NEWBERRY — Kristy Woodson Harvey is a Southern Fiction author with five books under her belt — three of which comprise the Peachtree Bluff Series.

During this year’s Literary Luncheon, sponsored by the Friends of the Newberry County Library, Harvey spoke about writing a series and how that journey began.

“It is really hard for me to believe my fifth novel was just released because truly, even six years ago, I never imagined this would be my career; and even two years ago I was in sort of a different place in my career,” Harvey said. “My second novel, Lies and Other Acts of Love was just released and I was on tour, much like I am right now. I was kind of in a different spot because I kept thinking that I need to savor this, because I may never get to do this again.”

Harvey said an unfortunate part about being a writer is never really having a tenure, and you are only as good as your last book. During the time of the release of her second book, she was not under contract for a new book, and she was hoping she would be — but didn’t know.

One morning she was in her hometown of Salisbury, N.C. preparing to do a talk, much like she was doing at the Literary Luncheon. She checked her email, and had a new email from a name she recognized.

“Because she published a little book you may have heard of called Sex in the City really early on in her career — it was really what put her on the map. I go over the email, and I’m holding my breath,” Harvey said.

Harvey summarized the email, and the author stated that she loved Harvey’s new manuscript; but, didn’t think it was the right step for her career. Instead, she wanted to talk to Harvey about writing a series for her. Harvey said at that point, she could not imagine writing a series.

Harvey immediately called her agent, and she said she was freaking out. He told her to calm down and that she “certainly cannot talk to her like this.” He then told her to talk to her and find out what she wants — but do not pitch her an idea for a series.

“I was like, I cannot pitch her the idea for a series because I don’t even have an idea for the series,” Harvey said.

The next morning Harvey received the call from the author — whom Harvey now referred to as the editor. Harvey said she was really excited and nervous, and they hit it off right away.

“She’s from Florida, which is arguably the south depending on who you talk to,” she said.

During the conversation the editor complemented the way Harvey writes about sisters. Harvey then tells her, “that is so great, I really want to write a series about sisters.”

“And that wasn’t much to say, but she says the most dangerous thing to say to a writer, ‘tell me a little bit more about that,’” she said. “I don’t know where the idea came from, my head was going stop talking, but my mouth says, ‘I want to write a series about these three grown sisters who all come back home to their mother.’”

The editor then told her that sounds like chaos, which was perfect. She then asked for more details on the mother.

Harvey, who also writes a decorating blog with her mother, wrote for the blog that morning, and she said the mother is a decorator. Harvey also decided to give the mom a love interest and says a man from her past comes back at the same time as her daughters — and he is carrying with him this big secret, potential to change their whole family.

The editor then asked Harvey, “tell me what the secret is.”

“Now I”m in trouble, because I don’t know what the secret is,” Harvey said.

However, Harvey told the attendees of the Literary Luncheon the secret of the secret.

A couple of weeks prior, someone told Harvey what she called a crazy story — the person then told her she should write it in a book.

“I said I could never write that in a book, no one would believe it,” she said. “So in Slightly South of Simple the secret in the center of the book is based on a true story someone told me; and it was the only secret I could think of in the moment — so I just went for it.”

The editor told her, “I never read that before.”

After the conversation ended, Harvey’s first thought was it went great — but her second thought was “what in the world did I just say.”

Harvey then wrote the editor a proposal, and a few days past and she was in South Carolina, doing another talk. At that talk someone came up to her and said, “I’m glad I got to hear your story today, because I feel like it is going to change so much.”

And change it did; Harvey was pumping gas at a BP station when she received a call from her agent — he said, “I don’t know what you said, but I got you a series deal.”

“I thought about that woman, a total stranger, and thought she was right — right here in this moment my story really changed,” Harvey said. “It was a fitting beginning to the story, these women all come back together into each other’s lives, at a time when their stories are changing and they are all at difficult low points in their lives. They really come back together and pull each other back up in their little town.”

Looking back on her series, one of the major things it taught Harvey was that we are always given a chance to start over again.

“I really think the series is about that,” Harvey said.

Kristy Woodson Harvey talks her journey getting a series deal, and how the idea for the series came to be.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_DSC_0057.jpgKristy Woodson Harvey talks her journey getting a series deal, and how the idea for the series came to be. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Kristy Woodson Harvey signs a copy of one of her books. The author has written five books, three of which make up the Peachtree Bluff Series.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_DSC_0056.jpgKristy Woodson Harvey signs a copy of one of her books. The author has written five books, three of which make up the Peachtree Bluff Series. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Connie Phostole, president of the Friends of the Newberry County Library, hands Kristy Woodson Harvey a gift basket as a thank you for speaking at this year’s Luncheon.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_DSC_0062.jpgConnie Phostole, president of the Friends of the Newberry County Library, hands Kristy Woodson Harvey a gift basket as a thank you for speaking at this year’s Luncheon. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@championcarolinas.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.