In 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover, author Carolyn Moncel offers up a fresh batch of stories based on love and loss. As singer/songwriter, Paul Simon so eloquently suggested in a famous song from the 1970s, there are many ways to leave a lover. However, Moncel’s characters demonstrate that the reasons for leaving in the first place are quite finite. Encounters in Paris` Ellery and Julien Roulet return, picking up their lives where the short story, “Pandora`s Box Revisited,” ends. This time the Roulets are involved in a love triangle, and along with two other couples, must explore how love relationships are affected and splinter due to abuse, ambivalence, deception, cheating and death. This bittersweet collection of tales proves that some breakups are necessary; while others are voluntary; and still others are simply destined and beyond anyone’s control.
Targeted Age Group:
18-64
How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
I think my writing fits best in either the Women’s Fiction or Contemporary Fiction categories. The writing is often quiet, reflective and definitely more often than not, spies on the lives of professional women. However, what differentiates my writing from other authors is the fact that these women are often expatriate women living abroad and dealing with midlife crisis of every sort. I look for the universality of the experiences and in my case, the women experiencing these changes are often African American.
What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Never give up and trust your instincts. Tell your truth in your writing no matter what it is.
Author Bio:
Carolyn Moncel is the author of two books: Encounters in Paris – A Collection of Short Stories and 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover – A Novella and Other Short Stories. After moving from Chicago, her hometown, in 2002, she spent five years living in Paris. She currently resides in Lausanne, Switzerland with her husband and two daughters.
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Well, the title of the book was inspired by the Paul Simon song, ’50 Ways to Leave a Lover’. One day while walking down the street in Lausanne, I heard the song blasting from someone’s care radio. I thought, ‘That song only gets it half right: there are many ways to leave a lover but the reasons for leaving in the first place are pretty finite. A person leaves (voluntary or involuntary) because circumstances make it impossible to stay.’ All five of these reasons are represented in the book; three are found in the novella and one in each short story. I came up with these five by reevaluating my own past relationships as well of those of others. When I finished, I was able to reduce them down to these five reasons. Whether I was evaluating those relationships in a literal or figuratively sense, the formula still worked. I don’t think there are any exceptions to the rules. These five reasons seem to encapsulate every situations.
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