on and off for more than three years. It’s a quirky little love story that takes place in Maine.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Just do it! There will always be excuses so push through them and sit down and write. My favorite creative writing teacher makes us start each class by writing for ten minutes using the prompt Right now. It’s a powerful way to clear your mind of distractions and get down to business…the business of writing.
**Excerpt**
“Your blood pressure is 140/85. That’s too high. I can’t let you leave the office. We’re going to admit you and prepare to deliver the babies,” said the doctor.
“What do you mean her blood pressure’s too high? Why is it high? The babies aren’t even due yet,” said Peter.
“It happens in many multiple pregnancies. It’s called preeclampsia. The babies are thirty-six weeks. With twins, that’s a safe time to deliver them.”
“But what about Heather? Is she in danger?”
“No. As long as we deliver them now she should be fine.”
“What do you mean deliver them now? If you wait an hour is she in danger?” asked Peter.
“Mr. Adamson, your wife will be fine. We will deliver the twins before she is in any danger. That’s why we’re going to admit her now and monitor her progress,” said the doctor.
Heather turned to Peter. “I’ll call my mom. She can stay with the other three kids. Will you call Jenny and ask her to pack me a bag of clothes and bring it to me?” she asked.
“Yeah, yes, I can do that. What should I tell her?” said Peter as he ran his hand through his hair about five times in a row.
“To bring me a bag of clothes,” said Heather for the second time.
“What kind of clothes? Pajamas? Jeans? What would you like?” asked Peter.
“Don’t worry. Jenny will know. Just call her!”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll do it now.”
The doctor interjected. “The nurse will come in and wheel you over to the hospital. You should have these babies in a few hours. I’ll be over shortly.”
Heather called her mom who was already at the house watching the kids. Peter walked out into the hall to make his phone calls.
3:03 Jenny: Just talked to Peter. He seems a little freaked. Are you ok?
3:04 Heather: I’m fine. Happy to get these guys out of here. Will you pack my robe and the new Target pjs that are on the couch in my room?
3:05 Jenny: No prob. Text with anything else. Xo
Peter walked back in with the nurse and the wheelchair. Heather waddled over to the chair and plopped her overgrown body down.
“Are you all set, Mrs. Adamson?” asked the nurse.
“I am more than ready to have these babies. Let’s go.”
“What can I get you, babe? Water? Will Jenny get the camera? Do you want something to eat?” Peter turned toward the nurse. “Can I stay with her or do I have to leave?”
“Dude, chill out. Don’t get all crazy on me. I am fine. I’ll tell you if I need anything. Right now, I need you to be calm.” Shit, if this is how he’s going to act I’m in trouble.
Peter ran his hands through his hair again. Even though it was the end of June, he was wearing one of his signature outfits that Heather had a hard time resisting even as she was being wheeled into the hospital—a white T-shirt, tight well-worn jeans and his black Doc Marten boots. The nurse kept stealing sideways glances at him. Heather was too excited to have the twins out of her stomach and into her arms to feel jealous.
Heather was wheeled to a private room and the revolving door of nurses and administrators gathered vitals and necessary information. The anesthesiologist arrived and asked her when she had last eaten. She’d had lunch before her doctor’s appointment.
“Okay. I’m going to give you a little concoction to clear everything out. It doesn’t taste good so drink it quickly, like a shot of tequila.”
Heather did as she was told, and the nurses and doctor left them alone. Within two minutes, she was nauseous and started throwing up. Peter leapt up from the chair next to her and pushed the button on the remote asking for help from the nurse.
“Yes? How can I help you?” asked the voice on the other end of the remote.
“My wife is throwing up! Help!”
Heather was too busy tossing her cookies to tell Peter to relax, but a nurse arrived thirty seconds later to tell him just that.
“Mr. Adamson, the doctor gave her a medicine to make her throw up so her stomach is empty in case we need to put a tube down her throat. Everything is normal. Mrs. Adamson is fine.”
The nurse helped her clean herself up and Heather reprimanded Peter.
“I am going to ask you to leave if you get crazy. I am fine. You need to help me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just don’t want anything to happen to you, and I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Heather knew fatherhood was new to him. He had gotten thrown into it faster than most. He was fabulous at helping her raise the older kids. But starting with babies was completely new to him, and she needed to keep that in mind.
Peter took Heather’s hand and started rubbing circles on her palm. She sat back and focused on the circles and waited to be taken to the operating room. If he acted up again, she would ask them to give him a sedative.
An hour later, Peter was sitting on a stool next to her head behind the big white sheet in the operating room. The anesthesia had taken effect and Heather couldn’t feel anything below her chest.
“I love you, babe. I can’t believe you are having my babies,” he said as one tear dropped down his cheek.
“I love you too. Thank you for calming yourself down.”
Heather had delivered her other three children naturally, so it felt strange to be having babies without pushing them out. But this was certainly faster than the eighteen-hour labor she endured with Henry. The doctor made an incision and pulled one twin out and then the next.
Emily Rose Adamson was born at 4:01 pm and was named for Heather’s grandma. George Henry Adamson was born one minute later at 4:02 pm. He was named for Peter’s grandfather and Heather’s first husband, Hank, who had died of a sudden heart attack a little more than two years earlier. Peter cried and snapped photos of the birth, inadvertently taking pictures of Heather’s insides that would soon become favorite family shots.
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Author Bio:
Julie Farley is the author of Tripped Up Love and The New Ever After. She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, four rarely quiet children and her 50 pound lap dog. Julie spends her days writing and teaching preschool. She chronicles her adventures on her blog atjuliefarley.com and is working on the next book in The New Ever After Series.
Connect with Julie!
facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Farley/281778325176054
twitter: juliefarley1
website: www.juliefarley.com
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