#TheRoadToCalifornia #LouiseWalters

Proud single parent Joanna is accustomed to school phoning to tell her that Ryan, her 14 year old son, is in trouble. But when Ryan hits a girl and is excluded from school, Joanna knows she must take drastic action to help him.

Ryan hasn’t seen his dad Lex since he left home when Ryan was two years old. Ryan doesn’t remember Lex, but more than anything he wants a dad in his life. Isolated, a loner, and angry, Ryan finds solace in books and wildlife. 

Joanna, against her instincts and better judgement, invites Lex to return and help their son. Lex is a drifter who runs from commitment, and both Joanna and Ryan find their mutual trust and love is put to the test when Lex returns, and vows to be part of the family again...

This is an interesting story. It is a novel packed full of heartbreak, anger, pain, guilt and sadness yet it also feels unrushed. This is a novel which observes, records and gently lets the reader shadow Joanna, Ryan and Lex as they negotiate their difficult and challenging emotional journeys through a rough time in their lives. Walters has created a book which gives the author time to lead their characters through a period of change yet also weaves in dramatic events, the emotional highs and lows that disrupt their happiness, affect their relationships and threaten to break them. It is well judged and well balanced. This is a story about characters under pressure but it is not about pushing the characters relentlessly through the moments of action or shock. It is more an echo of real life, about real people and real situations. It is more about watching the characters evolve, grow, change and learn throughout the chapters.

The main focus of the story is Ryan, a young boy who doesn't quite fit in, who is left to his own devices when he should have had more direction and a boy confused about his feelings, particularly towards his mother. He's not always easy to like and his violence and exclusion from school at the beginning reflects his issues, but he is a young boy and once the reader learns more of his hidden pain about his missing father, his behaviour and misdirected anger begins to make sense. I think Walters has also captured a boy on the cusp of adulthood and that tumultuous period of adolescence when life is frustrating and adult decisions seem always against you. Ryan is a harsh critic of his mother and the dynamics between them are well evoked, sensitively portrayed and well crafted. It is an interesting relationship to watch develop, one where blame is often seem on both sides but no judgement sought or given.

The author prefers to stay with Ryan for the most part of the novel but by using third person, she has the opportunity to sit more closely with Joanna and Lex at key points in the story. This helps the reader to learn more about these character's and explore the relationships between them in more detail. Perhaps it also makes the reader feel more like an observer or unable to fully engage with these characters which would echo the experience of the main characters who also feel isolated and separate. I liked that the characters appeared quite straightforward at first but as the novel unfurled, my feelings towards them was challenged and more complexities about them revealed. I was also surprised at how much I became attached to them emotionally.

Walters has written a book which tackles universal themes such as parenting, single parenting, growing up, abandonment, friendship and love. But she has also tackled themes of exclusion, home schooling, community and what happens when you can't face up to your responsibilities and commitments. We are immersed in the small world of just three characters but their experiences will resonate with readers. The characters do require your sympathy but there is also hope at the end of the book and an underlying sense that something more positive, more heartwarming has come to pass.

The author's writing is distinctive. Walters takes her time establishing atmosphere and is able to convey the character's inner most thoughts through just one or two phrases. It is understated yet poignant and resonant.

She had walked to school from the market to collect Ryan, and together, but very much apart and in silence, they had walked home.

There are some great details like the use of the quilt and Joanna's artistic skills and some recurrent metaphors that are used effectively. I liked Joanna's thriftiness and Ryan's sarcastic responses to this. Without this poetic use of language the story may have lost some of it's charm but the lilting phrasing and careful dialogue creates interest and engagement.

By the end, I felt like I had been on a journey with the characters. There are some vivid scenes etched on my mind and there is also a lasting imprint of some of the characters. Perhaps the characters made decisions and chose paths that I couldn't relate to but Walters made their story relevant and important. It's hard to sum up this book and to really capture it's essence in one or two lines but perhaps it is a novel about vows, the oaths and commitments we swear to each other and learning to come to terms with expectation versus disappointment, fantasy and reality. It is not a page turner but it is a book where you are thoroughly rewarded for every page you do turn.

