New Books Network Lorna Graham, "Where You Once Belonged: A Novel" (She Writes Press, 2025)
Jul 15, 2025
In this discussion, Lorna Graham, a television news writer at Dateline NBC and emerging novelist from Greenwich Village, unpacks her debut novel, featuring the ambitious character Everleigh Page. They explore the ethical dilemmas facing journalists today and the personal sacrifices made for career success. Themes of identity, ambition, and the struggles of being a woman in a corporate environment are examined. Graham also reflects on her own journey from journalism to fiction writing, revealing how past experiences shape narrative depth.
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Inspiration from a Movie Encounter
- Lorna Graham was inspired by a movie where an adult meets her younger self to feel inspired and reconcile past ideals with current reality.
- She used this concept to create her novel's protagonist, an executive producer encountering her idealistic college self.
Difficulty Writing Adult Cynicism
- Writing Everly as a cynical adult was difficult since she is very different from Lorna Graham's idealistic nature.
- The younger Lee was easier to write, embodying idealism and early ambitions in college.
Supportive College Sisters and Love
- Everly's college sisterhood bonds deeply through an intense shared experience involving a mysterious Native American-inspired ceremony.
- Sean, her boyfriend, comes from a large family, which Everly finds exhausting but is a source of emotional complexity.
