Q&A: Eliza Knight, Author of ‘Lost in the Summer of ’69’

We chat with author Eliza Knight about Lost in the Summer of ‘69, which follows three generations of women, an unforgettable summer of music, and the epic cross-country road trip they’ll never forget.

PLUS you can read an excerpt at the end of the interview!

Hi, Eliza! When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always had a love of stories. Even as a child, before I could write, I was making little books with paper and sewing them together with yarn. I had my first story published in a charity anthology when I was in third grade. I studied journalism in college for two years before realizing my heart wasn’t in reporting, but creating. I wrote stories for fun, as gifts for family and friends. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, a love of words, a love for exploring stories and people. For me, storytelling and writing are as natural as breathing.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Your latest novel, Lost in the Summer of ’69, is out June 9^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Mothers and Daughters, Music, Road-Trip

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a nostalgic read that takes them on an epic road trip, filled with memory-making, music and self-discovery. Eleanor, Leanne and Nora not only discover who they were meant to be, but who each other are. It is a novel of mother and daughter bonding. A summer adventure that they won’t forget, and that will forever change who they are.

Where did the inspiration for Lost in the Summer of ’69 come from?

There were so many ideas filtering through my head that inspired Lost in the Summer of ’69, and after a walk-and-plot with a writer pal of mine, the pieces started to fall into place. Following my novel, Confessions of a Grammar Queen, I knew I wanted to write another book that took place in the 60’s, so I started to do some exploratory research about what happened in that decade of change. I came across the summer of 1969, which was filled with not only music festivals, but other changes in the country, including the first year Yale allowed women to matriculate. I’ve always been fascinated by women’s stories, mothers and daughters, ways we change and empower each other, and I knew I needed to write a generational story. There’s also a thread of exploring stories together and how reading can spark conversation, so you’ll see that in a number of ways. Every novel I write has a little piece of me in it, and that year, there were some personal things going on in my life as well that sparked inspiration and the need to explore—my father-in-law’s battle with Alzheimer’s and my daughter going off to college. As the ideas snowballed, so too did the urgency to write this story.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I really loved writing all of the characters! It was fun to explore what living in the ‘60s in different generations was like, and to explore what each of the women in the story was experiencing and how those experiences would change her. I would have to say some of my favorite scenes were the bonding moments. There’s one that involves changing a tire that I had a lot of fun with, and another one where Eleanor and Leanne are on stage together.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Yes! The biggest challenge while writing the story was not coming up with the story, scenes or characters but the actual physical writing. I have carpal tunnel, and while I was writing this book, I had another book due at the same time, which required more writing than my wrists can handle. So, I turned to dictation to get the first draft written. Let’s just say, I am not good at dictation, lol. It took me probably three times as long to edit this book than any other for that reason. BUT, it did save my wrists in the end, so no regrets! I will say, I likely won’t be using dictation again any time soon.

What’s next for you?

Next up is my August release, Tradwife, under my pen name, Michelle Brandon. But next for Eliza, I’m working on two books. One is a gothic historical, disaster story mashup, and another is a women’s fiction story of self-discovery. I can’t say much more about those two right now, but I’m very excited for them!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’m currently reading a wonderful book called A Heartbeat at My Feet by Kristin Judd which releases in August. It is a very heartwarming read that also happens to be an adventure and self-discovery book about a woman who takes a once in a lifetime trip to Italy where she ends up rescuing a dog. Another book I loved was Isola by Allegra Goodman which showcases the depths of humanity and survival when an orphaned noblewoman in the 16^th century is abandoned on a wild island. A book I can’t wait to read is The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian, which looks like a fabulously scandalous historical fiction.   

Will you be picking up Lost in the Summer of ’69? Tell us in the comments below!