Q&A with Jane L. Rosen, Author of Eliza Starts a Rumor

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Jane L. Rosen is the author of Eliza Starts a Rumor, which is out on June 23.

Jane L. Rosen is an author and screenwriter whose critically acclaimed first novel, Nine Women, One Dress, has been translated into ten languages. She lives in New York City and Fire Island with her husband and three daughters. She often takes inspiration from the city she lives in and the people she shares it with. In addition to her writing she has spent time in film, television and event production and is the cofounder of It’s All Gravy LLC, a web and app-based gifting company.

Eliza Starts a Rumor, which I selected for a must-read June book club pick, is about four women and one little lie.

Here’s the synopsis: 

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. When Eliza Hunt created The Hudson Valley Ladies’ Bulletin Board fifteen years ago she was happily entrenched in her picture-perfect suburban life with her husband and twin preschoolers. Now, with an empty nest and a crippling case of agoraphobia, the once-fun hobby has become her lifeline. So when a rival parenting forum threatens the site’s existence, she doesn’t think twice before fabricating a salacious rumor to spark things up a bit.   

It doesn’t take long before that spark becomes a flame.  

Across town, new mom and site devotee Olivia York is thrown into a tailspin by what she reads on the Bulletin Board. Allison Le is making cyber friends with a woman who isn’t quite who she says she is. And Amanda Cole, Eliza’s childhood friend, may just hold the key to unearthing why Eliza can’t step out of her front door. 

In all this chaos, one thing is for sure…Hudson Valley will never be the same. 

Funny, romantic, raw, and hopeful, this is a story about being a woman and of the healing power of sisterhood.

Let’s get to know Jane as she talks favorite novels, writing inspirations, favorite part to write and much more!

What are some of your favorite novels?

The Prince of Tides, anything by John Irving or Phillip Roth, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and most recently, I adored Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb.

When did you know you wanted to become an author?

When I was a kid I loved to write and had a few excellent teachers that encouraged me. In college, I got waylaid a bit and ended up in the Fashion Industry. But after I had children, I took it up again and haven’t stopped. 

What inspired you to write Eliza Starts a Rumor?

I was at a book talk for my last novel, Nine Women, One Dress, and brought up the phenomenon of on-line forums and how open everyone is on them. The room erupted in stories and conversation and I realized right then that there was something good there. 

Did you based any of your characters off of real people?

Not really in this book, though I do tap into certain character traits of people that I know, or even of myself sometimes. The main character in my next book has a lot of me in her and there is a love story loosely based on my parents. In Nine Women, One Dress there is one story taken from my family history.

What was your favorite chapter or part to write?

That’s easy. When Jackie’s daughter gets her period. Every time I edited those chapters I laughed like I had never heard it before, let alone wrote it.    

What’s the best way for book clubs to reach out to you for a live video visit?

Please reach out through thevirtualbookclubber@gmail.com for book club inquiries. 

What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?

I have been reading a lot during the pandemic; it really helps me to relax and escape. I’m currently reading Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner and next up, two debuts—Take Me Apart by Sara Silgar and A Star is Bored by Byron Lane. 

To support indie bookstores, you can order the book on Bookshop here. Or you can also order it on Amazon here.