#My review and Interview with the author Mary Grand#
Behind the Smile by Mary Grand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I admit. I fully admit I love a good book cover and title. The title did intrigue me. It made me think of how we can hide behind a smile even though our emotions or thoughts are otherwise.
That we portray ourselves as one person but 'behind that smile' other things are going on.
And this is exactly right.
Lowi was involved in a terrible accident, it scarred half of her beautiful face.
I couldn't help but wonder how I would feel or even if I could brave the outside world again.
If that wasn't enough to cope with she had to cope with a miscarriage, finding herself lied to, the breakdown of her marriage.
Lowri was Jacks secound wife, Holly was his first.
Another person we meet is Carina, she features a lot in many others lives within the pages of this fantastic read. Her husband's name is Ken, hes older than her, wealthy, and she tells everyone how much she adores her Ken.
Lowri has impressive language skills, but to get out there now, how will people view her, will they judge her by her scare? So she hides behind a Facebook account.
That part made me think about life on Facebook. I thought about how some just put up on their wall everything, any emotional thing in life they are going through, venting etc, then there are lots of others who 'hide behind the smile' and just keep things to themselves and make others laugh and feel good about themselves.
Yes I think I thought a bit too much but it really did hit home some questions. I know its a novel, but this is what makes it such a fabulous book, its realism.
I loved the style and ease of this thriller. I enjoyed the journey I went on with all the characters.
This author was unknown to me, and shes left an impression so much so I am checking out her other books.
I read my copy from a book club and enjoyed chatting about it.
MY FABULOUS INTERVIEW WITH MARY GRAND.
Thank you so much Mary.
1) How did you come up with this attractive cover?
I am really glad you like it, thank you. I work with Ryan Ashcroft from LoveYourCovers and we bounced lots of ideas back and forth via email. We tried different kinds of masks but they had a feel of a Fifty Shades of Grey which would not have reflected the story at all! Then finally we found this picture and it was like ‘wow, that’s it’. Ryan then did his magic and we ended up with the cover you now see.
2) The title drew me in too. Behind The Smile.
I had many interpretations about this title.
We all Smile and put on a mask to the world at large sometimes.
Who would you say was the main character for this? Do you think it applied to others in the story too?
‘……, closer to, he saw her face, traces of tears on her cheeks. For the first time, he saw the woman behind the smile. ‘Behind the Smile
Lowri, the main character, hides many feelings behind a fake smile. She has a deep need for the approval; believes that people cannot love the real her. She pretends to be content with her life, settling for a man who does not love her and even creates a fake Facebook profile portraying a perfect life, a kind of virtual fake smile.
Lowri moves to an apparently idyllic village. Initially she envies Heather, the popular café owner, whose life seems perfect. However she soon learns that Heather’s smiles hides a guilty secret that is slowly destroying her life.
Lowri also meets Carina, a beautiful Italian woman living in the manor. She slowly discovers Carina’s stunning smile hides darker obsessions.
3) You have other books that you have written. Tell us a bit about those. The covers are very different from your latest book.
The covers may be different to reflect the different stories but a common thread is that they each centre on a different woman at a crisis point in her life.
My first two novels are:
Free the Be Tegan … the story of Tegan who is cast out of the cult, the only life she has ever known. She finds herself trying to survive and flourish in a world she has been taught to fear and abhor. (This book is partly based on my own experience).
Hidden Chapters is the story of Catrin who has survived by denying her past. Her marriage is in crisis. She has devoted herself for eighteen years to bringing up her adopted Deaf daughter, Bethan. She is unaware that her life is about to be shattered by the appearance of the woman she has been told is dead, Bethan’s birth mother, Elizabeth.
4) I’ve heard the Isle of Wight is very beautiful. Do you have a favourite photo of a place you like to go to there and just sit and dream with your lovely dog?
This is my Pepper sitting on the Longstone on Mottistone Down. I love walking up here what ever the weather, on sunny days you can see the sea glittering in the distance and there is an orchestra of bird song, and on foggy days you are wrapped in silence.
5) In your bio it says you worked with deaf children. Snap! But I worked with deaf adults.
What was your motivation when you did this?
I became a Teacher of the Deaf because in my teenage years before I helped in a local school for the Deaf and enjoyed working with the children there.
As a teacher I worked with Deaf children in a main school setting, teaching them individually and supporting their integration. We used spoken language and sign language, it was wonderful to see them grow in confidence and develop their communication skills.
6) I know some of Wales where you used to live, never could pronounce some of those areas! The shopping area is great in Cardiff. What made you move to where you are now (stupid question, its beautiful there)
I have lived in a number of places but my roots have always been in Wales. When I return to Wales I love hearing people speak, the chattiness and warm lilt are like being wrapped in a cosy blanket, I feel at home.
I came to the Isle of Wight over twenty years ago as my husband was offered wok here. Initially I was anxious about being cut off on an island! However it is well and truly home now, my children had a great place to grown up in, and now , when i am not writing’s go on lots of walks with my dog.
7) How do you take negative reviews?
They hurt of course, as I say below approval means a lot to me. However it is part of the price of putting your book into the world, I try very hard to stay philosophical and am glad it doesn’t happen too often!
8) When you get great reviews I’d be skipping and jumping, how do you react?
It is one of the best feelings in the world and I can get very emotional. I sometimes cry and cuddle my dog. Even if someone has just written two words like ‘enjoyed it’ I appreciate they have taken the time to share. Of course reviews are so important in encouraging new readers, but they mean so much personally to a writer. Writing is very solitary activity and putting your book out into the world is very scary. Hearing people have enjoyed it means everything.
9) The main character has been left with something that has zapped her confidence, have you ever lacked confidence in the public eye.
Do you care what people think about you personally?
‘The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages.’ Virginia Woolf
Like most people I want to be liked, to fit in and as I said about good reviews it is natural to want people to love what you do. It can make public speaking stressful! However I am learning that there is more to life than pleasing others, as the quote says that can become a prison. To be so busy trying to please everyone else, you can forget who you are, what you like, what you want to be.
Writing has been a wonderful kind of freedom, to create the worlds, the characters, the situations I want has helped me find a stronger sense of self, of who I am and what I care about.
A few nosy questions
What have you got in your fridge? - A bit empty after the weekend…salmon, eggs, soya milk, soya spread, and chocolate.
What are your favourite sloppy clothes to wear when lounging about? -Maxi skirt with elasticised waist, large baggy smock top.
Where do you go to bump your head in frustration when your writing thoughts are not surfing? - Walking on Mottistone Downs with Pepper.
What was the last thing you cooked? - Salmon with rice, mushroom and peas.
What for like...
Sandals or shoes - Sandals
Dark colours or light - Light
Kindle or physical book - Kindle mainly these days
Pet or no pet - Pet!
Sunshine or rain - Sunshine (much better for dog walking!)
Slippers or bare feet - Bare feet
Hairspray or no hairspray - no hairspray
Fabulous
And thank you x
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Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes
