Welcome to the What Your Next podcast. So excited to be back. And today we're talking southern women's fiction. We have from historical fiction, magical Realism, Gothic, Southern Gothic. We got all the recommendations. Our guest is Grace Helena Waltz who wrote, who writes so other woman's fiction. She has her debut Southern Brand Design, and her latest book is. Good hair days. And both books are a place of family, community, meddling community and all the things we do. So good Hair days is kind of like a street Steel Magnolias reimagined without, with a to diabetes storyline. But we do get a family health issue and a rundown Hair's a salon that just needs some TLC and some more cash. So we got all the things that we love about community and southern women's friction. In this episode, grace Shares some recommendations about books to read after reading her two books from the Kristen Woodson, Harveys, Mary Kay Andrews, and other authors that you should definitely pick up if you're like the southern most fiction genre and some his fiction, magic realism and everything else in between. If you're curious about Southern Women's Fiction where to get started, what it looks like, this is a great episode for you. So let's get to the recommendations.

Hi, grace. Welcome to the watch your next podcast.

Hey there. Thanks so much for having me.

So happy to have you here. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Yeah, so, my name is Grace Helena Walls and I'm a writer a women's fiction author. So I've written two books now. My debut was Southern by Design and that came out in February. And it's a. story about a historic home preservationist designer who has to team up with her very difficult mother on a project to save her struggling business. And then the book that I'm, I have coming out next is Good Hair Days, and that one's coming out in November. So that one's really on my mind. It's a modern take on Steel Magnolias meets. Hello. Beautiful. The art team put together this beautiful cover, which I'm so excited about. And that one's is gonna be out on November 11th. So it we're coming up on that time.

So we're gonna talk about, because you got two books in one year, your debut and the second book. So what was the writing process? 'cause I'm assuming you had these, like, written in a while and, getting them published and selling them and stuff like that. Talk to us about the journey to get that process.

Yeah, my debut Southern redesign, that one, that book was probably rewritten at least four, four or five times. So, it wasn't the first main new script that I wrote. It was the second one I think. Like many authors, I had that first manuscript, that was the one that you're really practicing on. You're writing and you're finding your way, you're figuring out how to put a book together and what's compelling and what's boring and what what you should put more of, what you should leave out. So the first manuscript was it in the drawer for for good Southern by Design. Was my second manuscript that I had written. And that one, it took me several years. That was the one where I got my agent. So, then my agent had sold that book. It was a probably about a year from when I signed with my agent until that book was sold. And so during that process the advice that writers are often given that there's, there's so much time in publishing for you to wait. It's just an industry that moves. Slowly.

Yeah.

although then when it starts moving, it's fast, it's hurry up and wait. And then it's, when they say go, it's like, oh my goodness, there's so much happening, like this moment right now where I'm planning, for this book to come out. And so while I was we were doing all of the publishing behind the scenes stuff, I started working on this second book. And so when they offered me the deal, they offered me a two book deal. So I knew that they wanted to do two books with me. Southern by Design was definitely the first, but the second book was left to open. So we that was kind of one for us to come back to. And I had been working on good hair days during all of this waiting. And you know what if mo you know, you sitting around, you don't know really what's gonna happen. And so that book, that manuscript was really the early version of it was really com. Pleat before I even started the editorial work with my editor at Harper Collins on the first book. So I was lucky that I had kind of that already put together. I do write fairly quickly which is helpful,

Yeah.

but it also helps. That I had this idea fully fleshed out for the most part. It underwent a lot of revisions. I think that my editor really helped me to kind of level the book up, but it was, it really did help me to have these two books. They're exactly actually nine months apart, like to the date.

Yeah,

was NOV or February 11th, and then this one is November 11th. So I've been joking that they're my Irish twin books.

That's why.

Nine months apart. And so that, that part of the timing, like leading up to Southern by Design actually getting picked up officially was it really helped. It really helped.

