Authors Interviewing Characters: Jennifer Jabaley

WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE

Determined daughters. Controlling mothers. There’s no such thing as friendly competition in a twisty novel of suspense about ambition, revenge, and unrealized dreams.

Valerie Yarnell is a hardworking single mother who’d do anything for her daughter, Kate. Kate is a dancer with dreams of stardom, just like her talented best friend, Colette. Despite Valerie’s sacrifices, it’s Colette’s mother, former prima ballerina Elise, whom Kate adores. And Colette has become like the practically perfect sister Kate never had. How can Valerie not feel frustrated, ineffectual, and a little jealous of the queen bee of dance moms? Not only has she hijacked her daughter, but Elise is married to the man Valerie pines for.

Rivalries are forming. Tension is mounting. In preparation for an elite dance competition, Kate outshines the more promising Colette onstage, and the pressure is on for Colette to keep her position in the spotlight—and especially to keep her demanding mother happy. Who could have foreseen the violent attack that sabotages everything? Anyone who’s been watching closely.

As ruthless and sinister ambitions are exposed, a media firestorm and an explosive town scandal erupt. Before it’s over, two mothers and two daughters will learn just how fierce and dangerous a rivalry can still get.

Every mother’s daughter has a dream. Making it true can be a scandal. 

Jennifer sat down with Ling Li, a sideline dance mom, to peel back the layers on this complicated story.

JJ: First the TV show, now this. So, tell me, Ling Li, are all dance moms…

LL: Don’t even say it. I’m a dance mom. Look at me! I’m nothing but fun and fabulous! Competitive parenting is everywhere, not just inside Volkov Studio. All you need to do is witness the side-line coaching at a basketball tournament or the ref-bashing during a travel baseball game. Academic achievements, the gifted label or announcement of the science fair winner can wage war. Don’t get me started on the carefully curated social media posts that become passive aggressive one-upmanship.

JJ: So, you’re saying everything happened because Valerie and Elise each wanted their child to be the star? This was all just parent competition?

LL: No, no. Elise wanted Colette to be the star, but Valerie didn’t even want her daughter to dance.

JJ: Hmm. Why not?

LL: Valerie wanted a more secure future for Kate. She wanted her to go to college and get a practical job that wouldn’t abuse her body and age her out when she turned thirty. Of course, Kate only wanted to dance.

JJ: If the mothers weren’t battling to have their child be the prodigy, what was the issue?

LL: Oh, there was competition between the mothers. Valerie felt like her daughter preferred Elise. It was pretty obvious, too. That Kate worshiped Elise, but had a tenuous relationship with her own mother. And Elise loves to be adored. She may have fanned that flame. 

JJ: That’s touchy.

LL: Yeah, so Valerie retaliated by flirting with Elise’s husband. 

JJ: Oh boy. I bet that created some friction.

LL: It did. But the fire really ignited when Kate began to outshine Colette during studio practice. Because everyone was accustomed to Colette being centerstage. Especially her mother.

JJ: So, Elise was angry because Valerie was getting the attention of her husband, and Kate was getting the attention of the dance instructor.

LL: Exactly. 

JJ: What about the girls? Did all of this affect their friendship?

LL: It was the first domino. And, well, you know what happened next. Poof. (wild hand gestures) Attack. Police. Hospital. Accusations. Scandal. Broken bones. Broken families. Broken trust.

JJ: Broken dreams.

Get your copy of WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE HERE

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Jennifer Jabaley is the award-winning author of Lipstick Apology and Crush Control. She won Georgia Author of the Year in the young adult category and was nominated for the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award. Jen is a practicing optometrist. She brings sharp focus to eye care by day and to storytelling by night. She lives in the north Georgia mountains with her sports-obsessed family and two rescue dogs. For more information, visit www.jenniferjabaley.com

 

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing