Author Andrea J. Stein has a lot to celebrate this fall! Her second novel, Dear Eliza, launched in October, and I’m certain her many fans were eagerly awaiting its release. Those fans loved her first novel, Typecast, citing the “amazing characters” and “brilliantly balanced” storyline, among other attributes. This second book is seeing glowing reviews as well from readers and reviewers alike. Midwest Book Review wrote of the book, “[Dear Eliza]’s inviting tone and realistic scenarios are not just revealing, but utterly compelling,” and it’s earned endorsements from other authors like Colleen Oakley, Angela Terry, Annie Cathryn, and Laura Hankin. If you’re looking for a novel about finding beauty in life’s messiness, this book is probably for you!

Welcome, Andrea!

Christina: Congratulations on Dear Eliza! Did you do anything differently this time around? How different (or similar) is Dear Eliza to your first novel, Typecast?

Andrea: Thank you! My process was similar with the two books. I definitely lean toward “pantser”—as in, writing by the seat of my pants—and in both cases I started the books with some idea where I was going, but not particularly how I would get there! Once I got a few chapters in, I created a loose chapter-by-chapter outline.

Both books are women’s fiction, and both are a mix of family relationships/drama, romance, and character growth of the main character. Typecast is dual-timeline, where Dear Eliza is not, and Dear Eliza deals with the heavier topic of grief, although ultimately I think both books are hopeful and written with humor.

Christina: As you said, Dear Eliza “deals with the heavier topic of of grief.” Grief manifests differently for different people, and there’s no one way to grieve. Why grief? What message are you hoping to send readers?

Andrea: Sadly, grief is something we will all experience at some point in our lives—and likely, more than once. So it’s a universal experience many readers can relate to. Grief can also be complicated by the relationship you have with the person you’ve lost, and even your relationships with others. I wanted to demonstrate that, and also share the message that has been my own experience, that grief is always with you. It may not “talk to you all the time” as Eliza says, but it’s there, in your heart.

Christina: Along with grief, the book also deals with family and loss, among other things. How did you find the proper balance so as not to weigh the reader down with the heavy themes?

Andrea: I didn’t want to write a heavy, sad book. Since the book is from Eliza’s perspective (though written in third person), I wanted her voice to have some humor. I especially tried to do that in her perspective about her co-workers and various work situations. I also wanted to offer more “lightness” through her relationships with her friend Mo, her aunt Claude, and, of course, the potential romance with Josh.

Christina: Readers like to hear about an author’s publishing journey. Would you share a little bit about yours?

Andrea: Sure. It was definitely a long one! I’ve written since I was a child, and my debut novel, Typecast, was the third complete novel I wrote, though the first one that I sought to publish. It took me about seven years from writing the first word of Typecast until it was out in the world. During that time, there was a lot of kind rejection (“I love the book, the writing, the characters, but….”) and a lot of revision. I ultimately connected with my publisher through an author I met thanks to my bookstagram account, which I started during Covid. Angela Terry very kindly offered to make an introduction…and the rest, as they say, is history. I was able to go back to them with Dear Eliza, which was great.

Christina: We connected via the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. How long have you been a part of the organization? What does it mean to you? Do any other communities or organizations figure in your life/writing life?

Andrea: I’ve been a member for several years and have really appreciated the camaraderie and shared experience—especially via the Facebook group. Only other writers can understand some of the struggles writers have! I also participate with The Writer’s Circle, a writing school in New Jersey. The “Novel Continuum” workshop I’ve participated in there has been invaluable—both in terms of getting feedback on my own writing and learning by listening to and critiquing others’ work. I’ve also made some wonderful friends there.

Christina: Reading is and always has been important to you, and I read that you wanted someone to ask a variation of these next questions. So, how does reading inform your writing? Does your writing inform your reading?

Andrea: I’ve always been a reader, and I think reading has informed my writing in so many ways, most notably exposing me to various ways of telling a story: single point of view, multiple points of view, single or dual timeline, etc. I also know the kinds of books I love to read the most, and I strive to create that experience for other readers with my writing. Specifically, a novel called Motherhood Made A Man Out of Me by Karen Karbo made a huge impression on me years ago. It tells the story of a brand-new mom, whose relationship with her husband is clearly strained, but we don’t know why. The way the author spooled out the backstory gradually really made the book a page-turner, and that was something I kept in mind particularly when writing Typecast. While I read somewhat broadly—women’s fiction, suspense, contemporary, and romance primarily—I definitely lean hard into women’s fiction, which is what I write.

Christina: You’re a book publicist! Publicity is one of the hardest parts about publishing, if you ask me. And you once said “if you don’t toot your own horn, no one will.” How can we, as authors, feel comfortable tooting our own horn? What small tip (or two) can you offer for those who don’t have the background and training that you do?

Andrea: My best tip about being comfortable tooting your own horn is to pretend, as best you can, that you’re talking about someone else—that you’re talking up a favorite writer who you think deserves more attention. In terms of more concrete tips, if you’re reaching out to the media—whether it’s a writer for a traditional media source, a book blogger, or a bookstagrammer, remember that they are contacted all the time by authors. You want to try to catch their attention immediately with a good hook. And, of course, do your research. If you write romance, don’t reach out to people who only cover thrillers!

Christina: You’ve shared a few things that make you happy, which “include strong tea, turtles, sunshine, sheep, and the ocean.” That’s a list of five. What else might you include if someone asked you to list five more things? If you could only have one of those things in your life, what would it be and why?

Andrea: Wow—tough question. Of course, this list doesn’t include the biggest thing that makes me happy, which is my family—my husband and two boys. And that’s the one I couldn’t give up! Four more items would be: good books, chocolate, changing foliage, and naps!

Christina: What’s next for you?

Andrea: I have lots of events coming up to promote Dear Eliza, so that’s going to keep me quite busy this fall and into the winter. I also just started my next novel, so it’s very much in the nascent stage—especially given that, as I said, I’m a pantser! It’s women’s fiction, and I anticipate that, like both Dear Eliza and Typecast, it will be a blend of family drama, romance, and the main character’s own development. It’s about a woman, Jules, who is compelled to move back to New York City, where she grew up in a non-traditional family arrangement, temporarily. She has a lot of baggage around those relationships—and growing she needs to do. Meanwhile, Jules is looking forward to reconnecting with an old friend—but when she meets her friend’s brand-new fiancé, it turns out he and Jules have a history…

Andrea can be found in multiple places!
Website: https://www.andreajstein.com/
X: @avid_booksta
Instagram: @books.turning.brains_ajstein
Facebook: @AndreaJSteinAuthorOfficial

Thanks to Andrea for agreeing to this interview! If you know of an author or artist who’d like to be featured in an interview (or you would like to be featured), feel free to leave a comment or email me via my contact page.