Character Interview: A HUNDRED DAYS TILL TOMORROW by L.S Case

June 20, 2023 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

Character Interview: A HUNDRED DAYS TILL TOMORROW by L.S. Case

About A HUNDRED DAYS TILL TOMORROW

“Lovelorn and ever hopeful romantics will find this poetic page-turner a delicious escape from any cares – present or past. Like the magical sea glass on the shores of Cobblers Hill, each chapter of Miranda’s journey gleams with light and newly found joy. Curl up with this, Lover, and prepare to be swept off your feet whether you believe in such things or not.”

— Jane Sibbett, writer, director, and actress on the hit television sitcom Friends

“A richly detailed novel which you will want to revisit again and again. A journey of heart and soul, it explores the intricacies of family, relationships, and the old adage that nothing is as it seems.”

— Jeannie Moon, USA Today bestselling author of The Temporary Wife

“A charmingly written story about second chances and new beginnings that will restore your faith in love and life. A sweet, heartfelt debut.”

—Dina Santorelli, author of the Baby Grand Trilogy

Miranda Blair has spent two decades running from her past, but she is coaxed from her childhood home when she’s named the sole heir to her estranged grandmother’s estate. Gertrude Blair has outlined a hundred-day stay at her New England cottage as a prerequisite for the inheritance. Begrudgingly, Miranda accepts this unorthodox final request from the woman who never deserved the title “grandma.”

In idyllic Cobblers Hill, shingled homes boast charming front porches and roses entwine white picket fences. But Gertrude’s abandoned property needs a makeover as desperately as Miranda does. And while remnants from Miranda’s history dwell within the dark-paneled cottage walls, no strings attached prevails as her motto—until, that is, she meets the emerald-eyed guy next door.

L.S. Case interviews Miranda Blair of A HUNDRED DAYS TILL TOMORROW

(I enter the room with a notepad and a smile. Miranda Blair is seated across from me with her hands hidden under her thighs. Aside from her apple-red cheeks, she resembles a porcelain tea cup).

S.: Thank you, Miranda, for agreeing to today’s interview.

Miranda: I assumed there was some confusion. Maybe you had hoped to talk with Miranda Bland or Meredith Blair. Then I reminded myself that I was named the sole heir to my estranged grandmother’s estate. Talk about the unexpected! So I guess anything is possible, including your interest in me.

S.: That’s a perfect segway to my first question. Please share with us what transpired when you received the attorney’s letter summoning you to his office to review your grandmother’s will.

(Hives appear, leaving wine-colored blotches down Miranda’s neck. She pushes her bangs to the side with an unmanicured hand, her overt discomfort making me reconsider my next question.)

Miranda: That morning is still etched in my memory like yesterday. The coffee refused to brew, leaving only hot brown water in the pot. I should have filled my gas tank the night before, but I didn’t; it was empty. Needless to say, I began the day decaffeinated and stressed.

(She offers an uneasy chuckle, and I reciprocate with a warm smile.)

After locating my misplaced keys in the front door keyhole, I retrieved the mail so it wouldn’t get drenched by the rain. Heavy downpours were expected throughout the early afternoon. I was already late for work, so I rationalized a few more minutes wouldn’t matter. But minutes became an hour once I unsealed that letter.

L.S.: Your grandmother planned an unusual arrangement as a prerequisite for inheriting her estate. What was your initial reaction when you learned the details?

Miranda: Fear. Dread. Denial.

(Miranda pauses between sentiments. She brings her thumbnail to her mouth but quickly retracts her hand before she can nibble. I offer an encouraging nod, willing her to continue.)

I had always been the victim, you know? Suddenly, though, I felt guilty, like a criminal chased by a bounty hunter who had dredged up the past. I rationalized it was a sick prank. It had to have been. Legal correspondence doesn’t appear in your mailbox unless you’re in a Hallmark movie mystery. For the record, I have zero acting talent and can’t get away with a white lie. I was disappointed when the hidden camera crew didn’t appear behind the bushes. I preferred an impractical joke to reality—my grandmother was finally reaching out, but from the other side, after ghosting me my entire life.

L.S.: The inheritance came as that much of a surprise?

Miranda: Complete blindside. My eyes had trouble focusing on the letter because of my trembling hands. Each word seemed foreign, and it took several attempts to translate. I scrutinized the sentences, struggling to wrap my head around the message. Understand that I had no relationship with my grandmother—zilch—and my family history was complicated. So it didn’t make sense why she chose me as her heir. There had to have been someone better suited to inherit what she left behind.

L.S.: Thank you for sharing those personal details. I see how they still weigh on you.

(Miranda’s eyes are misty, and for a moment, I consider extending a hug.)

L.S.: Why do you feel it’s important to revere the past?

Miranda: It’s complicated to answer without sounding like a hypocrite.

L.S.: No judgments if you’d like to reply.

Miranda: As a historical society employee, I pride myself on preserving the past of old buildings and landmarks. After all, they weathered the storms and withstood the tests of time. Rather than be disregarded for their imperfections, they deserve to flaunt their scars. And we need to honor and protect them.

(Miranda speaks with conviction. For the first time, she appears self-assured. But then she hesitates again, and I feel her withdraw like a shadow.)

But not every past should be revered. As for my family history and roots, I avoid looking back. That’s why inheriting my grandmother’s estate instigated old wounds. It forced me to revisit what I intentionally left behind.

L.S.: I understand. We all have things we wish were different in our lives. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

Miranda: How much time do we have?

(Miranda’s nose wrinkles when she laughs, and her lighthearted side is refreshing.)

Just one change? Let’s see. I wish I had ambitious dreams and the confidence to achieve them. Growing up, I came from modest means, so not having much meant I didn’t expect more. Limitations—I accepted them and adopted a half-empty mindset. I admire those carefree spirits equipped to weather life’s storms. Yeah, that would definitely be something I’d like to change about myself.

l.S.: Thank you for your honesty and for sharing these delicate pieces of yourself. As for making a positive change, it’s never too late. Remember what you said at the beginning of this interview? Anything is possible.

(There’s an intent behind my stare, but Miranda quickly looks away.)

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A lifelong resident of Long Island, L. S. Case is a twenty-year volunteer wish granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hofstra University. Before embarking on her author journey, she spent over a decade as a proud region leader, recruiter, trainer, and multi-award sales achiever for Lia Sophia jewelry. Her passion for helping others transformed countless women’s lives, one necklace at a time. In 2017, she co-founded a nonprofit organization and currently serves on its board of directors. Her life’s joy is the time she spends with her husband, family, and a temperamental cockatiel. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, L. S. can be found singing off-key at an ’80s concert, cycling to the beach, participating in races, swinging from a trapeze, or hanging from the warehouse ceiling in Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios. Find out more about her at www.lscasenovelist.com.