Jennifer Klepper is one of the nicest, most generous souls you could hope to meet. I’m so excited to read her recently-released novel, Unbroken Threads, and thrilled to get to share more about Jennifer with you here.
Let’s start with the most important thing. What’s Unbroken Threads about?
Jessica Donnelly’s life is beginning to unravel. When the attorney turned stay-at-home mom tentatively volunteers to represent Amina Hamid, a woman seeking asylum, Jessica must learn an unfamiliar area of the law. Soon, rising opposition to Muslim immigration and unexpected prejudices put her relationships on shaky ground.
Amina fled Syria with little more than memories that now fight against the images splashed on the news. Seeking a secure future and freedom from guilt and grief, she must learn to trust others amidst the reality of fear and hate.
To find stability, Jessica and Amina will both need to harness their own strengths, which may lie in connections that transcend generations, cultures, and continents.
Where did you get the idea for Unbroken Threads?
Jennifer: I started writing a character who was at a crossroads in her life and had to reconnect with her past in order to find her place in the present. At the same time--in the real world--I was watching the news and seeing thousands of displaced people fleeing their homes and their countries. It seemed natural (and appropriate) for my character to look at how she connected to what was going on around her and to have a deepening awareness of her place not just in her family but in greater society as well.
What’s the story behind the title?
Jennifer: When I signed my publishing contract, my publisher informed me that my original title ("Reclaimed") had to go. It wasn't until I was well into edits that "Unbroken Threads" came to me, partly as a result of specific items in the book, but also because of the underlying theme of the value of relationships and the durability of connections across generations, cultures, and continents.
Who’s your favorite character?
Jennifer: Jessica's teenaged son, Conor, intrigues me. He's at that age where he's a complete pain in the ass (as teenagers are prone to be), but it's because he's trying to figure out who he is and simply can't be bothered to figure out how to be an engaging participant in the conversations going on around him. I suppose it's relevant to note that my own son is Conor's age right now (though I wrote the book a few years ago). It's a thrilling age, with so many possibilities, and I'm both envious of those possibilities and relieved I don't have to go through that phase again.
Are your characters based on real people?
Jennifer: My goal when I write is to create characters who are realistic and relatable. As such, the characters in Unbroken Threads are informed by my interactions with friends and family and strangers, but no character is based on a real person. I can say that when I needed names for some of the women in Jessica's book club, I posted on my Facebook Author Page that the first few responders would have their name in my book. So, while the book club members aren't based on real people, they do have my real friends' names.
What kind of research did you do for the book?
Jennifer: My main research focused on events in Syria and the asylum process in the U.S. I am mindful that I am not an expert in these areas, which are ever changing--particularly in the past few years, but I can say I learned a lot and gained great empathy for the victims of the Syrian war and great appreciation for the efforts of organizations and individuals who work to provide assistance.
Brag a little. (It’s ok, really.) Share some praise that’s made you happy.
"A terrific debut, and so very timely. With smart writing and compassion, Klepper offers us a look into the hearts of two women: a Syrian immigrant hoping to find a home in the USA, and the volunteer lawyer whose work brings a second chance at life not only to her client, but to herself as well." -- Julie Lawson Timmer, author of Mrs. Saint and the Defectives
"Unbroken Threads delivers an honest and intimate portrayal of the American response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. By turns harrowing and heartwarming, it's a powerful and important novel that book clubs and discussion groups will relish." -- Amanda Skenandore, author of Between Earth and Sky
Where can we buy your book??
https://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-Threads-Jennifer-Klepper-ebook/dp/B07FMCGVRJ/
A Midwest native, Jennifer made stops in Dallas, Charlottesville, and Boston before settling for good in Maryland. While she has an appreciation for the expansive beauty of the plains states, she hopes never to live landlocked again.
Jennifer attended Southern Methodist University and the University of Virginia School of Law, her law degree guiding her through the worlds of corporate law, tech startups, and court advocacy for foster children. She is an ardent consumer of podcasts and books that challenge her with compelling and unfamiliar topics. When she’s not writing, she’s crossing things off a neverending to-do list and hoping to catch that next sunset. Jennifer lives near Annapolis with her husband and two kids.
Facebook: @JenniferKlepperAuthor (https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKlepperAuthor/)
Instagram: @jennifer_klepper (https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_klepper/)
Twitter: @jenklepper (https://twitter.com/jenklepper)
Website: www.jenniferklepper.com (http://www.jenniferklepper.com/)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41009293-unbroken-threads