Goodreads asked Jeannette Dashiell:

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

Jeannette Dashiell Months after the loss of our seventeen year old daughter, Hannah Dashiell, to a car accident I experienced a dream that changed my life. I believe it was Hannah's way of telling me that there was hope for me to keep living. I called my twin sister, Jen, and told her about the dream and how different it felt to wake feeling happy rather than my typical feelings of anger and depression. I explained that what I experienced wasn’t just a dream; it was more like I was watching a film. I told her every detail of my dream’s storyline as if I was recapping a movie; the location, the women’s friendships their struggles and their triumphs. Jen loved the story and encouraged me to write it down. I’m guessing my sister thought it would be good for me to have a place to focus my energy and do something constructive with my time in hopes of pulling me through my grief. But seriously, what was she thinking? I am a 44yr old mom with no writing experience. Me write a book, she must be crazy, right?

Over the next few weeks I found myself remembering the dream and wishing I could experience the laughter and the close knit friendships of those women again. Maybe my sister was right? Why not take a shot at writing? What was I afraid of? What’s the worst thing that could happen? No one will like it. Big deal, after what I had just gone through I was no longer going to be confined by the small things or fear of others’ disapproval. Remembering how Hannah “Turned Her Can’ts into Cans and Her Dreams into Plans” I began to believe in myself. So, to honor Hannah’s memory I now to try to live my life as she lived hers; ready to say “Yes!” and not let ideas and initiatives fade away unrealized.

With the continued support from my family, friends and the encouraging memories of my daughter I began to write. Two years later I am proud to say what began as a dream has now become the first book in an intended series An Evening at Franc’s. My first novel, Book Club, An Evening at Franc’s, is now available and the second in the series is in the works. I arm myself with humor, sass, and a tall glass of wine to tackle some of the most important milestones in women’s lives: dating, marriage, parenting, divorce, career, illness, tragedy, and the inevitable effects of time and gravity. I hope you enjoy the book. It’s a lot of fun. You’ll laugh out loud.

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