Lark’s lost her husband, and the expiration date has come and gone on her fake-it-till-you-make-it “Happy Mommy Show.” Healing her broken family requires drastic measures, like returning to her hometown in the Texas Hill Country. But she’s going to need more than clean air and a pastoral landscape to rebuild a life for her and her young sons.
After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark puts every cent into a failing vineyard, determined to work through her grief and make a brighter future for her children. The last thing she expects is to fall in love again. Especially not with Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet with a past of his own to conquer.Coming home may not be the reset Lark imagined, but it does take her on a journey filled with humor and reconciliation, one that prepares her for a courageous comeback.
Reviews ~
“An uplifting tale about family, second chances, and the complexity of making fine Texas wine.”
―Kirkus Reviews
“A wonderful new voice in women’s fiction.”
―Kristan Higgins, author of Life and Other Inconveniences
“In her debut, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, Kris Clink explores what happens after the traumatic events that shaped her characters’ lives, and the hope that love and acceptance offers. You’ll want to say hello to these charming, complicated, and refreshingly flawed characters.”
―Amy E. Reichert, author of The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go
“I didn’t want to say goodbye to Lark and the cast of characters in Kris Clink’s debut. With a confident voice, smart humor, and masterful handling of difficult subjects, this story is full of heart and has so much to love.”
―Leah DeCesare, author of Forks, Knives, and Spoons
“A sweet, charming, romantic interlude in the winemaking hill country of Texas―a lovely vicarious vacation, and just the rosy dose of optimism and hope we need right now.”
―Phoebe Fox, author of A Little Bit of Grace
“Kris Clink takes us on a delightful trip to Texas wine country in her heartwarming debut. With a large and engaging cast of characters that never feels like too much, Clink introduces us to an endearing community you’ll want to revisit. Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy is a touching tale about moving past grief, building the life you want, motherhood in all its forms, and finding love again against the odds.”
―Lainey Cameron, author of The Exit Strategy
“Lark Lovejoy is fierce, funny and unforgettable. Clink’s debut is a heartwarming and uplifting story that reminds us it’s never too late to go after your dreams, that age is just a number, and you can find love in unexpected places. I can’t wait to see what Kris Clink writes next!”
―Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us
Q & A with Kris ~
Tell us a little about yourself and how you started writing. I have always been a writer, although I’ve spent most of my adult life writing for other people—technical writing for marketing, medical, and nonprofit work. At the ripe old age of forty-six, I quit my job to write full time. Five years later, I published Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy.
What are some things you enjoy when not writing? Cooking for my family and friends, playing pickleball, riding my bike, and listening to music and audiobooks.
What is something about you that people would surprise people? I consider myself Willie Nelson’s biggest fan. When I was young, my big sister introduced me to his music, and I was hooked. I think I’ve attended eight of his concerts—almost always on the front row so I can sing along. (Pretty sure those around me wish I wouldn’t).
Where do you get your ideas? Watching people, listening to conversations, reading other books, watching movies. There are so many books I want to write and so little time.
Do you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready? My husband reads aloud as we go along, and one of my sisters reads the first finished version. She has an eagle-eye for catching things that don’t line up.
Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write? When I began writing full time, I was introduced to Kristan Higgins’ books. Until then, I couldn’t put it into words the way I wanted my readers to feel when they read my books. Kristan has a way of pulling the reader into a story and making them feel right at home the entire way as they read.
Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published (or this book?) I had many “almosts” with agents. Ultimately, I decided to take a different approach and went with a hybrid publisher who would give me more control while putting my books on multiple sales platforms.
If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you’d change? You know, the writing road is rarely straight. For every twist or turn, there’s been a valuable lesson to be learned.
How do you market your work? I hired a publicist to take care of the pieces I couldn’t, while I contacted other authors, bloggers, and reviewers to ask for their support.
What are you working on now? I’m writing the third book in the Enchanted Rock series (set in the Texas Hill Country), and I’m interviewing other authors for my podcast, Kris Clink’s Writing Table.
Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences? Walter Cronkite, the dog, was a lot like my daughter’s dog.
Do you have a favorite chapter or scene? The scenes with Bianca made me laugh as I wrote them.
Do you have a favorite character? Again, Bianca made me laugh … and cry. She’s a gem!
What would your job of choice be if you didn’t write books? Wedding singer. Just because I know the words and sing them enthusiastically doesn’t mean I can hold a tune.
What was the most unique research you had to do for a book? Visiting the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, a facility created to address the unique injuries suffered by veterans of Desert Wars.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Don’t grieve over those manuscripts that don’t grab agents or publishers. Keep writing. Your writing will improve, and your voice will become clearer.
What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts? We put ourselves out there, heart and soul. Every day is a new high or low. One reader loves our work, another thinks it’s garbage. Yet, we can’t stop doing it because we love writing.
Favorite band or music? Willie Nelson. I love all kinds of music from Billy Joel to Otis Redding and everything in-between.
Place you’d like to travel? Europe.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans? Their time is valuable, so it’s a great honor when they use it to read my books.
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