Client Success: Kathy Florence Explores Female Friendships through Three Decades in New Novel
Kathy Wilson Florence considers her new novel, Three of Cups, a feel-good book. ”The story features three protagonists, each dealing with her own issues and heartache, but each woman is supportive of the others. I personally like hanging around woman who hold one another up, so I prefer to write about them too!”
Three of Cups is the story of the unshakable bonds of female friendships involving three women: Mandy, a determined young mother, raises her son alone when husband Adam is drafted with the Army and captured as a prisoner of war; Ginger, a lonely new bride waits for her husband Pete’s return from war; and Rachel, single and at the beginning her career, rallies for a new start when a high-pressured job gets the best of her. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, their stories begin in the early 1970s and converge almost thirty years later when a long-kept secret threatens to undo all their lives.
As with her first novel, 2017’s Jaybird’s Song, Kathy utilized historical events within the setting. “The ‘60s and ‘70s are rarely covered in the historical novels I’ve read. The Vietnam War offered a perfect background to my story of these women.” Atlanta repeats as the main locale and is a natural one since Kathy grew up and lived in the city all her adult life. In both novels, she weaves local places into her plot.
After inspiration struck in the middle of the night, Kathy made notes on some character traits, story arc, time frame, and titles. “My initial thought was to see how a secret between two women would play out over several decades. That’s the only thing that remained from my original notes. I definitely write from the seat of my pants and am always amazed and excited when the perfect idea comes.”
On designing her cover, Kathy prefers illustration to photography so the reader’s imagination defines their interpretation of each protagonist. “I am pleased with the Picasso-like illustration because, to me, it has an ethereal quality, similar to the tarot card sub-plot.”
I served as content editor for Three of Cups, providing feedback on plot, character, structure, setting, etc. Kathy shared, “I’m again impressed with the thoughtfulness of Wayne’s content edit as he is able to cut to the gut of a story with hands-down excellence for areas to rewrite, reconsider, and redefine.”
Three of Cups, available in print and e-book, has been featured in readings and at local book clubs. Her book launch occurs at Dunwoody’s Farm Burger on August 19 from 4-6pm. Kathy will read at “A Novel Idea” in Canton on September 19. Kathy also coordinates and hosts the monthly event “A Novel Idea” in Dunwoody when a group of up to six authors read from their books in a particular genre, such as southern fiction, thriller, or memoir. “It’s an awesome and rare opportunity for authors to present and sell their books at no cost except for a donation of a door prize. I am enjoying the opportunity to place myself among other authors.”