Area author’s novel is a ‘tangle of moral dilemmas’
‘A Million Reasons Why’ to be released Tuesday.
Jessica Strawser’s fourth suspenseful book club novel, “A Million Reasons Why,” launches this coming Tuesday, and continues her literary exploration of fraught relationships, in character-driven page-turning stories.
Strawser is well-known among writers here and across the country as the editor-at-large of “Writer’s Digest” magazine, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and interviewed today’s most celebrated authors, including Alice Walker, David Sedaris, and others.
Though she lives north of Cincinnati, she’s particularly known in the Dayton writing community for her popular presentations at various area workshops, including at the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop.
Recently, we chatted by email about her forthcoming novel, published by St. Martin’s Press.
What was the impetus for “A Million Reasons Why”?
“A Million Reasons Why” begins when two strangers hundreds of miles apart are linked as half-sisters by a mail-in DNA test kit. In reading so many real-life stories of unexpected results from these tests, I’ve noticed they tend to fall into two camps: Those who set out to find unknown relatives (or at least suspected they existed) and thus received the results with open arms, and those who were blindsided in unwelcome ways (and, at best, need time to warm to the idea). I thought it would be fascinating to tell a story that started out with one character firmly in each camp but then, in time, saw the roles begin to reverse in unforeseen ways.
What surprised you most in the process of writing this particular novel?
I knew this novel would be an emotional ride, but think I underestimated just how deeply it would affect me. This is a story that makes you put yourself in two very different characters’ shoes and honestly ask: What would I do? It’s a tangle of moral dilemmas without any easy answers: Early readers have called this one a tearjerker, and it was for me too — in writing the last third especially.
Strawser will be doing a full virtual book tour, including an event with Joseph-Beth Booksellers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 (in conversation with bestselling novelist Colleen Oakley), with signed copies available in store, curbside, or shipped, and another as a part of the
Cuyahoga Public Library Author Series on Wednesday, March 31. Find the full list and register for free event access links at jessicastrawser.com/events.
Upcoming literary events
■ Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m. — Dayton Literary Peace Prize Virtual Book Club, hosted by Ron Rollins, former editor of Ideas and Voices for the Dayton Daily News, will discuss “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller, the 2020 DLPP Nonfiction Winner. To learn more or register, visit www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/getinvolved
■ Thursdays, March 25-April 22, 6:30-8 p.m. — Word’s Worth Writing Connections presents this weekly class, “Memoir: Write Your Story,” led by author and creative writing instructor Katrina Kittle. The five-week class will be held online via Zoom, and is for beginning as well as experienced writers. Learn more and/or register at www. wordsworthdayton.com
■ Friday, March 26, 7 p.m. — Dayton Literary Peace Prize presents its next “Turn the Page” online event, featuring a conversation between N. Scott Momaday, the 2019 Holbrooke Award Winner and Louise Erdrich, the 2014 Holbrooke Award Winner. The topic of the discussion, moderated by Gilbert King, 2013 Nonfiction Runnerup, is “Land, Loss & Memory.” Learn more at www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/getinvolved/
Sharon Short writes historical mysteries under the pen name Jess Montgomery (www.jessmontgomeryauthor.com). Send her column ideas, book club news, or literary events at sharonshort1983@gmail.com.