This month’s Fresh Fiction column talking all things women’s fiction features a Q&A with Noelle Salazar, whose 2019 debut novel, FLIGHT GIRLS, was an instant bestseller.   Noelle is back with THE ROARING DAYS OF ZORA LILY, about a strong but disadvantaged young woman who uses her remarkable gifts for sewing and design to create a future for herself and her family. The backdrop for this intriguing story –  Seattle, Washington in the 1920s – is one we don’t often see, and adds even more depth to Zora Lily’s intriguing story.   Marie Bostwick: Though not quite a dual timeline, Zora’s story is bookended by contemporary sections that bring up intriguing questions which thrust readers immediately into Zora’s story and keep them turning pages. Without giving too much away, can you set up the scene for us? Noelle Salazar: The story begins in present day with a curator at the Smithsonian working on a collection of costumes from a film in the 1920s. When a tag on one of the gowns falls off, she goes to sew it back on, only to find another name handstitched beneath where it had been. The name – Zora Lily. From there the story…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE ROARING DAYS OF ZORA LILY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The discovery of a hidden label on a famous gown unearths the story of a talented young seamstress in this glittering novel of family, love, ambition, and self-discovery. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The name Zora Lily was actually the name of my great-great-grandmother. Because we have roots in Seattle from the time period the book is set in, there was no question in my mind where the story would take place. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. I adore who Zora is. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, loyal, and visionary. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Ooh… so many facts about Seattle. One of my favorites was about Elise Olmstead, the wife of a Seattle policeman, and one of the city’s most successful bootleggers. She did an evening radio show for children, telling bedtime stories. It was rumored she slipped in information for bootleggers, letting them know where police officers were so they wouldn’t get caught. 7–Do you edit…