Local writer Jacqueline Russell is set to release her debut novel, “The Thing She Didn’t Tell Me,” on November 12. The novel is a blend of literary fiction, Southern storytelling, and family mystery, structured around a compelling dual-timeline narrative.
Russell, who currently works in healthcare marketing, has a long history of telling the stories of the region as a news and feature writer. But this book — her first novel — is a personal project that’s been years in the making.
“Years ago, I was looking at old photos at my grandparents’ house and came across one of a young woman I didn’t recognize,” Russell said. “She looked effortlessly cool wearing her saddle shoes and skirt, perched on an old car, and when I asked about her, I was told she’d died young. Then someone leaned in and said, ‘a lot of folks thought it wasn’t an accident.’ That was all anyone would say, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Eventually, I decided to write her story, or at least the story I imagined for her.”
The result is “The Thing She Didn’t Tell Me,” a novel that follows journalist Bea Bennett as she begins investigating her family tree and unearths a buried secret — one that traces back to the 1940s and a woman named Ruby who carried a lifetime of silence. Told through alternating timelines, the book explores themes of girlhood, legacy, and the enduring power of female friendship.
To celebrate the book, Russell will host a book signing and release party at Gramps Coffee & Donuts in Owensboro on November 15 from noon to 2 p.m.
“This book is for everyone who has had something they felt they couldn’t talk about,” she said. “That might be for self-preservation or to protect someone else, but so often we’re all feeling something similar. It’s a good reminder that there’s no truly unique experience, and if we just share a little more of ourselves, someone else will say, ‘Wow! You feel that way, too? I thought it was just me!'”
Russell worked with local artist and photographer Jamie Plain to create the book cover. Plain was also one of the first to read the manuscript.
“She gave me really helpful observations and the courage to share it with others,” Russell said. “When it came time to make it a tangible reality, I knew there was only one person I’d want to create the cover because she understood not just me, but also the souls of the characters in the book.”
As for the writing process, Russell said the dual-timeline structure was not always easy to maintain.
“There was definitely a point when I looked like a full-blown conspiracy theorist — I had an entire wall covered in Post-it notes trying to keep track of who knew what in which timeline,” Russell laughed. “It was magical chaos, honestly.”
As she prepares to share her story with the world, Russell hopes it resonates beyond the page.
“Stories matter,” she said. “The truths we carry — especially the ones we dare to say out loud — can light something in other people. That’s what I hope this book does.”
The book will be available in paperback and e-book formats via Amazon and other online retailers, as well as at select bookstores and at jacquelinejrussell.com for signed copies. An audiobook version is currently in production for January.
Russell hopes the book will inspire conversations that might not have happened otherwise. She’s always excited to discuss her work and the themes it explores, and welcomes invitations to book clubs and events at [email protected].
