Interview with Susan Mallery
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live. Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the Ragdoll cat and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom. Visit her website at www.susanmallery.com.
The Gloss Book Club: What can you tell our members about your novel, The Summer Book Club?
Susan Mallery: The Summer Book Club is a feel-good, feel-everything funny story about three women who become the closest of friends through a shared love of books. This summer, Laurel, Paris and Cassie have decided to just say no to heavy, depressing reads. Instead, they’ll turn to books with a guaranteed happy ending—romances. What they don’t realize is that the strong, feisty heroines in the books they’re reading will inspire them to take some big chances in their own lives and to reach for their own happily ever afters.
The Summer Book Club is humorous and heartbreaking and romantic and uplifting. My goal is that it will be the ultimate self-care for readers, because it will whisk you out of your everyday to take you on an emotional journey that will leave you feeling better about the world.
TGBC: Where did the inspiration for The Summer Book Club come from?
SM: This is one of those rare books where the title came to me first, and then the story developed from that. After the success of The Boardwalk Bookshop, my editor encouraged me to think of another book-centric story idea, and the title The Summer Book Club popped into my head. I was excited, she was excited, and before I knew it, I had committed to writing a book for which I had no story. Eek.
But then Laurel stumbled into my mind—a single mom of two preteens, whose ex not only divorced her but also emptied their bank accounts on his way out the door. She’s understandably down on men. Then her daughter’s teacher tells her that her little girl has been bad-mouthing men, and Laurel realizes that she may be poisoning her children’s perspective of, oh, half the world’s population. Not exactly Mother of the Year. Determined to do better, Laurel decides she needs a man friend. Just a friend. But a six-foot-tall complication will mess with her plans in a very, ahem, satisfying way.
TGBC: When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?
SM: I know them pretty well before I start writing, but they still manage to surprise me along the way. I do a lot of character work before I start plotting a story, because how the characters feel at any moment determines what they do and how they react. For their actions to feel genuine, they have to spring naturally from who they are, and not be imposed on them by me.
TGBC: Do you relate most to Laurel, Paris or Cassie? And why?
SM: I relate the most to Laurel because we have similar reactions to life. We’re both total nurturers and sometimes get a little panicky when we worry that we’re failing the people we love, even when they think no such thing. Plus she shops for a living (she’s a thrifter), which sounds amazing but is probably tedious in real life.
TGBC:The themes in this book relate to vulnerability, self-realization and taking risks. How are these themes important to you?
SM: I am living my dream because when I was fresh out of college, too poor to afford meat on a regular basis, I took a huge risk. I turned down a job offer with benefits because I wanted to be a writer. The whole idea of that felt fictional—fantastical, really—but I wanted it to my very core. So I bet on myself in a big way. If I had gone the safe route, my life wouldn’t be nearly as fulfilling as it is.
My characters have to make themselves vulnerable, to show their pain and sadness and fear, because that’s how readers connect with them on the soul level. And then they—in this case, Laurel, Paris, and Cassie—have to take big risks as they reach for their dreams. They have to earn their happy ending.
TGBC: What is one message you hope readers will take away from this book?
SM: I’m more concerned about readers taking away a feeling than a message, and that feeling is happiness, the sense that good things happen to good people and all is right in the world.
TGBC: Critics have named you “The new Queen of Romantic Fiction”. What appeals to you most about writing romance novels?
SM: Every couple’s love story is unique—in real life and in fiction—and I am endlessly entertained by the great cosmic joke of such different creatures pairing up. I still feel fluttery at the first kiss. And oh, that moment when it seems like there’s no way it will work out? My heart breaks and then gets put back together when the couple admit what we know, that they’re in love.
I love creating strong, independent, smart, funny, often snarky women who stand up for themselves against bull-headed men. Women I’d enjoy as friends. And I love creating men with a strong core of honor and goodness, so readers can feel confident that he will spend his life caring for the woman he loves and the family they make together.
TGBC: What aspects of your creative process do you enjoy most? Which are most challenging?
SM: I love the writing. I know that seems self-evident, but it’s really not. A lot of writers love having written, but they describe the writing itself as torture. But that’s my favorite part. Knocking out that first draft, letting the story carry me away. When it’s going well, it’s so FUN.
My least favorite part is revisions. I dream of the day that my editor will say, “You’re missing a comma on page 192, but otherwise it’s perfect.”
TGBC: What would you say is your biggest strength as a writer?
SM: Characterization. The compliment I get most often from readers is that the characters feel very real to them, as though they live beyond the page.
TGBC: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
SM: The best writing advice was “However much you’re writing on a daily basis, add 10%.” That comment made me focus on productivity right when I was feeling that I was getting a handle on the dynamics of putting a story together. I discovered writing at a steady pace while pushing myself just a little suited my personality. That kind of intensity keeps me engaged through the book. Advice that changed my life.