Sisters of the Vine received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Linda Rosen.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of my novel is Sisters of the Vine. It was published by Black Rose Writing on March 25, 2021
What’s the book’s first line?
The locomotive rumbled past, rattling the nursery window.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave meets A League of Their Own. The story of one woman’s determination to keep the land she loves and the sisterhood formed around her. And, yes, there’s wine!
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Approximately forty years after graduating from high school, I reconnected with a friend who I hadn’t seen since we wore our caps and gowns. While sitting over lunch at a café in New York City’s Soho neighborhood, we caught up on our lives and she regaled me with stories of her vineyard and winery. I heard about all the trouble she’d had breaking into the all-male fraternity of winemakers. Her story of a group of women, with no knowledge of winemaking, coming together and creating an award-winning winery, piqued my interest. I didn’t want to write my friend’s biography so I had to figure out what to do with her story. My mind wandered. Characters came to me while swimming laps and taking walks (always when I didn’t have a pen and paper handy). I envisioned a hillside vineyard in upstate New York and bold reds fermenting in oak barrels. And about twelve years later, Sisters of the Vine was born.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
In addition to pure enjoyment (I hope), young women will gain an insight into what it was like for women in the 1960s and ‘70s, and how we had to overcome a great deal, not only outside the home, but inside ourselves – our views of who we were, who we grew up thinking we’d be, and who we wanted to be. For women who lived through those times, I hope this book will bring back memories and all will cheer for Liz and the sisterhood formed around her. And for men, I think they’ll get an understanding of women and the second phase of feminism. I believe they’ll, also, cheer for Liz. And let’s not forget there’s wine! Readers will want to sip a glass of bold red or crisp white, for sure!
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Liz, the main character, is the embodiment of the Fifties gal who grew up wanting to be a housewife and mother with a loving husband who would take care of her – and later realized she needed more. Many may say this is a stereotype, though women of that age will identify with Liz and the angst she went through reinventing herself. Whether a vintner, journalist, or any other in what was once an all-male profession, there were many women who had to break through barriers in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Some still have to do that today.
When did you first decide to become an author?
As an avid reader, I’d dreamt of penning my own novel, one that readers would devour curled up in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea – or a glass of wine. So, when I was nearing my 60th birthday, I searched for and found a writer’s workshop in a local community school. My fingers started to fly across the keyboard, though my prose was as shaky as a toddler’s first steps. With lots of encouragement, the words soon began to flow as characters introduced themselves to me. They sat on my shoulder, whispered in my ear as I walked in the park, swam laps, or dug in my garden. They planted their feet and wouldn’t leave until I put them on paper, or to be more accurate, on screen.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
I am still stunned when I realize I have two books out in the world! My debut novel, The Disharmony of Silence, released in March, 2020, just before Covid 19 locked us all down. You can find out more about it on my website.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’ve been a Fitness Professional for almost forty years. Now I’m mostly retired from leading group exercise classes and working privately with clients, though I still teach aqua-cise in the summer. Working-out in the water is my favorite way to stay in shape.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Oh my gosh! There are so many writers I admire. Barbara Kingsolver is one who always comes up on the top of my list. I don’t write her type of novels though I wish I could. I’m also in awe of Kristin Harmel and Fiona Davis for the research they’ve done in creating page-turning novels. Marilynne Robinson, Pat Conroy, Fredrik Backman…I can’t pick one.