We welcome USA Today bestselling author, Kristy Woodson Harvey, who starts by telling us about her new novel, Under The Southern Sky, a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss and finding yourself through it all.** From the very first page when we meet the protagonist, Amelia, the stakes are high and we were immediately hooked. Kristy shares more about that opening scene and the development of Amelia. (03:05)  ** The female characters in  Under The Southern Sky have one of our favorite attributes of complexity -- secrets -- so Kristy tells us how she uses different kinds of secrets to add layers and move the plot. (07:12)** On this podcast we love to explore the deep, rich, but often complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. So of course we had to ask Kristy what it’s like to work in real life with her own mother, having created a popular interior design blog called Design Chic together.  She not only got inspiration for her maternal characters, but it’s been a real opportunity for growth between her and her mother. (10:08)** Through another strong female character, Greer, we discuss grief and how Kristy used serious issues to raise the stakes in her story and flesh out the nuances of her character. (15:43)** Under the Southern Sky explores another favorite theme of ours -- coming home and coming back to your roots. Kristy shares how she draws inspiration for her writing from her small town roots. (20:11)** This book is, at its heart, a love story, but Kristy explains how she manages to write a compelling story while also discussing serious issues like the right to die, infertility, frozen embryos and the related legal rights, cancer, grief and loss. (24:00)** Kristy talks about her road to publication, from a journalist who swore she would never write a novel to now publishing seven! (28:14)** We discuss astrology...Kristy is a “completely” a Cancer and follows her daily horoscope. (32:40)** Part of what we love about astrology is the idea that there’s another plan out there for us that we have no control over. Kristy shares a life lesson that really hit her hard in the writing and editing of this book. (35:26)** As if she wasn’t busy enough, Kristy tells us about creating a popular Facebook series and podcast called “Friends and Fiction” to share and celebrate stories and support independent bookstores. With fellow authors Mary Kay Andrews, Mary Alice Monroe, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel by her side Kristy is having so much fun. (39:17)** Kristy announces that a Christmas edition of her beloved Peachtree Bluff series will be out in October so listen for a sneak peak! (43:20)Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com. Stay Complicated!We’ve launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @carinn-jade. Thank you for your support and enjoy the show!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.