CeCe Lyra

Does that happen to you as well?

Or is each book subsequently easier for you?

Yeah, I'm always fascinated by the evolution of stories because, like, My Witches of Moonshine Manor was meant to be a very serious examination of, you know, dysfunctional relationship and losing your identity.

And then it went off the rails and it became fantasy and, you know, witches in a mansion.

For you, was this always going to be this kind of story?

You knew it was going to have the magical realism elements, or was there ever a point at which it was just a husband kind of leaving, walking out, and then it developed from there?

Yeah, and an examination of who you are without that person anymore.

Because, you know, I think a friend pointed out to me, I don't know, 10 years ago, that when they asked me how I was, I would just say, we are fine.

And they were like, you always put the couple.

It's like, you know, it was like I'm asking how you are.

And I never realized that I did that.

So after so many years, you're so integrated into each other that it is an interesting relationship.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, this brings us to the next question because your work deals, and this is across the board, your work deals so much with loss, it deals with grief.

There's joy and there's also celebration, also perfectly balanced.

And I love the reference to Dolly Parton's line in Steel Magnolias, laughing through tears is my favorite emotion.

And that perfectly encapsulates your work.

Yeah, but I love the authenticity of the romantic love because after 30 years, things do change.

The passion isn't there.

People, they're not who they were when they first got together.