Audrey Young, Neighbor

When I tell my friends and clients that I am publishing myfirst novel next month, typically their first questions is: “What’s it about?”  Even though I have had months to polish my response, it is still challenging to sum up my novel in a terse, two-sentence summary. My web-site (“www.thetrustprotector.net) and the back cover of my book showcase some of my best attempts. The difficulty is that my novel is far from one-dimensional. It’s a legal drama that has a lot to say about how the modernday battle of the sexes has been joined between attorneys in a good size metropolis. There are engaging courtroom scenes and plenty of drama. At its heart, though, my novel is about grace and dignity, and how the characters assurvivors of an unforgettable father, brother and friend struggle to overcome their grief and find a new trajectory.  

Another frequent question from friends and clients is how I found the time and motivation to write, given my existing commitments as mother,spouse, practicing attorney, friend, daughter, dog owner, neighbor, etc.  This answer is convoluted as well. After graduating from Duke University, I had an incredible job. I was a reporter trainee in the business section of the New York Times for two years. Ultimately, I decided that I would rather be a lawyer and headed to Northwestern University Law School. But working at the New York Times was an amazing and influential experience. My writing (and grammar) improveddramatically, and my talent for seeing a story and telling it exploded.  As I have written hundreds of legal briefs,wills and trust agreements over my twenty-year career as a lawyer, those abilities developed further. I continued to write and observe and find stories within stories. I grew up and wanted to comment on certain universal truths. Overtime, my scribbles about interesting case law and legal issues and hearings I witnessed coalesced into a novel. Inspiration is a magical thing.

This is an appropriate point for a short segue about one ofthe dedications of the book. Anyone who knows me will attest to my love for the Chicago Cubs (and the Duke Blue Devils). I would not want to quantify how muchtime I have spent watching and following the Cubs. People who know me will also tell you that I am a consummate pragmatist. Two years ago I stopped being able to justify watching and following the Cubs. I suddenly had created time for more serious writing.

Once the basic tenets of my novel were in place, and I had worked hard to find the words to do justice to the multi-faceted plot I had concocted, I sent my book out tovarious friends, family members and a few book clubs as well. I don’t know much about marketing – I’m learning a lot this month. I liked the idea of testing the market and found willing focus groups to critique my book.  The feedback was generally positive, and I took their comments to heart. Some characters were walked back, a bit. Otherswere strengthened. Certain scenes were slowed down.

Appearing at book clubs has been the best part of theprocess for me so far. I’ve scheduled a dozen more such dates over the course of the next six months.  That readersfind my characters three dimensional  and authentic is so inspiring to me. That these readers have spent time and energy deciding which celebrities could play the characters in The Trust Protector movie is equally thrilling. Please read and enjoy my book. I have appearances scheduled all over the Chicagoland area in the next six months, starting withthe Book Stall in Winnetka in March.