Caroline Leavitt author of | Days of Wonder

Caroline Leavitt joined Zibby Owens on her podcast Moms Don't Have Time To Read Books, to discuss her novel "Days of Wonder." The book follows the mysterious story of two 15-year-old lovers, entangled in a complex scenario involving accusations of attempted murder, a situation both protagonists struggle to recall accurately. As the male protagonist is freed while the female serves a 25-year sentence, released early due to a technicality, she becomes desperate to uncover the truths of their past, the whereabouts of her vanished boyfriend, and the fate of the child she bore in prison. Leavitt shared the inspiration for the novel, rooted in a real-life revelation from a friend who confessed to committing murder at 15. This true story profoundly influenced Leavitt, leading her to fictionalize the narrative to explore themes of redemption and the haunting desire for forgiveness. Throughout the discussion, Leavitt delves into the complexities of her characters' lives, weaving their fictional journey with threads of personal and intense real-life experiences, ultimately portraying a deep, reflective exploration of human resilience and the transformative power of truth and acceptance.

0:00 - Introduction to Caroline Leavitt and "Days of Wonder"
1:30 - Caroline explains the plot of "Days of Wonder"
3:00 - Inspiration behind the novel: A real-life confession
5:20 - Discussion on the main themes of the book: love, betrayal, and redemption
7:15 - How Caroline's personal experiences influenced the narrative
10:00 - The challenges and responsibilities of weaving real-life stories into fiction
12:30 - Caroline's approach to character development and narrative pacing
15:00 - Insights into the book's reception and reader feedback
17:20 - Advice for aspiring writers from Caroline's own experiences
20:00 - Q&A with listeners: Caroline answers questions from the audience
25:00 - What's next for Caroline Leavitt? Upcoming projects and events
28:00 - Closing remarks and how to get a copy of "Days of Wonder"

On the inspiration behind "Days of Wonder":
"So I took her story and first I made an attempted murder instead of a murder. Then I made it more of a Romeo and Juliet story because I'm a sap for those kinds of stories."
On weaving personal experiences into her characters:
"I started like putting in other stuff. You know, my mother's story started coming up and, by the time I was done, it had almost the only thing that it had of my friend was, you know, that longing to be forgiven."
On personal transformation and the book's themes:
"I wanted to write about that in a sympathetic way because, you know, that's what it is to be on, to be a mother. Your kids are all still home, right? Well, I have two who go to boarding school, so I know it's, they go to boarding school. It's not the same. But, um, it's still like, you know, it's, it's hard."

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