Virginia Evans

I just thought, I hope women in their 70s don't think I totally mucked it up.

And I've had such a good response from people down into their 20s and up through their 90s to the book.

And that has been really neat.

I don't know.

Is it maybe because it doesn't matter how old she is, that it's kind of the story of life and how life feels and all the different ways that she...

interacts with people from all walks of life and ages.

And her pen pal is this 14 year old kid.

And then she has this other pen pal who's, you know, in their eighties and it kind of runs the whole gamut.

And so I think there's maybe some connection point for anyone, but in some ways I think ultimately the reason it feels good is

is because what I wanted to do was tell the story of someone's life in a way that felt true, but also hopeful, you know?

And I think that that's what I want to read.

Not all the time.

I mean, sometimes I want to read something horrible and scary or, you know, or...

Like fantastical, but sometimes I just want to read a book that feels true and hopeful.

And I think, you know, the book is ultimately a book about grief and joy and how all of life, everyone's life, all of life is holding grief and sorrow and joy and magic all at the same time.

Every minute of every day.

I mean, I think about the best moments of my life with my family, with my kids, you know, different moments that stand out as bright beacons of light in my life and memory.

During those times, horrible things were also happening.

You know, like, I think about...

things that happened, but what was also happening in the world or in my family or in my career, even when beautiful things were happening.