Jennifer Egan
For me, an idea is really just the notion of a time and place I want to inhabit. I got interested in WWII New York around 2004. I think it was a response to 9/11, which turned NY into a war zone overnight and ultimately led me to wonder what it felt like to live in wartime New York. Gradually, over some years, that question led me into the various worlds encompassed in MANHATTAN BEACH: the NY waterfront, shipbuilding, deep sea diving, organized crime, and merchant sailing.
More Answered Questions
Angela
asked
Jennifer Egan:
Hi Jennifer, looking forward to reading Manhattan Beach! I'm a debut writer currently dividing my MS into 2 - 3 novels. I'm re-writing in the Romantic Suspense genre. The feedback I received from a professional editor was that she couldn't connect with the main character. How do you develop your characters to make them resonate with readers? Thanks so much! Angela
Sycobabel
asked
Jennifer Egan:
I read years ago that Peter Weir was planning on directing The Keep. He's such incredible filmmaker, but I must say I was surprised and curious how he would adapt your book cinematically. Were you also curious and/or excited by the possibility of seeing your book turned into a film? In general are you a visual thinker? How do you capture ideas when writing over long periods of time?
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