. . . The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found . . .

Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home.

Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Joie Lesin and The Passenger a ghost story set in post WWII California wine country. Today’s guests include Joie and Paolo Clemente—the ghost who sets off a chain of events that forever changes the lives of several generations.

Good morning, Paolo. Thank you for joining us. Let’s begin with where you are from. Foggia, Italy

Tell us a bit about The Passenger. It is the story of the beautiful young woman who aided me at the moment of my death. With her generous heart, she helped me to return home to mia famiglia in California so that I could make peace with the mistakes of my past.

What did you think the first time you saw Adriana? The first time I saw my wife, it was at the harvest day celebration at the vineyard of mia famiglia back in Italia. When my eyes lit upon her, knowing she was not there for me, I thought the man who would win her heart would be both extremely fortunate yet face many challenges.

How lovely. What was your second thought? I would see to it that she become mine.

Was it love at first sight? I did not fall immediately in love with Adriana. If I were meant to ever fall such a way, it would have been with her. So you see, I do not believe in love at first sight, but I do believe in loving someone for all eternity.

What did you like most about her? I would not be Paolo Giovanni Clemente if I did not say I admired Adriana’s beauty. Yet, that is not what I liked most about her. What I admired most about my wife is her strength and her ability to speak her mind no matter the situation. I admired the way she gives her heart and loves those of us lucky enough to have it with an unmatched fierceness.

How would you describe her? I could describe the waist-length, raven black hair of her youth or the graying hair she wore bound at the nape of her neck when I returned to her. I could describe her striking, coffee-colored eyes or perfectly shaped nose . . . instead I will describe for you the strong woman who raised our son without my presence. This woman, my Adriana, came to America unable to speak the language and learned to run a vineyard. This resilient and beautiful woman kept my dream alive and passed it on to my son.

How would she describe you? She once told me when we first met, she believed me to be built of lean lines and sinewy muscle. She believed me to be an aristocrat made for Roman society and not be the don of a country vineyard.

Later, she told me while divine to look at and despite her undying love, I frustrated her like no other with my mule-headed nature. That said, I ask who is the mule-headed one? For she loved me in my absence and never stopped waiting for me to return to her.

What made you choose to own a vineyard for a career? Would it appear I am waxing poetically if I tell you, it is in my blood? I grew up the eldest of three brothers and always knew the responsibility of the tending the beloved vines and perpetuating the magic of turning them into wine.

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is to live without mia famiglia.

How do you relax? In the early years of my life work and relaxation were the same to me. From boyhood, being amongst the vines was always akin to being in church. Within the vines, I found peace.

Ah, but I do suppose you mean what activities I do to relax. Well, I do like to read the occasional book though later in my life I had but a few in my position. As a boy, I learned to appreciate music—especially the opera. In her youth, mia madre had dreamt of moving to Milan and singing in the opera. This leads me to your next question and a story I must share.

Who is your favorite fictional character? As I have mentioned, mia madre loved the opera and passed that love down to me.

She never achieved her dream of singing. No, she became the mistress of a country vineyard and gave birth to three strapping boys. While my brothers took no interest in mia madre’s appreciation of music—she only sang in private when she believed no one to be listening but I made sure to give ear to her voice and count those times among my most favorite. I digress . . . I alone attended the rare traveling theatre troupe performances that came near our home.

One day Pagliacci came through town. Have you heard of it? It is the story of Canio, a pagliaccio—a clown—who despite heartbreak must don his make-up and costume to perform. After this performance, I always believed mia madre saw a bit of herself in Canio. Day after day, she put on a brave face and took on the expected role of mistress of our vineyard. Later in my life, I too saw how I hid behind a mask just to make it through each day.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? The best piece of advice I have ever received but did not take to heart came from my father-in-law. “Paolo,” he said, “if you want to live a long and happy life with my daughter, listen to everything she says.”

Had only I listened, I might not have returned home a ghost.

Thank you, Paolo. This has been lovely. Now, we’d like to chat with Joie.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Marlys Millhiser’s book The Mirror is not only my favorite but also the book that has had the biggest influence on me as a writer.

I originally read The Mirror at sixteen and was instantly thrilled over the fact that the story evolved from another person’s imagination. Marlys Millhiser’s vision whisked me away to the 1900s Boulder, Colorado and back again to 1978 with the help of a cursed mirror. Through the words, I lived vicariously through the two main characters, and I loved it. I knew this was the kind of story I needed to write. It showed me that I could put my limitless imagination to good use.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? The Passenger was released by The Wild Rose Press on August 21.

I’d originally heard about them back in 2007 through authors in a writer’s group I belonged to. I was with another publisher at the time, but they stayed in the forefront of my mind through the books they offered, conference appearances, etc. I’d always had a thought that perhaps one day I would have the opportunity to work with them.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I have an extensive TBR pile that fills several books shelves and a rather packed eBook reader. Some of the books I’ve recently moved to the top are:

· Curse of Flame by J. Von Tobel

· Breaker by AK Nevermore

· The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

· Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

· The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgan

· The Singer Sisters by Joy Ross Davis

· Sedona by Kerry Fryer Freeman

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I am currently in the process of working on two projects at once. The first is a story that takes up where The Passenger left off. Like its predecessor, Watch Over Me is a ghost story and answers some questions left open at the end of The Passenger.

This story takes place in 1968 and tells the continuing story of Elizabeth’s daughter, Bella. I’m also working on a mermaid novel that explores the relationships between sisters, mothers, and daughters. I’m very excited about both of these stories and cannot wait to share more about them.

To purchase The Passenger, go to:

The Wild Rose Press Book Page: https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-passenger/

OR https://www.amazon.com/Passenger-Joie-Lesin/dp/1509256644

To learn more about Joie Lesin and the stories she creates, go to:

· Website: https://www.jlesin.com

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjoielesin

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoieLesin

· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joie.lesin

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoieLesin

· Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/authorjoielesin

· Goodreads Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2899613.Joie_Lesin