Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have
been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny
leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s
estate.
Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the
ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family.
One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens, her
childhood best friend, the keeper of her darkest secrets, and the boy who shattered her heart.
As Penny struggles with sorting through her grandmother’s house and her own memories, a
colorful group of friends drifts back into her life, reminding her of the unique warmth, fellowship,
and romance that only the Bluegrass state can provide. Now that fate has forced Penny back,
she must either let go of the scars of her past or risk losing a second chance at love.

Q & A with the Author

On writing:
How did you do research for your book?
Where the Grass Grows Blue is set in Kentucky, where I was born and raised, so I was
comfortable with most topics—food, dialogue, and setting. But I did write in flashbacks and had
to study pop culture during those decades so as to not get the year wrong. I also had to do some
serious research into genetic diseases, as they are a plot point for my protagonist.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The hardest to write by far was the main character, Penny. She is a complicated and sometimes
frustrating character by design.
The easiest was Bradley, her love interest. I might have developed a literary crush on him while
writing.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I want to bring the charm of the South to a wider community of readers. It’s my goal to immerse
them in the culture, food, and characters, so I look around my surroundings or dig back to my
upbringing to find inspiration.
What advice would you give budding writers?
In the words of Nike, “Just do it!” You’ll never know unless you try. Of course, there are going
to be bumps, sometimes mountains, along the way, but if you believe in yourself, your voice, and
find the right support system, you can make it happen too.
Your book is set in Kentucky. Have you ever been there?
I was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. I still consider it home, though I’ve been gone for
decades.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
Penny’s best friend, Dakota. She is a truth-teller and doesn’t worry about what anyone thinks of
her. She’s also fiercely loyal.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I was a stay-at-home mother of five for twenty-five years. A few years ago, I started re-
evaluating my life. At that point, it hit me. My children would soon be leaving for college. So I
started “journaling” on a laptop. That lasted about a week before I noticed I wasn’t writing
about my feelings or goals—I was creating a character. Now that my children are grown, I’m
writing full-time. But that’s only one part of my “writing life.” I’m also a tour guide for Bookish
Road Trip, an upbeat community of book lovers, authors, and bibliophiles. You can find them on
Facebook, Instagram, and on their website. I’m in charge of the Author Take the Wheel program.
How long have you been writing?
I started about five years ago. It’s been a wonderful creative outlet.

Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Of course. Music has been a huge part of my creative process. It really inspires me and allows
my mind to go places, creating new worlds. Also, running and exercise helps. Some of my best
ideas happen when I work out.
What is your next project?
I’m almost finished with my second book, Ashes to Ashes. It’s an upmarket fiction book, set in
the South, of course, that focuses on a tight-knit group of women whose world is rocked after the
unexpected death of their dear friend, Ellen, under mysterious circumstances. But before they
can even process their grief, they stumble across a web of secrets and lies, unraveling Ellen’s
perfect life—the one she tried so hard to project to the outside world. Now they must rely on
each other to find out who the real Ellen Foster was while grappling with the idea that they never
really knew her at all.
What genre do you write in?
Women’s fiction and contemporary romance. But my third book will be historical fiction
because it’s set in the early 1970s. I don’t want to be boxed into one genre.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster. I can’t tell you how much I loved that book.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“The author’s writing was like paint on a canvas, creating a vibrant picture of life in Kentucky,
so much so that I was easily transported there.” Reader Views review.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
This is fun! Because it has dual timelines (flashbacks to the 70s and 80s and a “current” timeline
set in 2009), I would have to cast young and older actors.
For the adult Penny, Elizabeth Olsen would be the perfect choice and for the younger version,
circa 1985–89, it would absolutely be Sadie Sink. The adult Bradley? It’s Henry Cavill all the
way with Tanner Buchanan taking the younger role.
As for Ruby Ray, Penny’s beloved grandmother, she would be played by Laura Dern (in the
1970s flashback) and Diane Ladd as the older Ruby Ray. They are two of my favorite actresses
of all time and they are mother and daughter.
And finally, Dakota, Penny’s best friend with a salty tongue, would be played by Rashida Jones
while Margo Martindale would make a fine Miss Paulette, Camden, Kentucky’s premier town
gossip.
Maybe I should be a casting agent!
If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
It’s funny you should ask. I literally made a playlist for this book as I was writing it. Whenever I
was in the car or exercising, I listened to it over and over again.

About author

Giveaway

We are doing a tour–wide giveaway of a signed book, hydrangea notebook, hydrangea bag tags, packets of Kettle Corn, and bookmarks. Hope has two sets to give away, US only.

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Praise for the book

Praise:
“In Where the Grass Grows Blue, Hope Gibbs examines Penny Crenshaw’s journey to pick up
the pieces and begin again after divorce. But this mother of three sons soon learns that if she
wants to move forward, she’ll have to first go back to the start. Readers will enjoy this fast-
paced southern story about second-chances, lifelong friendships, and the healing power of
forgiveness.”
– Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
“Where The Grass Grows Blue hit me in all the right places. Young lovers separated by a
misunderstanding reunite twenty years later, only to discover that although their love never
faded, their choices are insurmountable. Or are they?
Gibbs skillfully weaves the dark side of life with the beauty of a love that has only grown
stronger over time. Keep an eye on this author – she is one to watch!”
– Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye
“Hope Gibbs’ debut, Where the Grass Grows Blue, is worthy of taking its place among true
Southern fiction novels where the banter is witty and the women are true steel magnolias.
It’s a delightful, engaging story about following your heart.”
– Grace Sammon, Award-Winning Author of The Eves, and host of The Storytellers
“Where the Grass Grows Blue is the most authentic and endearing book I’ve read in ages.
Penny’s difficult and heartbreaking rural background in Kentucky (the Bluegrass state) and her
high society life in Atlanta could not be more different. But when she can’t hide from her past
anymore, her life comes full circle.
I think Penny is my new fictional best friend. There were times I wanted to read quickly to see
how everything unfolds, but this story is to be savored. Don’t rush this Southern gem.”
– Cindy Dorminy, author of The Foster Wife and In a Jam
“Hope Gibbs drops the reader into a colorful, southern, small-town setting where Penny
Crenshaw—a divorced mother with a tumultuous childhood—is desperate to outrun her past.
Where The Grass Grows Blue is one woman’s story of perseverance despite her painful past. A
story of small-town living and second chances, romance and resilience, friendship and
forgiveness. One you’ll think of long after you turn the last page.”
– Jill Hannah Anderson, Author of A Life Unraveled, The To-Hell-And-Back Club, and
Crazy Little Town Called Love
“Where The Grass Grows Blue is an evocative story-with a southern flair-about going back to
the place that brought so much pain for a second chance at love and redefining oneself.
This is one you’ll fall in love with.”
– Donna Norman-Carbone, Author of All That Is Sacred