The Date with a Mystic Mystery
Celebrating Jayne Mills' debut novel
You’re reading Mom Date! Discover books, films, and other surprises to recharge your battery (and make your Sunday inbox a lot more fun).
The Date with a Mystic Mystery
An inheritance, a treasure hunt, and a family mystery come together in Jayne Mills’ debut novel Bottom of the Breath. The book is called a “heartfelt and engrossing” beach read by L.A. Wire. This week, I’m thrilled to learn more about this work of fiction from the author herself.
Mom Date: Jayne, congratulations on the publication of Bottom of the Breath! How did the timing of events in your life contribute to this book being born into the world?
Jayne Mills: You have no idea what a loaded question that is, Ann! The “mystery” thread of the storyline is based on a true family secret that I learned in my thirties and that stayed with me for years. There was a voice whispering in my ear, saying, “That would make a good book.” I finally found the time and the nerve to start writing when I was going through chemotherapy. I was forced to spend a lot of time on my couch. Writing this book is one of many good things that came out of my encounter with cancer.
MD: How long did the book take to complete, and how did you measure progress while writing your novel?
Jayne: A mere five years! Looking back, I don’t know how I kept at it for so long. I didn’t measure progress in any organized way. I was simply learning as I went along. One thing led to another, and my curiosity and love for writing kept me engaged. I truly believe that giving up control is key. I let the process take me where I needed to go in whatever time it took. I just went along for the ride.
MD: The title makes me think of yoga class and being instructed to breathe out fully. This is probably not coincidental, since your bio states you are also a registered yoga teacher. How did you come up with the title?
Jayne: The title is the one thing that didn’t take me long at all. And you're absolutely right; my yoga background is very much a part of the book. The title is based on that moment of stillness at the end of the exhale. I would teach my students to meditate on that moment. It is the point of a new beginning. The cusp of a new breath. After all, what is more important than the one breath you’re taking right now?
MD: Now that you’ve gotten your debut novel out of the way, what’s next? Can you tell us about any projects you have in the wings?
Jayne: It’s taken a lot of willpower not to dive right into my next book because there’s so much I work still to be done on this one. I went from learning how to structure a novel to learning about publishing options, marketing and publicity, and now, about launching and speaking about my book–like what I’m doing right now, answering this thoughtful questionnaire of yours!
But, yes, I have several ideas percolating. My next book will be set in St. Augustine, where there are said to be many ghosts wandering among us. The storyline revolves around a young widow and her daughter who come to know the ghost of a real writer, Constance Fenimore Woolson, who wintered in St. Augustine in the late 1800s just a few blocks from where I live.
The more I learned about Constance, the more I wanted to write about her. She was a terrifically talented writer when women weren’t supposed to be serious writers. She was a naturalist and a world traveler. She lived an amazing but tragic life, and she never got the recognition she deserved. It’s Constance’s voice that is whispering in my ear these days!
MD: Last, Mom Date is about books, culture and ideas to help recharge our battery. If you had a free afternoon for a mom date, what would you do?
Jayne: I love the concept of Mom Date, Ann. I’m a mother of three, so I know all about the importance of making time for yourself. When my kids were little, my biggest luxury was an afternoon nap! But I’ve been a voracious reader my whole life, so quiet time to read or watch a good movie is still how I love to relax and recharge.
As I get older, I find myself gravitating toward stories that make me laugh and leave me feeling good. My friendships are also vital. I’ve always taken the time to nurture my close friendships. And I love good wine. And, of course, yoga. I couldn’t live without my yoga practice.
For your mom readers: being a mom is the most humbling, exhausting, often unappreciated important job anyone can do. Add to that a desire to write, and, well, the pure audacity of it might stop you in your tracks.
For moms out there who aspire to write but think they can’t possibly do that on top of everything else, just know that you can, indeed, write an entire book in small increments of time. You just have to be prepared to write and rewrite and rewrite.
My favorite piece of advice is, “Books are not written, they’re rewritten.” The important thing is to keep writing. Who cares how long it takes?!
About the Book
Now available for purchase!
Bottom of the Breath is the story of a woman catapulted from her tranquil life on the Florida panhandle onto a cross-country road trip with her recently estranged husband. She must outrun a hurricane, digest a shocking, decades-old family secret, and come to terms with her own pain-filled past. Laced with mysticism and set among the majesty of Sedona and the Grand Canyon, the novel explores the power of friendship, the importance of forgiveness, and the vital need to create a future that embraces the past.
Subscribe to Jayne’s Newsletter
The Eye of the Flood
It’s hard to fathom the power of the floods that devastated Texas along the Guadalupe River on July 4.
Though it was so hard to read, this firsthand account of one family, whose home was swept into the river shortly after they awoke in the middle of the night, gave a glimpse of the tragic heartbreak experienced by so many after this tragedy.
New Job Alert
I recently started a new job with a nonprofit called the Nashville Dolphins. The organization provides swim lessons and a swim team for kids and adults with special needs.
I was not forewarned that the heartwarming, warm-and-fuzzy nature of this job would cause me to cry a lot. The Dolphins’ small-but-mighty team, as well as Dolphin swimmers and their families, are a huge inspiration!
Cheer on the Dolphins
The Dolphins are on Instagram and Facebook, and their content is guaranteed to brighten your day. You’ll even get a recap of the party of the year… the Dolphin Prom!
Thanks for reading… and see you next week!
This is such a generous tribute to my book, Ann. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and my breath. Your newsletter is a gem! Keep up the great work!
Starting my date right now! Wish I still had access to the glorious space under your weeping willow tree, where we read as kids! Reading and writing felt so special there!!!