Novel Set in Palisades Confronts Dark Issues

By DAYNA DRUM | Reporter

You don’t always know what’s going on behind closed doors of the house down the street. Keeping up appearances is just one of the major themes that former Palisadian Lori Windsor Mohr covers in her new novel “The Road at My Door.”

Set in the Cold War era, a fictional Palisadian family battles divorce, adultery, depression and rape, all while keeping up the appearance of the perfect neighbor.

Mohr grew up in Pacific Palisades in the ’60s and remembers it being a safe small town of people seemingly living the American Dream.

“It was such a protected little enclave,” Mohr told the Palisadian-Post.

But there were things that were kept behind the façade of the white-picket lifestyle, like Mohr’s own battle with depression. This is where the idea for the Cavanaugh family story originated. Mohr explained this particular era in history was a time of cultural and political upheaval.

“I thought it was a great analogy for what was going on in this fictional family,” she said.

The journey of the Cavanaugh family is a look at how individuals become who they are despite, or as a result of, the external forces around them. The dark plot explores the consequences of sexual repression and the toxicity of keeping secrets, Mohr said.

The author wanted to produce a story that everyone can relate to in some way. Looking at what the modern teenager encounters with the pressure of social media and the prevalence of cyber-bullying, Mohr created the book’s central character Reese.

“I wanted to create a character that I could imbue with emotion,” she said.

Mohr was inspired to write the book 15 years ago, but she still had a lot to learn about writing well, she said, so she wrote countless drafts until it clicked. It took three years to write the book once she was at the skill level she wanted.

“I had a wonderful experience writing it,” Mohr said.

The novel, published by Alfie Dog Fiction in the United Kingdom, is being released on Thursday, Nov. 19.

So far, “The Road at My Door” has received praise from Nancie Clare, former Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and fellow authors.

Mohr’s work didn’t stop with just finishing the writing process, she is currently promoting the book while taking notes for her next novel.

The former Palisadian now lives in Ojai with her husband and three dogs.