Yeah. So talk to us about good hair days. You talked about steel magnolia. We got a rundown hair salon that's been passed through generations for female generations, and they're having to try to uplift it and they're, there's. Specific things, so, coming back home and themes around it. But talk to us about what was the writing process? What is about the book and like why reader should pick it up.

Yeah, so it's really, so, and you hit on so many of the highlights of the core about, of what the book is about, and so it's really about family. So the book is written from the point of view of two sisters, the older sister Georgia is the main character, and the younger sister Junie. Is also a point of view in the book. And they are, their mother is deceased and they have two maternal aunts. And the younger sister is the one that's in charge of the beauty shop, June's beauty shop that's been passed generation to generation. And Georgia's the older sister who is kind of gone. She's left town and she's the. Daughter that the expectation was put on to go and do something bigger that, you don't need to be chained to this small town beauty shop. Go out there and be, she was the one who was academically achieving and she was the one that was, this star child in the family, that everyone kind of pegged their hopes on her to be something bigger and more. But when the book opens, she really, all she wants is to come back home. when her younger sister calls and she says oh, I got us into hot water. In the June June beauty into hot water we're, I started this renovation and I thought we had the money to finish. It. Turns out we don't. I need you to come home and help save the day. Which is a recurring pattern between the sisters that Georgia is this kind of responsible one that saves the day. And Junie is, excited and kind of up in the class a little bit, and she kind of rushes it. She gets excited and she rushes into things. And so when they, when Georgia comes home, they end up teaming up with their maternal aunts to try to, make money however they can. So there's gambling at the salon. They're, these are like. Small town, women who are not, fussy or frilly in any way. And they kind of come up with this list of ways that they can save their salon. then while this is ongoing, Junie, the younger sister gets a life altering medical diagnosis. So she's diagnosed with the same cancer that their mother passed. Away from. And so that is a moment where the women really have to kind of pull together in a much deeper way. And finally they're forced to really be honest about what they want in life and what they believe about themselves. And really rely on the deep love between them to get through.

I love this. I am so excited for readers to pick it up. I think this is like a perfect, beach side escape too. You using like a nice little truck outside just to you. See the stories like a family coming together, women actually within the family actually coming together and really. Putting in political straps and trying to make sense of things and coming back home. The theme of coming back home is a big one. I think a lot of times we leave thinking the grass is moon on the other side, and then we realize like, actually no, maybe just going back home, going back with our family, connecting with them feels so much better. Place to feel, peace, so.

and I think while I was writing it too, I thought a lot about the ways that our family impacts the decisions that we make.

Yeah.

and whether it's, something that's very conscious in the forefront of our mind that, like in the story, Georgia very explicitly knows that her mother kind of gave her these marching orders of like, go and do and be bigger and better. And then other more subtle things of like, why do we, how do our families impact us? And kind of in our behaviors and our choices and where we go in life. And then also when, when do people push back against that? When do we say, well actually that's not what I want. That's what somebody else wanted. And kind of take ownership of our own lives too.

Love this. All right, so let's talk about southern women's fiction. 'cause this is a niche, this is a genre you're writing and it's a really unique genre. There's plenty of books we got the, like, books are like about family, women's fiction, about character acts about growth, but there's also this southern take on that's very unique to the area. Talk to us, about the genre, but also what made you write for it,

yeah, that's a great question. And I love Southern women's fiction, and like you said, I think it's so unique and I think that there's just a particular voice to it that makes you feel a certain way. And so for me, the type of reader I am is. That I will not necessarily remember all the details of a book.

Yeah.

plot points or the characters? The names. Gosh, I'm awful with the names. I like, literally, it's like as soon as I close the book, like the names of all the characters just go out of my head.

Yeah.

always remember how a book made me feel.

Yeah.

that was one of the things that from the get go drew me to Southern Women's Fiction. So I really got started on Southern women's fiction by reading Dorothy Ab Benton Frank. Her books just, I read the, I don't remember which was the first one I read, but as soon as I read one of them, I was like, oh my goodness. I just felt like home. It felt like being embraced. It felt really like an escape. The, a sensory, warm feeling. That, like, I just got from those books and I was like, I have to read all of these books. So,

okay.

her back list and like picked everything up and read as much as I could. And unfortunately she passed away in 2019 but her daughter, Victoria Benton, Frank has now. Publishing. And I've, I haven't been able to read her latest the Violet Hour yet, but I loved her debut my Magnolia Summer. So I, that was really what I was reading the most of when I started writing. So I started writing fiction actually in 2019. And I decided that I loved it so much that it would be, that would, if I was gonna write something, that's what I

Yeah.

to be. And I had gone to the College of Charleston in South Carolina for my undergrad degree and I got to live in the city there, which was an amazing experience. I mean, it's such a unique place and to be able to live downtown and walk everywhere and stuff, at the time I don't think I really. Appreciated it as much as I should have. But,

Yeah.

was such, I kind of, for me, I was, 18 and I went to college and I was like, okay, I guess this is a college, and only as an adult I'm like, oh my goodness. Like what a fabulous place to get to live for four years.

It's, I've been to Charleston. I went there a couple years ago. It's such a beautiful, like town, especially downtown area where all the things are happening. It's just this beautiful like place just to spend time. And the weather is nice and it's not, anything that's a part of the weather down in the south, it's a little bit nicer than up north. But the people is just, it's a very different setting. And I think that's a great place to get. And obviously we get a reality. We show we got something in charm that gives us, FaceTime toxic men, but you know.

I love that. I love that. And I know, and I love that you said about the people too,

Yeah.

that's a big part of the southern women's fiction genre too, is this sense of community and

Yeah.

show up for each other. And the, it makes it really fun to cast characters as well, because when I'm, casting them, I want people to be part of, a. An ensemble that they're coming together and as the southern setting, really like it tees that up so easily that people wanna show up for each other. And sometimes people wanna be in other people's business, just

Yeah.

sake of being in other people's business. And a lot of times, that might be they might pretend that it's. For the sake of, good when it's really, they're nosy or maybe they're trying to interfere. But again, that goes to like quirkiness of the south too, that I think that there's so many endearing, quirky, odd thing, things that southerners do and say that make for. Especially if you're doing, if you're creating a women's fiction story where you know there's gonna be emotional, challenges or there's gonna be plot points that are, gonna be really, emotionally challenging that having those like light moments naturally come in as well. Fabulous and especially, so really I think where I onboarded with the Southern women's fiction was this experience of living in, the low country of South Carolina and then those authors that I read. And also, I mean, then from there I started reading Chrissy Woodson Harvey and Mary Kay Andrews is in that group as well. And reading Victoria's books. And from there I started reading more southern fiction. Recently I've actually gotten more into southern magical realism, which is like

Yeah.

Fun niche.

Oh my gosh.

so,

need your records for that. I need for that because I'm like,

Okay. So, so my, one of my dear friends, Jennifer Mormon, she

yeah.

magical Realism. She has, I'm actually right now reading her an arc of her book that's coming out in January. It's called The Charmed Library. And it is about this, southern town where this, there's the main character works in a library where there's magic that can bring characters to life from the library books. So that one I'm really enjoying. Heather Weber is another one who I wrote, I read. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, which is not a new book. It's, but, and she's written many more since, but somebody gave it to me and I, it was one of those books that as well, I'm, there are certain people that if they tell me, oh, you should read this book, I'm like, okay. Yes, definitely. And I just pick it up and read it. Even if it's not, even if it's not brand new or a genre that I'm super comfortable with, I'm like, okay, well if you recommend it, I'll give it a try.

Yeah.

and that was one that I just really enjoyed. And then another one that I read recently a was Elizabeth Bass. Parman Bees in June.

Yeah.

have it right here because

Yes.

I did an event together. That one is, it's actually, it's set against the moon landing, so it's historic. There's a historical. Component to it, but it's not historical fiction in that, the traditional sense. And it's about this woman who is in the very difficult place in her life. She's her husband is, abusive and she's kind of stuck and she's in this small town and she's doesn't really have a way out. And then these magical bees kind of come. It's the bees also have a point of view in the book, which I love as

Yeah.

So if you like magical realism and that one's lighter on the magical realism component. There is a big, like southern women's fiction component to that story too that I loved. 'cause it was like, oh, this is my bread and butter type of book, plus a sprinkle of magical bees.

Yeah, well, what can you ask for?

Yeah, exactly. I know. So I've been really enjoying those books recently. Oh, and another author that I have to mention as well in the southern fiction genre is Pamela Terry. So she just wrote, I have an arc of her book. Over here. I read this early through

Yeah.

So if you like Southern Fiction, this is, and this is her third book that she's come out with. That one I loved. I read, she and I did an event together and I got to read it early. I always love getting arcs. I

Yeah.

like so fun. I'm like, I feel like, oh my gosh, I'm getting to read it early. It's like, oh, yay, part of the club. And I loved it. It was fabulous. So if you like. The, the low country fiction, if you like Southern Words Fiction. Yeah. Ha. You can't Ms. Pamela Terry either.

Oh my gosh. Thank you Grace. For all the southern women's fiction recommendations and all the self genres that we have. We're gonna put together a guide. From your recommendations into the, so for listeners, just join the substack, we'll put together a guide so you get to get started. 'cause I think you gave us a good starting point where to go and other authors that you may not, that you may be like, oh my gosh, I can go back to, because I think it's a really interesting niche that has grown. I love talking to Mary Kay Andrews. She's lovely. She's a champion for our authors and champion for our community. And I think it's, it was one of those first authors that I actually interviewed and I was like, oh my gosh, this is great. And I'm like, now I need to read more. I'm excited to continue diving into this world. So,

Yeah, I know. I love Mary Kay Andrews books and she's such a stellar just member of the author community too. She wrote a blurb for my debut and I was.

Oh gosh.

nervous to ask her because

Yeah.

Admired her so much that it, and it's so such a strange spot to be in as a debut as well,

Yeah.

knows you, you haven't published anything, and yet then you're kind of, you're going to these very experienced authors and you're saying, Hey, like. Any chance you would wanna read my book and like, maybe say something nice about it if you like it.

Yeah.

and she was just so gracious and lovely about it too, that it just was, and she's a wildly successful author that doesn't have to take time out of her busy schedule to do something like that, for a debut, but she did. And it, yeah, she's just made a big positive impression on me too.

I love an authors. I really like championing author and really sharing their platform with other authors. 'cause it's a lot of it's collaboration. I know a lot of things. People think it's competition, it's scarcity and, there's only one spot and the bestseller. But the reality is that there readers everywhere. And the bestseller is not the only place. I loved having this podcast because it not only helps you discover this author, but it helps you discover other authors and his readers are reading more than what the authors are producing. So we wanna give them like a plethora of options and and they have enough to go down. Thank you, grace, for really sharing the Southern woman's fiction, sharing your two books, and really giving us a place where to get started and so we can, after reading your two books, we have something to hold on to your next book. So

Yeah, it's

yeah.

And I I have to say I've been so impressed as well just with all these southern fiction authors that all of them are so supportive of one another. And I've made connections and friendships with. So many of them that you, it really is, the support between one

Yeah.

is just amazing. Chrissy Woodson Harvey has also been incredibly supportive Me Too, and Kimberly Brock, who is this another southern author, she writes historical southern fiction of like a gothic kind of component to it. It's just been, it is just been amazing.

yeah. It's a beautiful community to be part of, so.

is. And the readers too. The readers just make it Of us,

yeah. So Grace, tell us, Ani

Thank you for asking. So my, the main social media that I use is Instagram, my handle there is Grace Helena books. And then if you want to get on my email subscriber list and stay up to date on events that I'm doing, the best place to find me is my website. So that's grace helena walz.com. And I am on Facebook too, You'll see me there less often.

Thank you, grace, for being in the show.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thanks for listening to the What three next. For more book lists, cozy reads and library tips, visit the what three Next block.com. Your next great read might be waiting there.