Dr. Alexandra Rose has everything a woman could want. She’s the wife of a renowned cardiologist, the mother of three adorable sons, and a successful chiropractor. But on their twentieth anniversary, her husband shocks her with his affair. Her life spins out of control, and she faces the other side of marriage where dreams implode and people are not who they seem. Alexandra wants custody of her children, but so does her husband, and he’ll stop at nothing. Thrust into a nightmare spawned by chilling deception, a custody battle erupts that’s so poisonous it threatens to become murderous. In this stay-up-all-night portrait of a contemporary family, Alexandra’s bittersweet journey of love, loss, and sexuality leads her to a miraculous discovery of self and power.
“Sometimes when we lose the ones we love we find ourselves.” This is Carol Soloway’s favorite quote from her first novel, “Sex Happens,” which explores the very essence of all we value as women—marriage, motherhood, sex—and what we’ll do for each. “After each decade of my life, I’ve changed careers, and writing is the synthesis of all of the knowledge and skills I’ve accumulated along the path. My first career was as an English teacher during which time, I completed a master’s degree in English. Ten years later, I went back to school and became a chiropractor and established a rewarding practice which my son, also a chiropractor, now runs. Another decade passed and another career beckoned. I became a Qualified Medical Examiner and have been enjoying the challenges of that career for—of course, ten years.”
She is currently on a book tour and I had the great fortune of speaking with her while she was in my favorite city in the world, New Orleans.
What inspired you to write, Sex Happens? (great title by the way!)
When I went through a divorce about ten years ago I had no parents, no money, no resources, and still in chiropractic school. I did not fight for custody of my children and had to really figure out a way to reinvent my life. Dr. Alexandra Rose, the main character, fights for custody—the custody battle is deplorable and threatens to become murderous and there are twist and turns at every page! It was cathartic to write. Also the heroine is Jewish, that is my comfort zone and what I know. In my experience there aren’t enough Jewish heroines – she winds up powerful in the end and she triumphs!
With all the books on the shelf right now, why do you think people should read this book in particular?
First off, enjoyment – I’m told it’s a page-turner! It’s not gratuitous but rather, more sensual. That part of the book is important because once we are in a relationship and we are told they don’t want us anymore and we are not desirable, our sexuality is questioned. I can’t tell you how many women come up to me and tell me that this is their story and they can totally relate.
Soloway is off to Miami next and is waiting to hear back about a possible movie deal! Be sure to check out her website, www.sexhappensanovel.com.
Tanya Schwied graduated from New York University, studied abroad in Israel, and currently works as the Coordinator of Outreach and Engagement for the NextGen Department at Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County.
