Episode 88
Amy Neff on her debut novel The Days I Loved You Most -88
Once every few years, a great love story sweeps readers off their feet and becomes a runaway sensation. Amy Neff’s stunning debut The Days I Loved You Most is perfectly poised to become that next great love story for the ages. The book asks the question: Could you live without the love of your life? And centers on a couple in a coastal Connecticut town who decide to redefine the ending to their love story, on their own terms.
It just received a glowing starred review from Booklist which praises: “As the story weaves between the past and the present, the reader witnesses the heartaches and triumphs of their long, intertwined lives. This bittersweet tale, both heartbreaking and heartfelt, will leave even the most stoic reader with tears in their eyes.”
And Jodi Picoult lauds: “I’ve never read a story quite like this deeply moving, complex novel — the truths we owe ourselves and others; the difference between self and selfishness; the parts of love that make us want to leave...and the parts that make us desperate to stay.”
The Days I Loved You Most is an unforgettable and deeply romantic debut, a moving tribute to the enduring power of love, a celebration of a lifetime spent together, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and beauty to be found.
Amy Neff's debut novel, The Days I Loved You Most, is a love letter to the seaside town where her family has spent summers since the early 1900s. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog. Connect with her on social media or find her online at www.amyneff.com.
Support your local bookstore & this podcast by getting your copy of The Days I Loved You Most at Bookshop.org
A little about today's host-
Author and musical composer Kathleen Basi is mother to three boys and one chromosomally-gifted daughter. Her debut novel, A SONG FOR THE ROAD, follows a musician on an unconventional road trip. Bestselling author Kerry Anne King writes, “In a novel filled with music, heartbreak, and surprising laughter, Basi takes us on a journey that encompasses both unimaginable loss and the powerful resilience of the human heart.”
Meaty, earnest, occasionally humorous, and ultimately uplifting, Kathleen’s fiction highlights the best within ourselves and each other. She writes monthly reflections on life, writing and beauty on her newsletter. Subscribe at https://kathleenbasi.substack.com/.
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Learn more about our hosts, the guests we've had, and their books -
Transcript
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Kathleen Basi [:That sounds lovely. So let's talk a little bit about how you write. I mean, you've already talked some about the organic nature of this. Now going forward, I'm I'm sure that you are deep in another project. So are you approaching it differently now is my next question.
Amy Neff [:Not yet. Actually, I'm I'm allowing myself to fully enjoy this launch. So I said it was 10 years to now, and it's actually coming out all over the world. And so I was just I traveled to Germany for the, German launch, and I'll be coming to London for the UK launch. And I have a bit of a US tour here. So there's a lot going on. So I am full I there's no writing happening. Barely any reading happening.
Amy Neff [:It is yeah. I am full tilt on this launch, and I'm just
Kathleen Basi [:this is the part I wanna enjoy. So I'm I'm enjoying
Amy Neff [:every bit of this, and then I'm going to shift gears and then think about something next.
Kathleen Basi [:So you're living really the what writers dream about. You're hitting big with your first novel, and I guess they're sending you around to different countries. That's amazing. So I guess I would ask what's something that you wish you knew sooner about the process of getting a novel published?
Amy Neff [:I think just being patient with the process is the biggest thing that I learned over all this time and believing that the work is the thing like, this is everything I'm experiencing right now is wonderful and beautiful and so much fun because I put in the time with the work. And so I think not rushing through to this end product or this idea of what the dream is because that only is fun and only works if you feel like you've done your very best with the book. And I have spent so much time with this book and these characters, and I feel so secure about sending them off into the world and then talking about them with, you know, the people and on press tours and in podcasts. So I think, yeah, it's it's a combination. It's you just enjoy the time of the writing even though you want to get to the next phase.
Kathleen Basi [:Yeah.
Amy Neff [:There's no rush, and there's no ticking clock. It's in your head.
Kathleen Basi [:Yeah. I needed that today because I feel the ticking clock.
Amy Neff [:Yeah. I know. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create the next thing and get it out and just don't think we give ourselves enough space to actually just explore and discover and give our characters a space. And even one of the reasons I'm so grateful it took so long to publish this book is because I did have that space. I was pitching predominantly over the pandemic. So Mhmm. A majority of my trying to get a literary agent was from fall 2019 to 2022, and we all know that that would happen over that time period. And this is a book that deals heavily with death and illness.
Amy Neff [:And so it was a lot of rejections that said things like, we love your writing. We love it's not the time. We there's not a market for this right now. And so I was able to really sit with it.
Kathleen Basi [:Obviously, they were wrong about it. But I think that in those times, this was certainly my experience as well with my book, is that during those times of uncertainty and pandemic and, you know, fear of losing people while we're all locked up together, that's the time when we really are paying attention, and we're really tuned in to these kinds of things.
Amy Neff [:I think that's true. And I I think on the flip, it was a lot of people wanting to escape from that and wanting to find other distractions and things. But I I tend to agree with you. And during that time, I was able to really sit with the book and continue to go through draft after draft. This is 10 drafts to the final to the final published version. And so I think it was truly a gift to have all that time where nobody wanted it because I was able to have that pressure off and just really spend the time with the characters.
Kathleen Basi [:Yeah. That's really great. You have given us so much great information. We're all looking forward to reading the book. So tell us what is the best place for people to go to if they wanna find you and find out more.
Amy Neff [:Sure. You can find me at amyneff.com, and I'm on Instagram. And every social handle just @amyneffauthor.
Kathleen Basi [:Okay. Great. So in closing today, talk about what book or story is inspiring you the most.
Amy Neff [:I always like to shout out Danny Shapiro. She's another Connecticut author, and I tend to really gravitate towards very lyrical, beautiful writing, and she is the queen of that. And so there's this great book that always is a go to for me called Hourglass. It's a memoir of hers about time, memory, and marriage, and I can't recommend it enough.
Kathleen Basi [:Oh, that sounds great. Alright. Well, thank you so much for being with us today. It was great having you.
Amy Neff [:Thank you, Kathleen.
Kathleen Basi [:Thanks for joining us today. We hope you'll take a second to give us some stars or a review on your favorite podcasting platform. We'll be back next Wednesday. And in the meantime, follow us on Instagram @authorexpresspodcast to see who's coming up next. Don't forget. Keep it express, but keep it interesting.
