Anna Gomez on Unconditional Love, Writing Inspiration and Her New Road Trip Novel

After experiencing a great loss in her life years ago, Anna Gomez decided it was time to channel her feelings on paper and see where it would take her. Today, with several books under her belt, she considers herself “a hopeless romantic” who writes about real life, flawed characters and the saving grace of unconditional love.

Her latest work, the soon-to-be-released Somewhere Along the Way, is no exception. It’s a heartfelt novel about love, healing, and self-discovery. Charlotte “Charlie” Hastings embarks on a cross-country journey to California after discovering letters her estranged mother had written to her father over the years. That discovery, revealed in a dream by her deceased father, stirs emotions in Charlie she never thought she would feel and drives her to seek a connection she had always resisted.

In this interview with BookTrib, the author discusses the personal challenges that both inspired — and got in the way of – writing this road trip journey of the heart.

What inspired you to write Somewhere Along the Way, and how did the story come about?

Thank you for having me! Kobo approached my agent and requested that I write a book for them. I pitched a few high-level ideas — one of them being about a woman who goes in search of her mother. I had no idea how the story would play out, but I had lost my dad unexpectedly a few months before and found myself interspersing the story of my parents into the love story of Charlie and Graham. I wanted to honor them and thank them for loving me and my sisters despite being two broken people whose circumstances tore them apart. In the end, I think I accomplished just that. 

The journey of Charlotte “Charlie” Hastings is central to the book. Can you share more about her character development and what you hope readers will take away from her story?

The book begins with Charlie grieving the loss of her father. Shortly after, she finds out he had hidden away letters from her mother, who had abandoned them when she was a child. Charlie is angry and resentful at first, but later succumbs to the wishes of her father to read those letters and get to know her mother. As she reads her mother’s words and sees life through her parents’ eyes, Charlie begins to understand why things turned out the way they did — and why her father had kept this secret from her. I don’t want to reveal too much, but in opening up her heart to those letters, she opens up her heart to love. 

Graham Mead, the mysterious stranger Charlie meets, plays a significant role in her journey. How did you develop his character, and what does he represent in the narrative?

It is by a twist of fate that Graham meets Charlie and accompanies her on this road trip to find her mother. He symbolizes the perfect planning of the universe and the alignment of the stars. This is something that we often overlook when questioning life’s hardships or twists and turns. At first, he is a quiet bystander, accompanying Charlie on her journey and being a shoulder to lean on. But he has a story of his own, and as he watches Charlie change and grow throughout their road trip, her resilience teaches him how to forgive himself.

The theme of self-discovery and confronting one’s past is prominent in the book. How do you think these themes resonate with readers in today’s world?

Well, let me tell you that the readers today are quite different from the readers from ten years ago when I began writing. So, I don’t want to assume this will resonate — but that’s what I’m hoping for! I have always believed that the past is what molds us into who we are today. And this story is an example of that.

How does the setting of the book influence the story, and why did you choose it?

I am lucky enough to be able to travel in my job, and I fly to Brooklyn quite a bit, given the location of one of our agencies. I just love the vibe in that city — the buildings are so unique and obviously the DUMBO is magnificent. I wanted Charlie to be from there so I could describe the vibrancy of that place. 

Are there any personal experiences or real-life events that influenced the plot or characters in Somewhere Along the Way?

I am the child of someone who was in and out of mental health facilities and chose to explore that as one of the plotlines in this story. 

What message or feeling do you hope readers will carry with them after finishing the book?

Hope, acceptance, forgiveness. The love of a mother for her child and a child for their mother, though imperfectly executed at times, is eternal. That you can’t escape from what the universe has planned for you, but you can decide how to handle and react to what comes your way. True love is that which remains in the face of adversity, and that peace will only come to you if you can truly forgive. 

What do you think sets Somewhere Along the Way apart from your previous works, and how has your writing evolved over time?

This is a great question, although quite difficult to answer! I have evolved in so many ways as a person, a woman, a mother, a wife and a colleague, that I am sure my writing now reflects it. Now I find it easier to write when I stop focusing on using too many words – “saying more with less,” as a good friend described this book. I think that is such a great way to characterize the current stage of my life. It’s the no nonsense, no drama phase, where I write the way I want without fear or self-consciousness. I used to think that the more lyrical my words were, the more emotional they would be. But I learned to get to the point. And that’s how I’ve been living my life. 

Of course, the transition from indie to traditional publishing in the ten years that have passed has also taught me so much about my writing style.

Judging from social media, you’ve had one heck of a year! How did you balance the demands of your career with the pressures of completing a new novel? What challenges did you face?

The ever-present challenge of time! I used so much family vacation time and allotted a set schedule to keep writing so I could finish. These were mostly self-imposed deadlines — much needed though — because my priority list is never-ending! 2024 has been a year of milestones for me in so many ways! I received the biggest recognition of my career and my world filled with wonderful opportunities. I had few free moments between the daily challenges of my job, planning my son’s wedding, a life-changing trip to the Philippines, and I also turned 60!

But despite the lack of hours in a day, writing will always be a major part of me. And as one of my mentors always says — when you love something, you simply make time. I acknowledge the fact that I am writing for myself, and this relieves quite a bit of the pressure that others may feel when publishing a book. And although my career comes first, I was able to eke out some hours on weekends to focus on writing this story. I am proud that I got it done in four months. And I’m even more proud that I am sitting here talking to you about a story that is really near and dear to my heart.