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 Family
reunions can be exciting, stressful, and perhaps
even life-changing depending on the individual
dynamics of your family. From the initial planning
stages to the execution of the big day, many factors
contribute to its success. Needless to say, some
people wind up doing more than others, but the
end result is almost always worth the effort.
This month’s Jen’s Jewels
Kris Radish had her fair share of experience orchestrating
her own family reunions. You may recognize her
name as the author of the bestselling books THE
SUNDAY LIST OF DREAMS or SEARCHING
FOR PARADISE IN PARKER, PA, both fabulous
reads. In her latest release THE SHORTEST
DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO WOMEN, she creates
the ultimate family reunion while incorporating
the struggles of a woman in search of herself.
Laugh out-loud funny, her new book is sure to
be winner.
As part of this interview, Bantam Dell has generously
donated five copies for you, my lucky readers,
to win. So, don’t forget to look for the
trivia question at the end. And, please stop by
my website, www.jennifervido.com, where you can
find all of my interviews, reviews, and so much
more. Thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part
of your reading adventure. 
Jen: As an author of six best-selling books in
addition to being a journalist, your career has
run the gamut. For those readers unfamiliar with
your work, let’s start at the beginning.
Please describe for us your educational and professional
background prior to becoming a novelist.
Kris: I have a degree in journalism from the University
of Wisconsin and I am not sure we have enough
time to discuss every job I have ever had! I was
a working journalist for thirty-five years-that
sounds old- and have written about everything
from natural disasters and murders to bake sales
and city council meetings. And oh yes, I loved
every minute of it. I was nominated for a Pulitzer
Prize, flew to Bosnia when the war started, had
a stalker for almost a year, was a nationally
syndicated columnist, a professional Girl Scout,
worm harvester, bartender, lifeguard, return specialist
at a major warehouse….well, really –
Kris has been around the block baby.
Jen: Becoming a successful author requires
talent as well as support from loved ones. You’ve
said on your website that your parents believed
in you. Ultimately, their encouragement led to
the pursuit of your dream of becoming an author.
How did their nod of approval attribute to your
decision to write books based upon empowered women
such as yourself?
Kris: I was raised to believe in dreams and that
even if we didn’t have money – we
could take on the world. My parents laughed a
lot when I talked about my dreams – laughed
in a way that was half-holy cow she is going to
do this and half-what have we created. They never
tried to stop me and even when I took off for
parts unknown – they never said, “No.”.
Jen: Your latest endeavor, THE SHORTEST
DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO WOMEN, incorporates the best
and the worst when it comes to family. Funny yet
at times poignant, I was so impressed with your
ability to reach within the depths of your characters’
souls. Truly, I felt as if these women were a
part of my life. (I was secretly wishing I could
become a Gilford!) How did you arrive at the premise?
Kris: I usually start out by looking into the
mirror and dissecting my own life. Family is all
over the place. I have three siblings and I have
some friends who told me a story about their holiday
conflicts. These are grown women! One holiday
is here – one is there and I said to them,
“When can you start your own traditions”?
They looked at me as if I had just stripped naked.
Thus – a book was born.
Jen: The story focuses on Emma Gilford,
the only unmarried daughter in the family, who
struggles with the idea of self-fulfillment. Concerned
with her sisters, mother, and past romances, she
always puts her own needs last. In what ways has
her birth order affected this decision? Of her
three sisters, Erika, Joy, and Debra, who depends
on her the most and why?
Kris: Well, here is Emma who is unmarried. That
means, to the married sisters, that she has tons
of free time to be their unpaid helper. Really,
all three sisters depend on her. They take her
for granted also because she lets them. In families
it is VERY hard to draw lines and isn’t
it the “girls” who usually take up
the slack? She’s also the baby and I‘m
not sure you ever get over that. At some point
the baby and the baby’s siblings have to
stop and address each other as adults…most
of the time.
Jen: The most colorful character in the
story is Emma’s mother, Marty. A flamboyant
widow who is in search of the next phase in her
life, she has a take-no-prisoners attitude when
it comes to dealing with her children and even
the neighbors. How does her metamorphosis affect
Emma’s own view of herself? In what ways
is she envious and perhaps a bit jealous of her
mother’s new-found freedom?
Kris: Don’t you just love Marty? I want
to be just like her when I am a grandma….not
for years I hope. (Hear that kids?) Marty’s
transformation was a long time coming and startles
the living hell out of Emma. It gives her one
more reason to examine her life and get a grip.
And doesn’t change always prod us? Doesn’t
it make us look at our own self and life? It’s
just one more gift that Marty gives, not just
to Emma, but to all of her daughters. “Listen
to me – it is never too late.”
Jen: It could be said the Gilford Family
Reunion is the main character in this book. I
would have to assume that your knowledge of the
topic comes from personal experience. Is that
true? And if so, are you the queen of the Radish
Family Reunion? Are your get-togethers similar
to that described in the book?
Kris: You caught me!
Radish Family Reunions have been a part of my
life for 55 years. And yes, there is an auction.
I am far from the queen and actually have been
unable to attend for the past several years but
the reunions are a very important part of my life
and memory and I was just back home in Wisconsin
and will be posting some REALLY old reunion photos
on my website, www.krisradish.com,
very soon! Prepare to laugh.
