Is it dangerous to search for an old flame you never got over? What if you find him—and he doesn’t remember you? In her captivating new novel, Susan Shapiro—memoirist, novelist, humorist and writing teacher extraordinaire—explores the perils of revisiting the passion of yesteryear. Lila Penn leaves Wisconsin for graduate school in the big city, where she falls for her professor Daniel Wildman. Decades after their tangled link, she arranges a tête-à-tête in downtown Manhattan. But the shocking encounter blindsides Lila, causing her to question her memory as well as her sanity. Shuttling between Greenwich Village and Tel Aviv, the saga unravels the sexual secret that’s haunted Daniel and Lila for thirty years. Writing a Woman’s life columnist Yona Zeldis McDonough catches up with Shapiro to get the skinny on this hilarious yet piercing novel. Q: How long did it take you to complete? A: From start to publication six years. But I worked on a few projects in between. Q: Are there autobiographical elements in this novel? A: Yes part of it is very autobiographical. But the real story wasn’t ultimately very dramatic. So I wound up embellishing and dramatizing it a lot to make more page-turning as a novel….

In my new novel HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD my character Justine Wright has decided to play matchmaker. This is not an easy thing to do considering the fact that the matchmaking has to do with a treasure hunt … a treasure hunt she’s put in her will. Justine, the patriarch of the Wright family, makes her presence known even after she’s gone. It’s a sweet presence (if I do say so myself), and I enjoyed unfolding her life in a series of letters. I do believe that a life well lived ripples out, not only when that person is here with us, but, if she’s spoken into the lives of others, after she’s gone as well. As I wrote this book I couldn’t help wondering if there isn’t a lot of Justine in me. Not that I’m such a noble creature, but, like Justine, I love my family and friends and want them to all live happy, fulfilled lives, and I’m not above a little interfering to make sure that happens. I’ve been known to encourage (not manipulate – honest!) friendships between teenagers, to march out onto the Little League ball field and try to get my son to…