Sign up here!
We promise to never share your email with anyone else, and we’ll only contact you when there’s a new book out.
Books by Cecilia Lyra
The Sunset Sisters
The Faithfuls
A Letter from Cecilia
Dear reader,
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Faithfuls. If you did enjoy it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up at the following link. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Sign up here!
When I began to write this novel, there were a few things I knew. I knew it would be set in a small town. I knew it would involve a scandal that would evolve into a controversy. I knew the women in this story would be strong (a pleonasm) and that all the characters would love at least one person beyond reason (to love within reason is to like). I knew I wanted to write about a family full of love, big personalities, and even bigger secrets. That is what authors do: they tell a story. Hopefully, a good one.
But there were things I didn’t know. Things I never planned that made their way into The Faithfuls once the characters came to life and began making decisions of their own. (Yes, this happens often, and, yes, it’s as freaky as it sounds.) Most of these things were small: Gina’s love of running, Alice’s book-gifting habit, Calan’s interest in superheroes. They were delightful surprises. Delightful, but not unexpected—like getting a call from my best friend on my birthday.
All, that is, except for one: the women’s alliance that was formed at the end.
I’ll admit it: that was unplanned, unscripted. I didn’t see it coming until it happened. Don’t get me wrong, it was a welcome surprise, but it was also a shocking one—like getting a call from my grandmother on my birthday (my grandmother has passed away).
Do I sound illogical? Of course I do. I am attempting to explain how a major revelation in my story wrote itself. It is the very definition of illogical. It’s also not my point.
Here is my point: while I don’t know how this unexpected development happened, I know why. Fiction—this novel fiction. But, as I am fond of saying, the emotions in it are real. My heart is in this novel. And, in my heart, this is what I know: great things happen when women come together. When we join forces and change the rules of the game. When we champion other women, even at the cost of the men in our lives. As women, we don’t have to agree with each other. Like-mindedness is not the goal. Neither is sameness. The goal is realizing we are stronger together. Strongest together. Sisterhood—that’s the goal.
And that’s also what this story is about: sisterhood.
That is my take on The Faithfuls. I would love to hear yours.
In fact, if you could write a review, I’d be both thrilled and grateful. I am a curious soul, and it makes such a difference helping new readers to discover one of my books for the first time.
Finally, I am always very happy to hear from my readers—you can get in touch on my Facebook page, through Twitter or Goodreads.
Thank you again.
Cecilia Lyra
Acknowledgments
My deepest gratitude to:
Sam Hiyate, for falling in love with this story from day one, and the entire TRF family. Special thanks to Anne Sampson, Stephanie Sterritt, and Emily Bozik.
Emily Gowers, for your patience and wisdom, and the unbelievably talented team at Bookouture for turning a manuscript into a novel: Jade Craddock, Shirley Khan, Radhika Sonagra, Kelsie Marsden, Ramesh Kumar, Sarah Hardy, Kim Nash, Alex Crow, Hannah Deuce, Rob Chilver, Mumtaz Mustafa, Chris Lucraft, and Marina Valles. Thank you, also, to my fellow Bookouture authors for lifting me up.
Every single person out there whose title includes the word ‘book’: book club organizers, bookstagrammers, booksellers, book bloggers, and book reviewers. You are the rock stars of the publishing industry. I am eternally grateful for all that you do.
My readers (I still can’t believe I get to say that: ‘my readers’!). Thank you for coming along this journey with me.
My friends whose faith in me kept me going. You know who you are. Special thanks to K.L., D.B. and J.H. for bravely sharing your experiences with workplace harassment with me. Thank you to A.G. and S.W. for talking to me about oxycodone addiction, and for reading my pages with such thoughtfulness and care. And, of course, I am forever indebted to C.B. and M.S. for trusting me with your journey with postpartum depression.
My family: Claudia Pfisterer, for letting me have snacks on your bed (and no one else); Chris Pfisterer, for asking me if I’d like a super sundae (yes, of course I do); Raphael Pfisterer, for silly, choreographed dances in front of the mirror (I miss you every day); Ana Maria Lyra, for being the world’s most supportive mother-in-law and getting all your friends to buy my books (whether they want to or not); Rafael Dourado, for beta-reading and cigar-related consultations (I still can’t stand the smell of those things); Chloe and Dudu, for letting me love you from afar, and Cynthia and Mari for making the distance a little more bearable.
My grandmother, for lending me your ears and your heart, even now. Especially now.
My dad, for weaving spellbinding goodnight stories when I was young, and for whispering them to me at night now that you’re gone.
My mom, for predicting I’d write a bestseller at the age of three even though back then I couldn’t read, let alone write—and for still believing I could do that today.
Anna, for hippo kisses, brick washing, and for showing me, every day, that being happy isn’t difficult if that’s what you decide to do. Thank you for being my Baby Dino.
Babaganoush, for your soulful eyes, clumsy snuggles, and a love beyond language. Thank
