Varina Denman enjoys writing fiction about women and the unique struggles
they face. Her novels include the Mended Hearts trilogy: Jaded, Justified,
and Jilted, as well as her latest release, Looking GlassLies. She seems to have a knack for describing small town life, and her
debut novel, Jaded, won the ACFW Genesis Contest, the BRMCWC Selah
Award, and the INSPYs Bloggers’ Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven
Literature.
Varina attended three universities over a span of five years,
majoring in four subjects and earning zero degrees. However, she can now boast
sixteen years as a home educator, volunteering in her local cooperative where
she has taught numerous subjects including creative writing and
literature. Varina lives in North Texas where she volunteers in local
marriage and family ministry. She is represented by Jessica Kirkland of
Kirkland Media Management.
Looking Glass Lies: A poignant and relatable novel, Looking
Glass Lies captures the war women wage against themselves, and the
struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society’s
unrelenting expectations.
For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other
women—and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive
husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.
But coming home isn’t what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her
pain is difficult to escape—especially with her model-perfect ex–sister-in-law
working at the town’s popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a
support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths,
Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love
again.
The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily’s eyes to the
harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty—and giving her the perfect
opportunity to find peace at last.
Heidi
here. I read Looking Glass Lies about a month ago and let me tell you, it was
an amazing, amazing read. My review of it is here. I interviewed
Varina a couple of years ago and you can see that interview here, so instead of
an author interview, today we’re going to interview the main character of
Looking Glass Lies Cecily Ross!
 |
| Inspiration for Cecily Ross, main character in Looking Glass Lies |
Cecily, welcome
to our blog today. It was wonderful meeting you in Looking Glass Lies. When I first
met you, you were a broken woman, but today you’ve . . . healed. I wonder, what made you stay with Brett for all those years when you knew
you were unhappy?
Well, I truly loved Brett (at least at one point), and I
remembered a time when he loved me back. But in the last few years, I admit, I
was motivated by pride, embarrassment, and fierce determination. In my eyes,
the only thing worse than a failed marriage, was everyone knowing I had a failed marriage. Besides … I just kept
thinking things would get better.
So you stayed with your cheating husband, Brett, because of other people's perception of you. Sad. I am glad that you eventually did get out and returned to your home town to attempt to heal. While you were married, many nights you slept in the large
walk-in closet, why? Were you hoping to get Brett's attention? Did you think
that somehow he'd notice you?
It’s humiliating to think about that now, but
yes, I suppose I wanted to get Brett’s attention. But that’s only part of the
reason. Probably more than anything, I was mentally and emotionally hiding. Hiding from Brett, hiding from
the world and its expectations, even hiding from myself and all the pressure I
placed on myself. The closet felt safe to me back then, and when I crawled
beneath the hanging clothes, I felt almost like a small child, being held in
the arms of my mother. Silly, I know.
No, not silly, I can understand the need to get away from it all. To feel safe. So, when your mother died, do you think that you fully grieved over
her death?
Definitely not. At the time, I was too young
to know the difference, but now I can see that I didn’t know the first thing
about grieving. Not that there’s a right way or a wrong way, but I wasn’t
taking any way. I was “stuck in a
rut” of denial, or something, and in my mind, everything my mother ever said to
me took on a larger-than-life importance. I think I internalized much of my
grief, and it sort of ate me up inside.
It seems like your mother's death, in a way, defined you and your behavior as an adult in many ways. Why did you stop playing the piano?
I haven’t ever really thought about that, so
it’s funny that you should ask. Hmm. Let me think. The last time I regularly
played the piano was in college, after I married Brett. A few years into our
marriage, I quit school though, and when I quit, I didn’t practice as much.
Then I gradually stopped playing altogether. I guess it ought to have been
obvious to me, because it seems clear now: music was part of my life when I was
happy. The unhappier I became, the less I played … until
I turned my back on music completely. It makes me sad to think of it now.
Do you think, at some point in your life, you can put the past
behind you and fully trust a man?
I … think so? I hope so. God has brought me a long way through a
lot of muck where I thought I would be mired forever. So I guess if He can
bring me this far, then He can help me to trust men again.
Cecily, thank
you for stopping by to visit with us today, it was nice getting to know you a
little better. I hope you get your happily ever after . . . with someone
special!
Heidi, thank you
for inviting me. It’s been a pleasure visiting with you and your readers today!
Readers: we are
doing a giveaway, so leave you email addy for an autographed paperback of
Looking Glass Lies. US and Canada.
