Until Forever received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Luisa Cloutier.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My book name is Until Forever and was released on May 24th.
What’s the book’s first line?
Until Forever is my memoir that depicts a complex yet inspiring story of love, loss and healing. Until Forever appeals to those interested in reading about women who have experienced joy, faced tragedy, and found the path to healing and the power to recreating their lives.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
I grew up poor in Naples, Italy, dreaming of one day going to America in search of a better life. But that dream came to an end when my mother suddenly died, leaving the responsibility of caring for the family on me. With little support or love from my father or my boyfriend, I had to find the strength to raise my younger brother and sister the way I believed my mother would want me to. Those days were dark and difficult, straining my ability to believe life could be better.
But as happened to Cinderella, my life suddenly changed when I met a young U.S. Marine named Brandon. We couldn’t have been more different. We didn’t even speak a common language. And yet from the day we met, he understood me as no one had ever understood me before. Against all odds, and in spite of the sometimes painful, sometimes humorous efforts of my father and the U.S. Marine Corps to keep us apart, Brandon and I forged an unbreakable love and set out to build a new life together in the United States.
But as two people from such different worlds, we struggled at every turn. Through financial hardship, culture clashes and even marital separation, we learned that the strength of love can overcome all obstacles. When we ultimately turned to each other, we found everything we had always wanted and achieved success in every possible way.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My husband Brandon suddenly died, at age forty-one, just as my mother had. Our lives were so tightly interwoven that I was unable to go on without him. Once again I had to find a strength inside me I did not know I had and rebuild my life, even finding new love which I was sure was not possible.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
This memoir will make readers laugh and cry and cheer. They will come away with a heartfelt belief in the eternal strength of true love and the ability we all have to heal even the deepest wounds.
It is a story that moves everyone who hears it.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Her courage, her sacrifices, her inner strength to survive, fighting depression and find the reason to go on with her new life. I don’t know anyone in particular.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Kate Winslet and Channing Tatum.
When did you first decide to become an author?
My husband suddenly died of a heart attack. Losing Brandon it was devastating. I missed him so much, I couldn’t stop thinking of ways to keep him alive forever. You know what I mean. Every night after his passing I kept my diary on my nightstand so that if I dreamed of him I would capture his memories. I remember one night, I went to sleep and I said to myself, that by the morning, I would have an answer on how to keep Brandon’s memories alive. The next morning I started writing the book.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am and inspirational speaker and the owner of a successful business since 2004. It’s called Fitness Together, Studio MA-031, located in Northborough, Massachusetts. Here is my studio website.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Right now I am not writing, but for my book, I worked 2-3 hours at night after working at my private fitness studio, and every weekend at least 2-4 hours with a break in between. I killed my loneliness by writing.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of being an indie is that I have bee judged and recognized by top industry professionals. For that I am honored and proud to show and post on my social media my “IndieReader Approved” sticker. I feel on the top of the world. Thank you so much Indie Reader!! The hardest of being an Indie…I am not sure how to answer this question.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Write with your heart and soul, don’t ever give up, be persistent, passionate and give your best.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
My traditional publisher is Black Rose Writing.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Sure, fame and fortune!
Which book do you wish you could have written?
My husband and I loved working and cooking together. So in 2011 we decided to start writing a cook book and start our cooking TV show. Everyone that came to my house they loved my Italian food. My recipes are all my mother’s cooking! The book would have been in my mother’s tribute, but that didn’t happen with Brandon’s passing, but I am planning to write my next book. I don’t know if it’s going to be cook book or something else.