In honor of the release of this fantastic book, I also had the opportunity to interview Ms. Redfearn via email last week. Here is an excerpt of our interview!
Although
I've read the book as an advance reader copy, many of my friends have not.
Can you tell us a little about your newest book, No Ordinary Life?
No
Ordinary Life is the story about a young mom’s struggle to protect her children
from the dangerous world of Hollywood. It was inspired by the idea of delving
into the truth behind the glitz and glamour to discover why so many young actors
struggle. Faye Martin, a young mother of three, has been abandoned by her
husband and is struggling to make ends meet. When the opportunity comes along
for her youngest, Molly, to star on a television show, she jumps at the chance.
It seems like her dreams have been answered until the dark trappings of their
new world are revealed and her life begins to unravel. Her older daughter is
struggling and Molly might be right behind her. Things quickly spiral out of
control, and Faye finds herself needing to make the difficult choice of whether
to continue to navigate the treacherous waters of fame or to give up the money
and prestige and get out. She finally decides only to discover the choice might
no longer be hers to make.
Who
are your literary heroes and why?
My
first literary hero was Ayn Rand. Her books made me realize that stories can
change you—alter your perspective, make you realize you are not alone in your
ideas and how you perceive the world. Other heroes would have to be Ernest
Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and Bryce Courtenay.
In
your bio, I read that you spent a few years of your childhood in Medford Lakes.
I live in Indian Mills which is a town adjacent to Medford, to the
east/southeast. What do you remember most about our area? Do you
have any photos from this time in your life?
Log
cabins. I lived in one and so did my uncle. Other than that, I don’t remember
much.
What
is the best advice you have ever received?
Funny
you should ask because I think I might have just figured that out yesterday. I
belong to an artists’ group (an amazing group of Laguna Beach artists who for
some reason include me, the lone author, in their tribe), and yesterday, one of
the women was talking about meeting the Dalai Lama. She and a crowd of hundreds
had gathered to hear him speak. Someone had put a trucker’s hat on his head,
which he graciously did not remove. Anxiously they waited for his inspirational
words of wisdom. She had traveled hours to see him as had most of those around
her. This was a rare appearance, and it was possible he would not visit
California again. He waited for the crowd to quiet, and when he had their full
attention, he looked out and said, “Try,” then he nodded and walked from the
stage. Everyone was befuddled at first then disappointed, and my friend said
she was actually a little pissed. She had taken a day off of work. She had
risen at the crack of dawn. She had waited for hours. Then she explained how
that stupid word has gotten stuck in her head and stayed with her. For months
now, whenever she is in a bad place, struggling with her art or with anything,
that bespectacled round face beneath that trucker’s hat smiles at her and
mutters the word “try” and so she does.
I'm
a scrapbooker. I love photographing my friends and family and documenting
our memories in a fun way. Do you have any hobbies?
Oh
my goodness. I am a dabbler. A little of this, a little of that. I like any
form of art, including photography, painting, crafts. I also like to garden and
of course to read. I’m also a sports girl, so I play golf and tennis. I surf. I
ski. I have far too many hobbies and not enough time.
Finally,
do you have a motto, quote or philosophy that you live by?
Thanks for the opportunity to do this review, giveaway and interview! I hope you all take the time to give this book a try. It's available in both paperback and for your Kindle. (You know how I love my Kindle!) Order through this link: NO ORDINARY LIFE.
