When you meet Junie Wilder in the opening pages of South of Somewhere, she has hit rock bottom. And she’s lost the one thing that’s most important to her: her daughter, Fern. While Junie’s story starts there, the Southern fiction novel doesn’t end there. Through the course of one summer, Junie finds an eclectic support group to help her rebuild her life and give her a second chance.
In this Q&A, author T. I. Lowe shares with us parts of Southern culture you’ll find while reading the book and what she hopes you’ll take away from South of Somewhere. You’ll also get a sneak peek at the novel with exclusive excerpts throughout.
If you like what you read, get access to the entire first chapter of South of Somewhere. Or find your own copy in softcover, e-book, or audiobook at a retailer near you.
How did your own Southern upbringing influence the portrayal of Sullivan’s Island and the community Junie finds there?
Community is a big part of Southern culture. We look out for one another. I focused on this in the book, wanting to highlight that you don’t have to go through life struggles alone. Of course, food is always a big part of our culture too, so I had to include a few recipes to drive this home. Everyone needs to make the tomato cracker salad. It is oddly delicious!
“You ever had tomato cracker salad?”
He shrugged. “Can’t say that I have.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat then. I’m gonna make you my Grandma Olla’s tomato cracker salad.” I waved him inside and closed the door. Entering the kitchen, I grabbed the mayonnaise and a sleeve of saltine crackers.
Two major threads in this book are the themes of redemption and motherhood. How does Junie’s role as a mother anchor this story?
A mother is human, and we all know humans make mistakes. Even though Junie made a terrible mistake, that doesn’t change her status as mother. She has to overcome her failures and strive to be better for her daughter. Her achieving that is a powerful tale of redemption.
My eyes darted up to the dresser mirror, to that piece of paper, then I flipped several pages to the last photo I had of Fern. Sitting under an umbrella on the very beach just outside, with a red shovel in her chubby fist, and grinning at the camera.
I removed the photo from the little corner brackets and moved to the dresser. It needed to join the article about my arrest. I taped it to the center of the mirror, so every day I could see both my best achievement in life, and my worst.
What do you hope readers will take away from Junie’s journey of rebuilding her life after hitting rock bottom?
Everyone hits rock bottom in some form at some point in their lives, but as long as we breathe, there is hope. Don’t give up.
Overwhelmed and beyond frustrated, I eased into traffic and came to a stop at a red light. Staring at the blue-and-white South Carolina license plate in front of me, I read my state’s motto.
While I breathe, I hope.
Some days, I felt like I could barely breathe, much less hope.
South of Somewhere by T. I. Lowe
When Juniper Wilder’s grief spiraled into addiction, leading first to an arrest for drunk driving, then jail and court-ordered rehab, she lost the most important thing in her life: her baby girl. Now, sober and on probation, Junie is determined to prove she can be the mother Fern deserves. But she’s burned a lot of bridges, ones that can’t be easily rebuilt.
Not every road is closed to her, however. Exiled to her late grandmother’s South Carolina beach house, Junie starts over, ready to pay off her debts and prove to her brother that he can safely return custody of Fern. She works hard and finds surprising grace in an eclectic recovery community. There’s an unexpected friendship, too—and maybe more—with her neighbor, Henry, a quirky college professor who helps her believe in second chances.
Still, it’s hard for Junie to imagine ever forgiving herself, let alone receiving forgiveness from those she’s hurt . . . particularly when her past rears its ugly head and threatens to undo every bit of progress she’s made.
T. I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She is the author of 21 novels, including the #1 international bestseller and critically acclaimed Under the Magnolias and her debut breakout Lulu’s Café. Her novel Indigo Isle won the prestigious Christy Award in the contemporary romance category and was subsequently named Christy Award Book of the Year. She lives in coastal South Carolina with her husband and family. Find her at tilowe.com or on Facebook (T.I.Lowe), Instagram (tilowe), and X (@TiLowe).