Goodreads asked Gail Lynn Hanson:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Gail Lynn Hanson I have family ties to both the west side of Chicago and Pacific Palisades, CA, which clearly influenced my settings, however, I've always been interested in all the facets of motherhood, the good, bad, and ugly. Not often have we seen writers writing about older women still struggling with this and I thought that it would make for an interesting premise.

Religion, again the good/bad/ugly, has always fascinated me and this theme will probably always be in my writing because it just seems to get in there somehow.

The themes and issues raised in The Palisades are many, but I think the issue of Pride, with a capital P, is not only the most prominent and diffusive theme in the book but also one of the most dangerous themes in our society today, especially with young people. By pride, I mean self-absorption and narcissism, making little deities of ourselves. Readers will see this idea taken to the extreme with Dorothy, but I hope that they will also see how this can feasibly come about in nearly anyone, given the right circumstances. I think we're all susceptible, maybe not with jewelry and movie stars, but we all have obsessions.

flag