Book club kit
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A Conversation with
Lacie waldon What prompted you to write this book? I’d always written on layovers, and it had never even occurred to me to write about flight attendants, probably because I’d spent the whole day being one. Who wants to write about their work? But when my agent signed me for another book I’d written, she suggested I try writing what I know. I did as she asked, and was delighted at how the book just poured out.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process? From idea to publication took about two years. In that time, the central idea stayed pretty consistent, though I did end up changing the love interest from a pilot to a flight attendant. It wasn’t too long into the story before I realized it’s almost impossible to have two people get to know each other when one of them is locked behind a cockpit door. My choices were to turn my main character into a pilot and trap her in there with him (which would be interesting but stationary) or drag him back into the cabin with the rest of the riffraff.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title? I’d heard that everything moves glacially in publishing, but The Layover moved through the submission and acquisition process relatively quickly, so I guess I expected it to come out quickly as well. When they told me that it would take sixteen months to publish, I honestly thought I’d misheard them. Who knew that in that time, the whole world would change? I feel lucky to be publishing at a time when people are gearing up for adventures again.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book? I was surprised that my editor kept pushing for more of the details about the actual duties of a flight attendant. For me, those parts dragged because I had experienced them all daily for years. She was right, though! I’ve gotten so many reviews saying readers enjoyed the glimpse behind the curtain. I suppose this is why she gets paid the big bucks.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book? I think The Layover offers a vision of living authentically. But truthfully, I wasn’t aiming for a particular message. I’ve always been so appreciative of books that offer a great escape from reality. That was all I really wanted to do. My goal was to provide the kind of easy read that you could disappear into and come out of feeling like you’d gotten a tan.
If you could share one piece of advice with other authors, what would it be? Just keep writing. This business is like a lottery game, and there’s no guarantee you’ll ever get your book in front of a lot of eyes or make money off of it. If that’s your goal, you’ve got to keep producing stuff so you’ll have more chances to succeed. And if you just enjoy writing, you’ll want to keep writing anyway, so my advice still applies.
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When we first meet our heroine, Ava, what is her stance on her career and relationship? Could you relate to her reasoning for wanting to change the trajectory of her life? What is Ava’s relationship with her parents like? How does her childhood influence the decisions she makes as an adult? Similarly, discuss how Jack’s relationship with his father is portrayed in the book. What turns Ava off from Jack initially? How does he develop as the hero of the story the more we learn about him and his past? How did your opinion of him change? Discuss the differences between Jack and Alexander. Why is Alexander not the right choice for Ava, and how does she come to realize that? In addition to Ava and Jack, The Layover has many memorable secondary characters, including Gen, Pilot Paul, R.J., Captain Ballinger, and Celeste and Eddie. Who were some of your favorites, and how do they contribute to Ava’s journey? Like Ava, author Lacie Waldon is a veteran flight attendant. Did you discover anything new or surprising about how flight attendants operate from The Layover? How did your perceptions of the airline industry change? As referenced in the title, The Layover’s characters get stranded in Belize for twenty-four hours. What does Ava’s time there ultimately teach her about what she wants out of life? How does the trip affect Jack and Ava’s relationship? At first, Ava thinks she wants to live a safe, structured life, but how does her journey teach her that unpredictability could be a good thing? Are you a wanderer at heart like Ava is, or do you prefer stability? What is your dream layover, and why?
belize breeze cocktail recipe 1 oz. coconut rum 3 oz. fresh pineapple juice 1 tsp. grenadine or cherry liqueur
Mix all the ingredients together in a high ball glass filled with ice. Enjoy!