We're so excited to have author Lorraine Zago Rosenthal back with us. We'll be chatting with her about her newest novel, Always and Forever. Published by Tribeca Press, fans of romance and family drama will love her book.
Not only will you have a chance to learn more about this prolific author, you'll also have a chance to win a copy of her book and a $25 Amazon gift card.
Before we get to that, here's more about Always and Forever:
Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.
Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.
Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past.
Purchase the book now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also add the book to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
In addition to her latest novels, Always and Forever and Charmed, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is the author of Other Words for Love, published by Random House (Delacorte Press), New Money, and Independently Wealthy, both published by Macmillan (St. Martin’s Press).
Lorraine was born and raised in New York City, and she is a graduate of the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in education and English. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband.
Find her online at:
Instagram (@lorrainezago): https://www.instagram.com/lorrainezago
Twitter/X (@lorrainezago): https://x.com/LorraineZago
Goodreads Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/35s278pk
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/4nehadfb
--- Interview by Nicole Pyles
WOW: First of all, congratulations on your novel, Always and Forever! What inspired this book?
Lorraine: Thank you so much! When I plan a novel, my first inspiration is the characters. In regard to Always and Forever, Suzanne Starek, the protagonist, has a talent that led to success in her early years, but her childhood career was unexpectedly ruined. The novel opens with: “Someone can win an Oscar, or earn a gold medal at the Olympics, or be on the cover of Vogue, and end up with nothing but a souvenir that has to be sold at a pawn shop in exchange for cash to fix a broken-down car. A person can start out feeling special and important but become no better than ordinary. Average. Even less.”
I have observed that some people achieve lofty goals at a certain point during their lives, but that success doesn’t continue. This real-life observation partially led to my creation of Suzanne, and it was intriguing for me to explore the psychological and practical aftermath of broken dreams. This also applies to other characters in Always and Forever whose lives have not turned out as they had hoped.
WOW: What a true statement! It's also incredibly tough, I imagine, to realize that success isn't continuing. You have a phenomenal way of capturing family drama and issues without overdoing it or making it seem like a soap opera. I'm so impressed! I can only imagine the type of planning you do in advance (unless you are a panster!). Either way, how do you keep track of so many details of people's lives as you write the book?
Lorraine: Thanks again! I find it fascinating to create characters within a family and to develop their relationships based on their personalities, their life experiences, and their shared history. Despite the love and connection that exists among family members, there can also be envy, selfishness, betrayal, and resentment. With this in mind, it is interesting and challenging to create the interactions between parents and children, siblings, spouses, etc. It is always my goal to portray family drama in a subtle, realistic manner.
Although I have a strong vision of all my characters before I start a novel, I develop them fully during the writing process. The details about their lives grow along with the story. It takes a lot of work, focus, and proofreading to ensure these details are consistent throughout the manuscript.
"I have observed that some people achieve lofty goals at a certain point during their lives, but that success doesn’t continue. This real-life observation partially led to my creation of Suzanne, and it was intriguing for me to explore the psychological and practical aftermath of broken dreams."
WOW: I think that's a great balance. I really related to your main character. Although I must admit, throughout much of the book I kept quietly yelling, "Tell him how you feel!" Anyway, did you base her on anyone? Or how did she come to life for you?
Lorraine: I’m so glad you connected with Suzanne. As an author, I strive to create a protagonist with whom readers can empathize.
I’m also glad you felt the tension between Suzanne and Jay, and I understand what you mean about her hidden emotions toward him. As you know from reading the novel, she has spent years suppressing her desire to be more than Jay’s closest friend. The main reason she keeps this secret is that she fears he will reject her, and she doesn’t want to risk their lifelong, treasured friendship. Early in the story, she thinks, “If he knew I was dying for more, it could ruin everything. It might make things different. Weird. Awkward. I could lose him—and that would be even worse than spending the rest of my life being secretly in love with my best friend.” Due to unfortunate events in Suzanne’s past, her self-esteem is severely damaged, so she doesn’t have the courage and confidence to initiate a change in her relationship with Jay. She doesn’t assume he might want their relationship to evolve from platonic to romantic.
While creating Suzanne, I didn’t base her on a particular person. As I mentioned previously, I was inspired by a situation that has affected many people. My characters always come to life through a combination of experience, observation, and imagination.
WOW: I can completely understand her doubts and the reason. You do such a fantastic job of weaving in details without making the pace of the book seem overwhelming. How do you know which tidbits about each character to reveal and when?
Lorraine: Incorporating details about the story, the characters, and past events that affect the narrative is a crucial component of writing a novel, and I do my best to include these details without slowing down the pace. Knowing when to reveal various bits of information evolves naturally while writing, but it’s important to do so when these facts matter. For example, rather than writing a multi-page explanation of a character’s past, it is more effective to disclose small drops of information when they enhance the scene, develop the characters, evoke emotion, and move the story forward.
WOW: Great technique! I love how you make settings so real. Do you base the places you write about on real locations?
Lorraine: I absolutely do! I am originally from NYC, and my novels are set there—including Always and Forever. Suzanne lives and works on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Jay resides in a wealthy area of Queens, and Jones Beach on Long Island has significance in the story.
WOW: Now that makes me want to visit New York even more! I am a huge fan of your character names (like Tru being named after Truman Capote!). Where do you get your character names from? (It's something I personally struggle with!)
Lorraine: For me, creating characters’ names is one of the most interesting and fun aspects of writing a novel. I want the names to fit the characters in some way and/or to reveal facts about their history. In Always and Forever, Tru Warrick says that her mother is an avid reader, and she therefore chose to name Tru after Truman Capote. Tru admits to Suzanne that her name has “…rarely been described in a flattering way by anyone except my mother. I was the target of relentless jokes when I was a kid.” Suzanne knows how it feels to be bullied during childhood, and Tru’s admission sparks the beginning of a connection between these two characters. Most of the characters’ names in this story have meaning—for example, Tru describes Suzanne’s uncle’s name as “regal,” which also applies to his revered position within his family and among his peers. Suzanne’s first name and her surname have meaning too, and this is revealed as the story unfolds.
"Rather than writing a multi-page explanation of a character’s past, it is more effective to disclose small drops of information when they enhance the scene, develop the characters, evoke emotion, and move the story forward."
WOW: You put so much thought into names. You've given me a lot to think about for my own characters! I can't help but hope you are working on another book. What are you working on now that you can tell us about?
Lorraine: My sixth novel is currently in progress. Stay tuned!
WOW: I can't wait! Thank you for joining us again. And I hope others pick up a copy of your book.
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to a copy of Always and Forever by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal and a $25 Amazon gift card! Fill out the Gleam form by November 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm CT for a chance to win. We will draw the lucky winner the next day, and follow up by email. Good luck!
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