Interview with Summer N. England, Author of 'The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne'

Summer N. England has two degrees in Shakespeare and Performance and works as an actress, author, and digital content creator. Outside of her professional endeavors, she juggles various projects in her 1940s farmhouse while caring for her son, who shares her love for gardening and reading.

England's passion for writing has been a lifelong journey, stemming from her childhood love of books. She became a professional storyteller as an actress and a professor and credits her literary agent for propelling her into authorship.

In a rapid-fire Q&A, England shared that her first memorable reading experience was with *Once Upon A Marigold* by Jean Ferris, while *The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches* by Sangu Mandanna inspired her to pursue writing. She describes her debut novel in five words: "Learning to let love in."

Readers can expect whimsical magic, chaotic gardening, and a charmingly complex hedgehog throughout the story. The idea for her novel originated from her childhood experiences gardening with her grandfather in Kentucky, coupled with her recent work at a farm.

England has a special affinity for her main character, Clara Thorne, describing her as irascible and fiercely protective of her happiness. She found joy in exploring Clara's emotional layers while also creating the vibrant setting of the town of Lore.

The writing process posed challenges for England, particularly as a divorced mother writing amidst childcare duties. She learned to embrace imperfection in her work to avoid burnout, finding motivation in the characters and world she was building.

Her journey to publication was unusual, as she was discovered by an agent through TikTok. After an unsuccessful attempt at writing a memoir, she crafted *The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne* in two months, which later went to auction while she was performing *Macbeth*.

Looking ahead, England plans to continue writing, performing, and gardening, with multiple novels in progress. She also excitedly anticipates playing Rosalind in *As You Like It* this summer. England is particularly interested in cozy murder mysteries and *Moss’d in Space* by Rebecca Thorne, both of which she looks forward to reading.