Carolyn Clarke: Authors Interviewing Characters

For fans of the international bestselling and award-winning author of AND THEN THERE’S MARGARET comes the perfect family ‘dramedy’. AND NOW THERE’S ZELDA takes readers on another relatable ‘slice of life’ ride as Allison Montgomery realizes the only way to survive the angst of family is to let go….and let it be.

Dealing with a controlling, manipulative, and self-absorbed mother-in-law can be a challenge. But when your child brings home a fiancé who’s completely unworthy, and the shoe is suddenly on the other foot, do you take the high road, or get down and dirty?

It’s been five years since Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law, George, passed away and her cantankerous mother-in-law, Margaret, moved in. After nearly killing each other during their initial adjustment period, Allie and Margaret have finally buried the hatchet and have even launched a thriving home staging business together.

Today, Allie is enjoying life. That is until her twenty-two-year-old son, Cameron, unexpectedly brings home Zelda, his new fiancé. The problem is, no one has ever met or even heard of her. And when Zelda’s first impression raises more than a few red flags, Allie finds herself in unfamiliar territory.

Facing the prospect of becoming a mother-in-law far sooner than expected, and to someone unworthy of her darling baby boy, Allie’s protective instinct kicks in. And who better to turn to for guidance and support than Margaret, her former nemesis and master of the mothers-in-law’s dark arts.

Allie and Margaret launch Project Zelda, an intervention of sorts designed to show Cameron who Zelda really is and to prevent him from making a catastrophic mistake. However, with Zelda’s ingratiating behavior, Margaret’s occasional disappearances, and Allie’s doubts about turning into her own mother-in-law, will Allie find a way to reconcile her protective instincts or will history repeat itself?

Carolyn Clarke interviews her protagonist, Allie Montgomery, from And Now There’s Zelda… (May 2024). Allie was also the main character in And Then There’s Margaret… (July 2022).

Carolyn: Well, Allie, I’m so thrilled you were able to have lunch with me today! And (turns around to see where the waiter is and then looks back at Allie) to help kick things off, I took the liberty of ordering us a couple of glasses of Chardonnay!

Allie: (huge grin) Oh, thank you, Carolyn! I do love a good Chardonnay… (looks down at her phone with a furrowed brow)

Carolyn: Is everything okay?

Allie: Oh, yes. Sorry, when you’re a wife, mother and a business owner, there’s always something. Just making sure everything’s under control. I’m sure you can relate! (turns phone over and smiles wide). 

Carolyn: Absolutely! Looking after a family and running a business is certainly a challenge. But you’re in business with your mother-in-law! What’s that like?!

Allie: Ah, yes, Margaret. Well, it’s certainly had its ups and downs (smiles knowingly to herself). 

Carolyn: Oh? Do tell…

[waiter finally arrives with the wine]

Allie: Well, if we’re going to talk about Margaret, we may need a full bottle (winks slyly while raising her glass). So, you know she and I have always had a “challenging” relationship, but I found a way to turn her sharp tongue and Pitbull-like attitude into a real asset for the business. Margaret’s actually really great at dealing with difficult clients and vendors. I mean, we definitely still have our moments, but going from an active ‘cold war’ to what could almost be called a friendship seems like nothing short of a miracle.

Carolyn: Oh, wow! That’s an amazing turnaround, Allie. When we met five years ago, right after your father-in-law died and Margaret had moved in, you were at your wits’ end. And now here we are, in a bizarre twist of fate, you’ve gone from being an exasperated daughter-in-law to now becoming a future mother-in-law yourself. And from what I’m hearing, the situation isn’t exactly ideal? 

Allie: (throws her head back and laughs, snorts actually) Oh, dear, you must have been talking to my friend, Val! Honestly, Carolyn, some days it really feels like the Universe has a real sick sense of humor.

Carolyn: (nods heads up and down, listening intently)

Allie: Okay, well, let me tell you about Ms. Zelda. So, Cameron comes home from school for the holidays. And it’s been months. So, I can’t wait to see him and spend some quality time together. Except when I get home, he’s brought this girl with him to dinner. And he introduces her as his fiancé of all things (she stops, bows her head and holds up her palms). I know what you’re thinking, but this is nothing like how things were with Maragret and me. Margaret had no good reason for the way she treated me. But this Zelda, I mean, in that first dinner alone she managed to raise eight red flags. Eight!

Carolyn: Oh my, that’s a lot of red flags, Allie. Okay, I get it. Honestly, what mother wouldn’t want to protect her son?!

Allie: Exactly! And Cameron’s not like his father, Hank. He’s young, super sensitive and I swear to you, this girl is going to break his heart. But I’m not going to let that happen (she pauses, looks around and leans in). I have a plan. And guess who’s going to help me!

Carolyn: Margaret?!

Allie: Margaret! 

[Waiter comes by to ask if either of them would like another glass]

Carolyn: (smiles, winks at Allie and orders a bottle). 

—

Carolyn Clarke is the founder and curator of HenLit Central, a blog focused on ‘life and lit’ for women over 40. And Then There’s Margaret is her first novel. Her second book And Now There’s Zelda is out May 2024. She has been an ESL teacher for over sixteen years and has co-authored several articles and resources with Cambridge University Press, MacMillan Education and her award-winning blog ESL Made Easy. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her partner, Tony, her two daughters and of course her bulldog, Sophie.

Website: henlitcentral.com

Instagram: Carolyn Clarke (@carolynclarkeauthor)

Facebook: HenLit Central – Women’s Fiction & More | Facebook

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Category: On Writing