The Road to California is a book about journeys and should be savoured.

The Road to California publishes on March 1st 2018.

Q and A with Louise

Could you just begin by summing up the story of The Road to California in one or two sentences please?

It’s quite “high concept”: single mum struggles with teenaged son, and asks the absent dad to return to help. He returns, and trouble ensues. Quite simple!

This is a fascinating novel. What came first, the story or the character of Ryan? Where did your inspiration come from?

Thank you for saying it’s fascinating. Ryan came first, and he was inspired by my oldest son, now aged 22.

The main character is Ryan. Can you give me three adjectives that best describe him?

Loyal. Intelligent. Rigid.

Ryan is an adolescent on the cusp of adulthood. You have captured his voice with conviction and authenticity. What were the challenges in writing about a young boy and ensuring his voice was believable and effective?

It was hard to do and I worked on and off on this novel for a decade. It’s very hard to get young voices right, and I know some readers will think I haven’t. That’s fine. I’ve noticed all books with young characters have readers who think the author has nailed it, and some who think the author hasn’t nailed it. I tried my best, that’s all I can do.

Motherhood and parenting is a big theme in the novel. What was it that made you want to explore this relationship between a mother and son?

It was my own relationship with my own sons; initially my oldest, and later my other sons. My oldest is on the autistic spectrum, as Ryan is – but I didn’t want the autism to be the “thing” in the novel. It’s there, and quite obvious I think, but only really acknowledged at the end.

There are lots of big themes explored in The Road to California. What is the one thing you would like readers to take away from reading your novel?

It sounds a bit airy-fairy, but it’s all about love really. How strong love is.

The Road To California would make a great book group read. If you could pose a question to a reading group about this novel, what would it be?

Ooh, that’s an interesting question. Maybe something about Joanna… Do you find her a good parent, or a bad parent? There is a huge expectation on women to be “good mothers”… but how do we judge (and do we have the right to judge?) what makes a good or a bad mother? Family dynamics are unique to each family. You could ask the same question of Ryan’s dad, Lex… would the answer be different because he is a father? I’m interested in that side of the parent-child relationship, how we define good or bad. It’s a grey area, no doubt.

You have recently set up your own publishing imprint. Can you tell me a little bit about this decision and process?

I decided to do this after self-publishing my second novel, A Life Between Us. I love project management, and I really love creative control! When my second novel failed to get a book deal, my agent wisely said sometimes things happen for a reason. She was right. It feels brilliant to be running my own company, setting up as a publisher and working with my first signed author. I probably wouldn’t be doing any of this if A Life Between Us had found a publisher…

How has the publication of The Road to California been different to the publication of your previous novels? What have been the challenges or the benefits?

It’s been great, as I did it all myself… by that I mean I organized the whole venture. I hired my own printer, typesetter, copy editor and cover designer. I made all the decisions, such as pricing and release dates. I over saw the project and it has been hard work. But I really wanted to bring out a book of my own before any other writers’ work. Rookie errors on my own project are acceptable! It’s been an industrious time and I’ve learned so much.

What’s next for you?

In November 2018 I’ll be releasing Laura Laakso’s debut novel, Fallible Justice. It’s the first in her paranormal detective series and I think it could do brilliantly. There is a lot to do between now and November, and I’m up for the challenge. I can’t wait to publish Laura’s book. In the meantime, I’m open for submissions, as I’d like to publish two further books in 2019. I’m particularly looking for a good novella. I also have my own fourth novel in development, but that will take a back seat this year.

Thanks so much Louise for answering my questions! Good luck with the publication of your new book which I'm sure will be a huge success! And good luck with your publishing company which also seems set for success! 

You can find out more about Louise from her website: 

https://www.louisewaltersbooks.co.uk