Author Terri-Lynne DeFino Discusses "Didn't You Used to be Queenie Be?"

"Didn't You Used to be Queenie Be?" - A Recipe for Second Chances

• 🏆 The book "Didn't You Used to be Queenie Be?" by Terri-Lynne DeFino was chosen as the reader's choice for Club Calvie.
• 📖 The story centers on a disgraced celebrity chef and a young cook who find each other in a soup kitchen, offering a narrative of second chances.

Inspiration and Personal Journey

• ❤️ The primary inspiration for the book stems from the author's son who died of an opiate overdose, with the character Shawn being a long-gestating idea.
• 🍳 The author's other son becoming a chef also contributed to the story's development, pulling elements from her heart and head.
• ✍️ DeFino has been writing since she was seven and learned to cook as a child, with this book representing a culmination of these lifelong experiences.

Core Message: Addiction as a Symptom

• 💡 The most crucial takeaway the author wants readers to grasp is that addiction is a symptom of something else, not the core issue.
• 🧠 In the character Gail's case, the underlying issue is anxiety, highlighting that addiction is often a response to deeper problems.
• ⚠️ DeFino emphasizes that it is unfair to simply label people as addicts and dismiss them, advocating for a more nuanced understanding.

The Writing Process

• ⏳ This particular book was a deeply personal and lengthy project, taking five years to write, in contrast to her usual one-year writing pace.
• 💬 The author expresses her gratitude for the honor and the opportunity to share this story with the Club Calvie readers.