Medina book store hosting author for signing on July 28

Melissa O’Connor, left, has written a novel, The One and Only Vivian Stone.

MEDINA – Melissa O’Connor of Buffalo has chosen Author’s Note in Medina for the initial book signing to launch her debut novel, The One and Only Vivian Stone, published by Simon and Schuster.

O’Connor heard about Author’s Note at 519 Main St. from her husband’s parents, who live near Oakfield. She will discuss and sign copies of her novel at 7 p.m. July 28.

O’Conner has a literary background, having been editor of a higher education publishing firm until deciding to stay home with her children, now ages 10 and 13.

“I have wanted to write since I was 9 years old, and wrote a short story at Thanksgiving from the viewpoint of a turkey,” O’Connor said. “When I graduated from college, I tried to write several times, but it was bad and I was turned down. I kept trying and stopping. I don’t know what clicked in my early 30s, but one time my husband was on an overnight trip for work and I pulled out my computer, and the words just kept flowing.”

Although The One and Only Vivian Stone is her first published novel, she has written four overall.

This book was inspired by “I Love Lucy,” O’Connor said. “I was obsessed with her show. I had gone to the Lucy and Desi Museum when I found out they had gotten a divorce. I had loved how they were a couple on and off the screen and didn’t understand how this couple who appeared to have it all, didn’t. They had this successful show, and I thought, ‘What do you do when your co-star is your estranged husband.’ Do you stay with the show and make America happy, or do you make yourself happy.”

O’Connor said it took her six weeks to write the book and four months to edit it. She got an agent’s offer, unbelievably, within a week.

“It was a case of having the right story at the right time going across the right desk,” she said.

In her book, O’Conner weaves a dual narrative from the novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the television show “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” in which estranged lovers reconnect over mysterious tapes found in an attic and the old Hollywood secret hidden within them.

New York Times bestselling author Abby Jimenez calls the book “intriguing, sparkling with wit and suspenseful in all the right places,” and Booklist called it “a captivating blend of romance and mystery that will keep readers eagerly turning pages.”

O’Connor became obsessed with stories involving family secrets, betrayal and forbidden love after being given a box of used V.C. Andrews books at the age of 10.

When not writing now, O’Connor can usually be found cheering on her kids’ hockey teams and sneaking words on the page between games.

O’Connor shared she is working on a new novel about the music industry, inspired by Carly Simon’s You’re so Vain.

During her visit to Author’s Note on July 28, she will not only sign copies and read from her book, but will answer questions from the audience.

Her book signing will immediately follow Author’s Note Fiction Book Club, which will take place at 6 p.m. instead of its usual start time of 6:30. The One and Only Vivian Stone will be the book club’s August selection for discussion at the bookstore on Aug. 25 at the regular time of 6:30 p.m.

Book clubs and Author’s Note events are open to the public, according to owner and New York Times’ best-selling author Julie Berry.

Copies of the One and Only Vivian Stone are available at Author’s Note or online at www.authorsnote/com/events. Those unable to attend may order signed copies of the book to be picked up at the store or shipped free by logging on to the above website or calling (585) 798-3642.