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 author snapshot: lynn harris 1. What inspired you to write chick lit?
Answer: Well, I didn't set out to write chick lit per se. I had an idea for a modern, funny story with a female protagonist. That came first. And to the degree that that equals chick lit, great. Frankly, that's the kind of story that comes most naturally to me -- not autobiographical, but certainly based on territory I've trod in one way or another.
2. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
Answer: Not writing! Ha, ha. I enjoy: taking care of the garden on my roof -- which I am lucky to have in New York City (my protagonist has one in her front yard, which she is even luckier to have in New York City). I'm a big cook, too (so is my protagonist's husband, lucky her), but I have less time for that now that I have a wee daughter. Of course, spending time with her -- including watching her get excited about books, even at nine months, though she often just eats them -- is best of all.
3. Out of all of the books you have written, which was the most fun to write and why?
Answer: Oh gosh, hard to say. Probably Death By Chick Lit: since it's the second Lola Somerville book, I really loved feeling her hit her stride. The first one, Miss Media, was probably the most fun to re-write -- you know, the part where you go back and add jokes, refine character, and snicker to yourself while you plant more clues to the mystery. I also loved writing He Loved Me, He Loves Me Not and Breakup Girl to the Rescue (both non-fiction) because of the collaborative process with the people I worked with to create the superhero character Breakup Girl (see www.breakupgirl.net).
4. Are there any naughty episodes in your novels that mirror real life?
Answer: The part in Miss Media where Lola decides not to sleep with the love interest ... but then changes her mind in the morning (and then wonders if he'll respect her in the evening). That totally happened to a friend of mine.
5. What is your favorite time of the day: morning, afternoon, or night? Answer: Morning! You don't even want to know what time it is right now. I love the quiet, the pink of the sky, the promise of a whole day ahead, the coffee.
6. If you could cast yourself as a character in one of your novels, who would it be?
Answer: Uh ... Lola. She's not exactly me, truly -- her hair, cough cough, is naturally red -- but she is the embodiment of some experiences and emotions that I've had and wanted to explore and see writ large. Might also be fun for me to play against type, as they say, and cast myself as her best friend Annabel, the good-hearted wild girl who challenges Lola to stay out of the Smug Married zone. Really, though, in my mind, I've already cast Zooey Deschanel. In case her agent's reading this.
7. What did you do to celebrate the publishing of your first novel?
Answer: Well, Miss Media actually came out on my wedding day in 2003. So ... I had a really big catered party? For Death By Chick Lit, we had a party and a reading at a bookstore/cafe/bar in the East Village. Featured drink: the Lolapolitan!
8. Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Answer: I just want to say thank you to anyone who's enjoyed the book(s) -- and to everyone who's buying (or visiting the library for) books! There's been so much fuss about whether chick lit is "good for women," you know, which is just crazy to me. As if (a) stories about women and their friendships and relationships and goals aren't worthy, even when breezy and fun, (b) anyone should complain about people READING and ENJOYING BOOKS, ever. So the anti-chick lit curmudgeons out there might not appreciate all the devoted readers out there, but believe me, we authors do. Lynn's website: http://www.lynnharris.net/ Lynn's novels: Death By Chick Lit He Loved Me, He Loves Me Not |
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