Savannah Carlisle Q&A

We’re delighted to chat with Savannah Carlisle! Her debut fiction novel is available now, and she’s sharing some fun facts with us today! Let’s get right into it!

We love being whisked away to romantic destinations. Tell us about the setting of your novel.

The Library of Second Chances is set on the fictional Heron Isle in Northeast Florida, but it was very much inspired by Amelia Island, where I live. From wide sandy beaches to a historic downtown dotted with family-owned shops and restaurants, Heron Isle is the perfect vacation destination. For those who live there, it’s a small town where residents really look out for each other. And, of course, it has its fair share of quirky characters, like retired zoologist Helen Bowman who has a pet alligator, Sidney.

Choose one of your characters and have them give us one piece of relationship advice.

One of my favorite side characters in this novel is Pete Fontaine, the owner of the downtown menswear store and the life of every party (if a bit overly dramatic). Pete genuinely enjoys living the good life, and I think we can all learn something from him. He’s been in a long, happy marriage with his husband and store co-owner Frank, and I think he would give this relationship advice: 

From surprise date nights to spontaneous gestures of affection, keeping the romance alive requires effort and creativity. Shock and awe isn’t just a military strategy—remember, “love is a battlefield.” 😉

What other authors in your genre do you love to read?

I’m a huge fan of Jenny Hale, which is why I was so honored to publish my debut with Harpeth Road. Other favorites in romance and women’s fiction include Cassidy Carter, Emily Henry, Sarah Morgan, Sarah Morgenthaler, Alys Murray, Nancy Naigle, Annie Rains, Karen Schaler, Wendy Wax and Teri Wilson.

Behind-the-scenes glimpses are always exciting. Tell us one thing you did while writing your upcoming novel.

I visited quite a few Little Free Libraries as I wrote this story to see all the different shapes and sizes and some of the fun and unique traditions stewards have added. From kindness rocks to stickers, bookmarks, friendship bracelets, seed packets and more, you never know what you’re going to find beyond just books inside an LFL.

Choose one of the following that happened to you or in your novel and tell us all about it: a sweet surprise, a loving gesture, a thoughtful gift, date-night idea, romantic dinner.

Logan’s love language is definitely acts of service, and it seems to be the only way he knows to express his feelings to others. Without giving too much away, I’ll say that everything he does for Lucy looks a little more like business than pleasure, but it’s the only way he knows to show his growing affection—and eventually love—for her. He does two pretty big work-related things for her to try and win her over, but you’ll have to read the book to see if they work!

Give us a three-song playlist that would be the soundtrack to your new book.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

Half of My Hometown by Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Tell us your favorite part of the publishing process and why.

I love writing the first draft! I have so many ideas, and I really enjoy digging into them and creating relatable characters and small towns that feel like another character in the novel. I also love the excitement of the marketing that leads up to the release. But all the editing that happens between those things? Not my favorite (although I know it makes my work better), haha!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently waiting on initial edits to come back on my second book, which is about a singer whose career has turned from dream to nightmare, so she returns to her small island hometown to try and find herself and instead finds her high school sweetheart renovating her childhood home.

Thanks so much, Savannah, for giving us a look inside your writing life! Savannah’s novel is available now!