Larry A
asked
Joe Siple:
Hi Joe, Online with my book club here in Chicago on The Five Wishes... We all liked the book, but felt the ending was a little too contrived. Characters were great - plus I'm a big Cubs fan! What made you decide to change careers from sports journalism to writing a novel? Larry
Joe Siple
Hi Larry,
Thanks so much for getting in touch! And I'm glad your book club enjoyed "Five Wishes." I've definitely found that if people don't like the book, it's usually because of the ending. Whether it's "contrived" or "manipulates the reader's emotions" or some other version of that, some people just don't like it. If I had known how to write an ending that everyone loved, I would have done that! But personally, I like it. And that's okay! Everyone has different tastes!
As for switching from journalism to fiction...I wasn't ever a "real journalist." I was a sports reporter/anchor for an NBC affiliate in Minnesota. When my first daughter was born I started staying home with her and writing fiction. I've never really known why I started writing fiction, it's just something I enjoyed and had time for when my daughter was napping. And it has turned out pretty well!
Thanks again for getting in touch. All the best,
Joe
Thanks so much for getting in touch! And I'm glad your book club enjoyed "Five Wishes." I've definitely found that if people don't like the book, it's usually because of the ending. Whether it's "contrived" or "manipulates the reader's emotions" or some other version of that, some people just don't like it. If I had known how to write an ending that everyone loved, I would have done that! But personally, I like it. And that's okay! Everyone has different tastes!
As for switching from journalism to fiction...I wasn't ever a "real journalist." I was a sports reporter/anchor for an NBC affiliate in Minnesota. When my first daughter was born I started staying home with her and writing fiction. I've never really known why I started writing fiction, it's just something I enjoyed and had time for when my daughter was napping. And it has turned out pretty well!
Thanks again for getting in touch. All the best,
Joe
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