Q&A: Amy Neff, Authors of The Days I Loved You Most

Q&A: Amy Neff, Authors of The Days I Loved You Most

Briefly tell us about your book.

The Days I Loved You Most is a timeless love story that asks, what if you could choose how your own story ends? Joseph and Evelyn have been together for their entire lives when she receives a tragic diagnosis and they decide to end their love story on their own terms.

Over the next year, the couple retraces their past—all the joys and regrets that brought them to this moment. They embark on a journey to live out their greatest dreams and to connect with each of their children. But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of what’s to come, and make peace with the legacy they will leave behind for their family.

What inspired the idea behind this book? 

My book is set in a fictional version of the seaside Connecticut town where my family has spent summers since early 1900s, an incredibly special place to me, where I spent all my childhood summers, and much like my main characters Joseph and Evelyn, my children are the sixth generation on the same sand. 

Although their setting is inspired by my family place, Joseph and Evelyn are completely works of fiction; their story is not my family story. That said, I was lucky to have great examples growing up which have informed my definition of love. My grandparents had a beautiful marriage for over 50 years, until we lost my grandfather swiftly and unexpectedly in his seventies. The Days I Loved You Most grapples with the tragic truth about life, no matter how long you’ve been together or how much you are in love, you don’t get to control if the person you love leaves this earth before you do, and at some point, we all have to say goodbye. My novel is an exploration of what happens when one couple says no, not us, we want a say in how our story ends.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book?

Breaking into the publishing industry was the hardest part for me. I had an incredibly long journey querying agents for this one book. Five years. Around one hundred and thirty rejections. It was a mental game, and it took willingness to go back to the page again and again, year after year. But I always believed this story would resonate with people if I could just break through. And now it is the lead title for my publishing imprint in the US, and is being published by Bloomsbury in the UK, as well as translated in 20 languages (and counting!).

What was the research process like for the book?

Much research went into the writing of this book. I toured the Boston Symphony Orchestra, going backstage and behind the scenes to see the library where they keep the scores.  I spent a day shadowing the owners of a local bed and breakfast and asked questions, toured the property, and stole details to bring The Oyster Shell Inn to life. I read books about New England gardening, and many more books about death and dying and aging and illness while writing, to ensure that I was doing justice to my characters at the end of their life, and not merely writing caricatures of what I thought it might be like.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Be patient with yourself. There is such an emphasis on getting published quickly, and getting your book out there fast. Don’t buy into this. My journey was 10 years long. I started querying before I had children, and my children are now three and nearly five. It’s not a race, and it’s okay if it takes longer than you expect. My book is better for the years spent in revisions. Take your creative life seriously, even if no one else does. Even if there is no one asking you to do so, even when you are actively getting rejected. Know you won’t fail as long as you don’t quit. Surround yourself with people who support your dream. Don’t worry about the ones who don’t. There is always a way forward, and step by step, little by little, doors will open.

Buy a copy of The Days I Loved You Most here.

Reviews

A Joyful Celebration of Life: Read an Extract from The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

Review | Extract

25 July 2024

A Joyful Celebration of Life: Read an Extract from The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

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      Publisher details

      The Days I Loved You Most
      Author
      Amy Neff
      Publisher
      Bloomsbury
      Genre
      Fiction
      Released
      30 July, 2024
      ISBN
      9781526674579

      Synopsis

      Joseph and Evelyn's New England beach homes have been side by side for generations. And in the summer of 1941, on the shores where they were raised, these two childhood friends fell in love.

      Now, more than sixty years later, Joseph and Evelyn gather their three grown children to share the staggering news: in one year's time, they will end their lives on their own terms. She has received a diagnosis and he cannot – will not – live without her.

      As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they reckon with the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow that brought them to this moment. And they create new memories to cherish with each of their children before they're gone.

      But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of everything they have put in motion. Will they – can they – go through with their plan?

      Amy Neff
      About the author

      Amy Neff

      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. The Days I Loved You Most is being published in the United States and Canada by Park Row, and in the UK by Bloomsbury; it also is being translated into 19 languages — and counting. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two sons. Connect with her on social media, or find her online at amyneff.com.

      Books by Amy Neff

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