Hope Interrupted: America Lost & Found in Letters

by Byron McCauley, Jennifer Mooney

A spotlight literally shone on Jennifer Mooney, a respected communications executive admired by seasoned and aspiring marketers, as she delivered a keynote address at a local university ballroom. She glowed like a celebrity behind a podium. I did not know her that well, but I had the nerve to ask her if she would share her presentation with me, said Byron, one of 500 people in attendance. She said she was not sure, but she said it in a very kind way. I liked her immediately. Later a clean version of her Power Point showed up in my inbox. Byron was a well known columnist for the local paper and Jennifer liked his work. One day, they met for coffee, and a deep, lasting friendship was born. Hope, Interrupted is a cautionary tale of hope and fear. It is a story of optimism and existential dread. It is a story of choosing to live fully in a country enduring unprecedented challenges. Byron is a Black man who was born and raised in the South. Jennifer is a Jewish woman who grew up in the North. They are friends who wrote to each other daily during six months of the COVID pandemic, in the midst of a failing economy, heightened social justice challenges, and political unrest. They are average Americans, born two years apart who, through their candid letters, jointly experience family, working life, marriage, ageing, and more all while pondering the future of a fractured nation. Written from the Midwest, Mountain West, and South, they explore the mood that traverses our country. Byron, an award winning columnist and business executive and Jennifer, an award winning communications executive with scholarship in psychology, lean into hope and ask if there is or ever truly was an American Dream.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Jane Corso · Rating 5 out of 5]

The impact of the 2020 pandemic will be felt long after this period in history has passed. The long-term residual effects are still unknown. We feared an undefined disease, political uncertainty, and racial unrest. “Hope, Interrupted” explored what most of us felt. Reader’s will relate to the authors’ experiences told with warmth and humor. The way in which the authors coped with these issues through this uncharted territory is fascinating…you rooted for them as they struggle with family relationships, health issues, reconciling the past and integrating their hope for the future. A reader can relate to these same feelings through the authors’ candid letters where they share the same fears, question the future and reassure each other for their common hope for future generations. They explore each other’s pasts, goals and dreams as they go through the day-to-day uncertainty of where they are and where they are going in this uncertain world. Although they come from different races, religions and upbringing, they find a common bond by supporting each other’s hope for the future. I want to read more by McCauley and Mooney. I found myself relating with the authors’ experiences and yearning for a sequel.

[Jennifer Mooney]

This is the book that I have co-authored with Journalist Byron McCauley. We are pleased to have great early reviews as well as brisk sales. Our book is available as a real book or e-book. please check us out on Amazon.

[Suzie Q · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes, Jennifer, you most definitely ARE that annoying white woman. You owned 3 houses and still weren't happy? Boo hoo.
This is a first for me. A book I started that I am completely fine with not finishing. I read 15% and that was more than enough. Besides, I feel like I've already read this same tired story by way of having a facebook account last year. Over and over and over again. Clearly I didn't realize what this book was about when I marked it as wanting to read. The title is very misleading.