Risky Restoration received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author E.F. Dodd.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The title of the book is Risky Restoration and it was published in October of 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“I have news.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
After stumbling across her ex-boyfriend Miller’s wedding webpage, Kez travels to New York to crash his high school reunion and see if he’s really moved on, but a chance meeting with a sexy guitarist sparks a fiery attraction she can’t deny.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
For better or worse, all of us have – at one time or another – googled an ex. Every woman, regardless of whether she’s in a great relationship with an awesome new guy, has that one jackass from her past that didn’t pick her. It’s the not being chosen, more than the guy who did it, that motivates the search. Why did he make that choice? What was he looking for that you didn’t have? Those are the questions that needle at you and motivate the search, because in that search you’re hoping to find the answers. And, even if you can’t, because, let’s face it social media isn’t going to reveal most folks’ deep thoughts, there’s still the chance to see whose life turned out better. That’s even harder for most people to admit than the search itself, I think. Because you want to picture yourself as better than, or above that. But, the truth is, if you find out his life is on the downslide while yours has the upward trajectory of a rocket to the moon, it provides a certain level of satisfaction. Even if he didn’t pick you, you still won. We’re not perfect people who want the best for everyone, including those who hurt us in the past. It’s why we cheer when the guy who was a jerk to the heroine in the romantic comedy gets his comeuppance as she sails off into the sunset with her new man. Because we think he deserves it and we’re happy for her. She won, he lost. It works, because that’s what people wish would happen in real life.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I think it encourages people to get back out there. I’m not sure who said it first, but I remember Emma Stone saying in an interview once that “Life is short, eat the cupcake.” That’s some excellent advice and, I would phrase it this way as it pertains to this book. Just because you got tagged with a pretty nasty uppercut the last time you were out there in the dating world, don’t let it keep you from getting back out there and taking a chance. Take the leap, accept the invitation to coffee, or drinks or whatever and just see what happens. Maybe it will be your next great romance, or maybe it won’t be anything more than a pleasant hour or so of conversation. But if you don’t go, you won’t know.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I think physically, it’s Kez’s hair that makes her stand out. It’s long, it’s red and it’s big. It’s got a mind of its own and isn’t easily tamed. Her hair is reflective of her personality – beautiful, but unruly. To me, she’s a more polished version of Julia Roberts’s portrayal of Erin Brockovich.