Jen: Emma’s love interest is what
I would call a forbidden fruit. A sister’s
ex-boyfriend! How could that be? How does Sam’s
“appearance” affect Emma’s view
of her relationship with her family? Despite obvious
reasons, why has she chosen to keep it a secret?
Kris: You know when you are ready to change it
is almost like a chain reaction and finally there
is just one last thing that pushes you forward.
For Emma it was the phone calls from her lost
love. The calls pushed her right over the edge
and forced her to face her choices. She was afraid
to live and afraid to be judged and afraid of
living…so she was existing like so many
of us. And the secret was the one thing she had
that no one else in her family had.
Jen: Emma’s saving grace, if you
will, is her garden. Her nurturing of Mother Earth
brings forth a certain tranquility that she lacks
in her personal life. In what ways do the plants
cultivate her gentle, loving spirit?
Kris: Emma is never judged in her garden. No one
expects anything but water and maybe a little
plant food. And her gardens are hers and hers
only…sacred ground, her haven, the one place
where she can be herself and not rise to what
she perceives are so many expectations. It is
also a beautiful place to be. It’s very
hard to be anything but loving and kind and true
when a daisy is walking itself across your forehead.
Jen: Emma’s bond with her niece
Stephie fills an obvious void in both of their
lives. How does it positively affect Emma’s
troubled relationship with her sister Joy?
Kris: Joy’s cup runneth over. She knows
she’s in trouble and once she finally can
let go, which is a pretty huge thing to do, she
realizes what a gift Emma is and has been for
her and her daughter. Who does not need a cool
auntie? I had one and my Auntie Barbara was a
live and wonderful force in my life.
Jen: Of all the sisters, Emma has the
closest relationship with their mother Marty.
What makes these two kindred spirits?
Kris: When Marty’s husband and Emma’s
father died both of them filled their life’s
void with each other. Emma was the baby and think
of it as a wild storm where they could both cling
to each other. They are both also caretakers and
have hearts that were spun from the same fabric.
It’s so hard to know when to let go and
when to hold on. I’m a mother and believe
me – I know. Well, most of the time I know
– the rest I am clueless and groping in
the dark!
Jen: A common thread throughout the story
is the undeniable need for each woman to love
and be loved. What important life lesson will
Emma have to learn in order to achieve true happiness?
Kris: Emma, like all of us, needs to conquer her
fear and to simply let go. Sometimes the fear
of change can cripple us. It seems as if staying
where we are is the best because it’s comfortable
but if we take a really close look we will see
that our socks no longer fit, the shoes are too
small, and we have outgrown our own lives. It
is time to move on.
Jen: The beauty pageant was an unexpected
twist to the plot. Why did you choose to incorporate
it into the story?
Kris: I loved this part of the book! It came as
a surprise to me – believe me. I love addressing
the idea of beauty and expectations and I love
breaking down stereotypes. Stephie is standing
on the edge of her future as well and this was
a step out of her box, a way for her to move forward
in her life in spite of all the chaos in her own
life. Besides that it is funny as hell! I so wanted
to be on that bus and could see the other people
in the audience looking at all of them. Sometimes
you just really need to be yourself – well,
you always need to be yourself, you know?
Jen: Will there be a sequel? (I hope
so!)I felt as if some questions were left unanswered.
Was this on purpose?
Kris: Oh sure! Some days, when I am drinking wine
(mostly every day by the way); I think how cool
it would be to put all of the characters from
my novels into one book. Can you just see it?
Then we could turn it into a musical. I’m
going to start it right now…!
Jen: Let’s talk about your website.
(I just love the term Radishland! It made me chuckle!)
Do you have a mailing list? E-mail notification
of upcoming releases? Do you participate in author
phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go
about scheduling one? Do you blog?
Kris: The only I do not do on my website is give
away free beer….my readers have to come
to an event for that. I blog a lot and I love
it. I do tons of book club chats and there is
a link on my website for that and I LOVE to do
them – it’s like having a Radish in
your living room. I do giveaways and I have a
cool section for readers to send in their own
stuff and I give away a prize. I also answer all
my own emails and I do have a very cool newsletter…!
Come take a peek.
Jen: Are you currently at work on your
next novel? If so, what can you tell us about
it?
Kris: Of course I am …not write? I would
die. My next novel Hearts on a String will REALLY
surprise my readers. Hang on is what I have to
say. I am stretching myself with each novel and
this one makes me REALLY tall.
Jen: Thank you so much for taking the
time to stop by and chat with my readers. I look
forward to seeing THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN
TWO WOMEN at the top of the bestseller’s
list. Best of luck!
Kris: Jen…you are
aces, baby! Thank you for this opportunity and
for allowing me into your world. Keep the door
open…please!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Kris.
Please stop by your local library or favorite
bookstore like Indigo
Books on John's
Island in South Carolina today and pick up a copy!
Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?
Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail
me at jensjewels@gmail.com
with the answer to the following trivia question
and THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO
WOMEN is yours!
What is the nickname
of Kris Radish’s website?
In September, I will be bringing to you my interview
with Kaylie Jones, daughter of prize winning novelist
James Jones. You won’t want to miss it.
Until next time…Jen
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Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels