Emilie Khair, author of Ignoring Alva, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Emilie.

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Ignoring Alva is a tale of sisterhood and reinvention. It proves that courage, resilience and the desire to rewrite your story, aren’t confined by age, and, that great adventures can happen when you least expect them.

While recovering from a mild stroke, Alva’s vivid dreams spark a restless desire to break free from the predictability of her quiet life. Her sister, Millie—a practical yet spirited counterpart—is skeptical of Alva’s newfound boldness. But Alva suggests an impulsive road trip, and Millie cannot resist the call of adventure. What starts as a lighthearted escapade spirals into a whirlwind of suspense of unexpected heroics.

It is a mix of humor and suspense, of circuses and abuses, just what you’d expect from a pair of octogenarians hitting the road!

It is not yet part of a series, but perhaps down that road…

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from? 

My characters are octogenarians, so I had to think of a mystery that would be apt for them to be entangled. I used to lecture on elder abuse back in my teaching days, and doing the research left me heartbroken. The numbers are only getting worse. In small towns, accessing nursing home care has become increasingly challenging. With that in mind, I felt that a mystery involving nefarious people preying on the elderly, would be perfect for Alva and Millie as they traverse Wisconsin.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it? 

Finding self-worth at any age. I know so many women into their 80’s and 90’s that still say they are brimming with creativity, who ski, and go to the gym, who start new book clubs, and love to travel. But we need to hear more of those stories. We need to realize that their (our) lives are still unfolding. I want readers to think about Alva’s revelation: When is there a better time to become a hero?

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

My main protagonists are usually a blend of people I know! I mix and match traits and mannerisms, and histories, to shape unique characters. As for the additional minor characters, they often seem to emerge on their own as the story unfolds.  They surprise me, taking on their own voices and personalities. Starting as a necessary part in the plot, they reveal themselves to me, mostly through dialogue. Those characters often become my favorites because they are so unexpected. Bertha, is just such a character.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about? When at all possible, I visit locations in person to take in the sensory details that bring a place to life. I try to pay close attention to the atmosphere—the way people interact, even (or especially) the signs in yards and storefronts, which can reveal a town’s opinion and character. These details don’t just help set the scene, they also influence my plot. I also make a point to speak to locals, as their firsthand perspectives help me depict setting and characters more accurately. For places I am unable to visit, Google is certainly helpful, but I also try to find similar settings nearer to me. For instance, spending time in a small town, with a river running through, and a prominent church. It doesn’t have to be the exact locale, but immersing myself in a similar situation is a great help.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

My research process involves a combination of online searches, firsthand knowledge or exploration, and real-world case studies. In the case of Ignoring Alva, since I knew they were going on a road trip, I plotted Alva and Millie’s course, and learned as much as I could through online sources about the places they would stay. As I said above, whenever possible I try to visit the places that I write about, so after visiting my family in Minneapolis, I followed my characters’ route to Baraboo!

Too, I research news headlines and real-life cases related to my themes, such as elder abuse in Ignoring Alva, to add depth and realism to my storytelling.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?

Though the main characters are women, and elderly, I believe the plot will entertain people of all ages. There is humor, and a crime to be solved. And, Alva’s visions add an element of intrigue, offering a puzzle within the story for those who love uncovering hidden meanings. 

Thank you for answering my questions, Emilie, and good luck with Ignoring Alva.

Readers can learn more about Emilie Khair by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org

About Emilie Khair: Emilie is the author of the biographies Passion’s Piano: The Eddie Heywood Story and A Beautiful Puzzle: Nadia’s Journey from East to West as well as the children’s book, Kudzu for Christmas. She holds undergraduate degrees in theatre arts and English education from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in special education from the University of West Georgia, and a doctorate in sociology from Georgia State University. She has two sons and resides in McDonough, Georgia, with her husband of thirty-five years. While Emilie’s roots are in Minnesota, her southern experiences are an inspiration to her writing.