Shared love of JAWS is at heart of new romantic novel

A new book, The Opposite Side of Lonely, which features the film JAWS as the favorite film and ‘comfort movie’ (sound familiar?) of its main character has been published.

The shared love of the Steven Spielberg film even serves as the basis of the start of a blossoming relationship,

The Daily Jaws (TDJ) caught up with its author, Pamela J Hatch (PJH), and Ross Williams gives his own review of the book - video below.

TDJ: Tell us about your love for JAWS

PJH: I cannot remember the first time that I saw JAWS. I do remember when the banks started asking security questions. I chose the question – “What is your favorite movie?” And my answer was immediately “JAWS”. My love for JAWS was renewed and intensified while writing THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF LONELY. I would have JAWS playing in the background – I would find myself not writing and watching JAWS even though I had seen it many times before. JAWS is one of the greatest movies of all time. So I was creating the character of Kelly – she needed a favorite movie – so mine became hers. And as the character developed, and her love for JAWS was evident, my love for JAWS deepened to match hers.

TDJ: Tell us about your book

PJH: What does a young lady with no family have that a large family with everything needs? Kelly is 28 years old – aged out of the foster care system – she has no family or friends. She has built for herself a safe world that is very predictable and without consequences. She finds comfort in routine. Kelly eats the same thing mostly pepperoni pizza – does the same things mostly go to work and come home – watches the same movie JAWS.

Kelly joins an online dating site late one night when her loneliness becomes overwhelming. There she meets Angus – who is part of a very large family – who is ever patient with Kelly her unusual behaviors and circumstances. Angus’s love for movies, especially JAWS, provides a foundation for which a relationship can be built.

TDJ: What inspired you to write the story?

PJH: This started as a story about a multi-generational family that decides to live together so they can support each other. But this large family was missing something – and that something developed into the character of Kelly.

TDJ: Where does JAWS fit into the story?

JAWS serves as a common foundation for Kelly and Angus to build a relationship on. The movies become their “secret language.” It also sets the stage for Kelly’s interaction with the Huddle Clan – especially Bloom, one of the youngest, who is fascinated by Kelly and loves the “duuuun duuuun” that always happens when Bloom imitates Bruce the shark. The theme of JAWS continues throughout all three titles of THE SAGA OF MAMA’S FAMILY. It takes the comfort of favorite movie and turns it into a spectacular life experience – making friends and finding family.

TDJ: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

PJH: We all experience loneliness in our own way – but connections can be made in many ways – maybe even something as simple as a shared favorite movie – like JAWS.

Review and interview by Ross Williams

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