Interview with Sarah Pekkanen: THE BEST OF US
“ The perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day.” Marie Claire Magazine
“Fans of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin will strongly appreciate this rising star in women’s fiction.” Library Journal
“A deeply enjoyable page-turner.” Publishers Weekly STARRED review.
Q: Do you have a writing process?
I wish I had some elegant, impressive story about my glamorous writing life, but the truth is, I have three young boys and I write on the fly. I’ve piled up pages in the orthodontist’s waiting room, in the carpool pick up line, at the movie Kung Fu Panda – anywhere and everywhere I can find a little pocket of time. But now that I’m on a book-a-year schedule, I find that getting in a few big chunks of writing time really helps me meet my deadlines. Luckily I speak at book festivals every couple months, so train or plane trips, combined with a night in a hotel room, allow me not only an uninterrupted night’s sleep, but the chance to wake up early, order a pot of coffee, and write for hours. It’s blissful!
Q: How has your background in journalism affected your writing? Did you get any of the ideas for your novels from stories you covered?
My journalism training definitely comes into play when I sit down to write a novel. I usually pick some topic I know nothing about, and I do a lot of reporting on it to weave realistic details into my books. For example, for my second novel – SKIPPING A BEAT – I decided to have my main character create a start-up beverage company. I interviewed the founder of Honest Tea twice in his office to learn about how someone could do that. For THE BEST OF US I interviewed weather experts for help in creating a fictional hurricane.
Q: You’ve also written e-stories. How does that process compare with writing longer books, and will you continue with short stories too?
Right now, I’m writing one novel every year and one short e-story every year, and I enjoy both processes (well, when I’m not wanting to toss my computer out the window). The challenge with my e-stories is that they are all linked, whereas my novels are stand alones, with a group of fresh characters coming in for each new book. My e-stories need to fit together, and enhance each other, yet also be a satisfying read if you end up buying just one. Eventually, I think the plan is to compile the e-stories and turn them into a book.
Q: Give us the cover copy for THE BEST OF US.
An all-expense paid week at a luxury villa in Jamaica—it’s the invitation of a lifetime for a group of old college friends. All four women are desperate not just for a reunion, but for an escape: Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie is shattered by the news that a genetic illness runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husband’s infidelity. And finally, there’s Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her wealthy husband an unforgettable thirty-fifth birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks already splitting apart their new marriage. Languid hours on a private beach, gourmet dinners, and late nights of drinking kick off an idyllic week for the women and their husbands. But as a powerful hurricane bears down on the island, turmoil swirls inside the villa, forcing each of the women to re-evaluate everything they know about their friends—and themselves.
Q: How do you feel social media has helped publishing and/or reading in general? What about for yourself?
Personally I adore it. I love going on Facebook and twitter and chatting with readers and bloggers and other authors. Since my job is very isolating, it’s a great way to stay connected to people, too. And in think in terms of the broader issue of publishing, social media has been a huge blessing. As we see newspapers and magazines fold and we lose those opportunities for traditional coverage and reviews, it’s amazing to be able to still get out the word about new books on social media. And bloggers have stepped in and become a force in promoting books and alerting readers to new authors, which is incredible.
Sarah Pekkanen is the internationally-bestselling author of four novels, including THE BEST OF US, which won a starred Publishers Weekly review and is the Marie Claire book pick for April. Hailed as a “rising star” by publications including Library Journal, her novels are often compared to those by Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin. Her books have won rave reviews from People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, O the Oprah magazine, Booklist, Cosmopolitan, Glamour magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She is an occasional book reviewer for The Washington Post and is the back-page columnist for Bethesda Magazine. Sarah lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her family.
