Interview With Award-Winning Women’s Fiction Author Judy Lannon

 

 

1.       What inspired you to write this book?

Callahan’s Cottage was conceived on Nantucket. I was there for a signing for my second book, The Making of Genevieve, and a friend and I were staying with a third friend who had rented a house for a few weeks. One afternoon she looked at of us and said, “This is your next book. A pastry chef, a photographer, and an author come to Nantucket for the summer.” I laughed it off — everyone has an idea for what you “should” write — but she wasn’t wrong. One friend is a pastry chef, another is a photographer, and I’m the author. It took a little time for the idea to percolate, but that’s how Emma, Esme, and Ellenor came to life.

 

2.      What exactly is it about — and who is it written for

This book is written for readers who love stories they can see themselves in—women navigating friendship, family, change, and the pull of home. At its heart, the novel follows three lifelong friends who grew up on the shores of Cape Cod and return after five years apart. Each woman carries her own secrets, regrets, and hopes, and coming home forces them to confront what they left behind. The story blends emotional women’s fiction with a coastal vibe exploring how friendships evolve and how returning to a familiar place can reshape a life. It’s for anyone who enjoys heartfelt, relatable stories about connection, resilience, and second chances.

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

I hope readers come away with a deep appreciation for the power of friendship. In this story, the bond between Emma, Esme, and Ellenor is lifelong—something steady and grounding that has carried them from childhood on the Cape into the complicated realities of adulthood. Not everyone is lucky enough to have friends who’ve known them since childhood. New friendships can be just as transformative, supportive, and life‑changing. If readers finish the book feeling grateful for the relationships they have—and open to the ones they haven’t made yet—I’ll feel like I’ve done my job.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?   

I chose the title and cover design by going back to a place that means everything to me. There’s an obscure dirt road in my town that leads to what locals call the “Residents Only” beach. You can walk it, but nobody does—we load up our 4‑wheel‑drive SUVs and head out together. I’ve been going there longer than I care to admit, and its raw beauty still stops me in my tracks. Sunrise to sunset, it’s in my soul. When coming up with the title, I borrowed part of that area’s name, and the cover image blends the best elements of every quintessential Cape Cod beach cottage. That’s how Callahan’s Cottage came to life..

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

I would suggest stepping away when you need to. The story will always be there, but there are moments when the words simply won’t come. Forcing it rarely helps. Walk away, clear your head, and trust that the spark will return. My other piece of advice is to grow a thick skin if you plan to share your work with the world. Not everyone will connect with what you write, and some people will be very comfortable telling you that. It’s part of the process. What matters is staying true to your voice, learning from the feedback that’s useful, and letting the rest fall away so you can keep writing.

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? 

I’m still fairly new to this rollercoaster of writing and publishing, but I do see a few clear trends. One is the continued rise of self‑publishing. I’m self‑published myself, though I hire professionals for editing, proofreading, and cover design because quality still matters. Another trend is the growing use of AI. While it can be a helpful tool, I worry that relying on it too heavily—especially at this stage—may turn readers off. The other shift I notice is the increasing number of stories featuring older women as protagonists. As an older woman, I relate to that deeply, and I think many readers are eager for characters who reflect their own lives and experiences. 

 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? 

I definitely drew from my own life while writing this book. I live in the very place where the story unfolds, and even though the novel is fiction, the locations are true to the Cape I know. That familiarity helped me bring the setting to life in a way I hope readers can feel—like crossing an old wooden bridge in a quiet, hidden spot to reach a stretch of beach only a few people ever see. My hope is that readers feel transported, as if they’re discovering these tucked‑away corners of the Cape right alongside the Three E’s, letting the authenticity of the setting deepen their connection to the story. 

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

I would describe my writing style as free‑flowing and character‑anchored. I’m not a planner in any traditional sense—there’s no outline, no sticky notes, no roadmap waiting for me when I sit down to write. I go with whatever arrives at the moment. Sometimes it’s a full conversation between characters; sometimes it’s a visual prod, like realizing Emma needs to walk straight into the ocean. I admire writers who are organized and disciplined, but that’s simply not how my creative process works. As for comparing myself to other authors, I’m not quite comfortable doing that yet. I’m still growing, still learning, and still discovering my own voice on point in my so-called writing career, I wouldn’t feel good about comparing myself to anyone.  

 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

One of the biggest challenges was keeping Ellenor, Esme, and Emma straight. The Three E’s seemed like a fun idea at the time but note to self: don’t give all your main characters names that start with the same letter. I’ve apologized to my book club more than once. The other major challenge was the deadline I set for myself. I wanted the book in readers’ hands before summer, which meant pushing hard to get everything done. In the rush, I ordered 100 copies without reviewing an author proof, only to discover the formatting was off. I needed them for a book signing. Talk about panic. I ended up selling a few copies at a discount with a disclaimer about the errors. Another lesson learned.

 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

If readers are choosing just one book, I hope they choose Callahan’s Cottage because it’s a genuinely uplifting, heartfelt beach read — and the two awards it has earned reflect that. But more importantly, the story speaks directly to women who have faced some of the same hurdles Emma, Esme, and Ellenor navigate. It’s relatable in a very real way. Many of us have dealt with divorce, exhaustion, disappointment, the feeling of is this all there is. This book gives readers permission to acknowledge those feelings — the good and the hard — and still say, “I’m doing okay. I don’t need to settle.” It’s a story that meets women exactly where they are. And The Three E’s are fun to know!

 

About The Author: Judy Lannon writes award-winning contemporary women’s fiction about the beautiful messiness of real life. Her stories explore friendship, family, and the surprising ways we find ourselves again, which might explain why readers often swear she’s been eavesdropping on their lives. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband and their standard poodle, Puck. She feels it’s a cliché to say she is inspired by the ocean, but it undeniably finds its way into her stories. Please see for more info: AuthorJudyLannon

 

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum