Some of your secondary characters, like the nun and the priest, add a lot of humor to your novel. How did you come up with the idea for these characters?
I grew up a protestant and all my cousins were Roman Catholic. I was entranced with the ritual, the pomp and circumstance of the faith. I used to dress up in bed sheets and pretend I was a nun. And let me tell you, I was a drama queen. It seemed like a great deal of fun to have an elderly priest and a young nun trying to keep the impetuous Penelope on the straight and narrow (Yeah, that would be a Kodak moment). So a little idea became Father Daniel and Sister Germaine.
Will this be a series? If so, when will the second one be published?
It began as a stand alone book and grew into a series. I didn't sign on for another book, but it is happening as we speak. I had to write it because Penelope was hounding me, not to mention the three emails from my editor.
Tell us about your writing habits while working on this novel? Did you write every day? Were you disciplined?
My writing habits were despicable! I don't want to talk about how I wrote this novel as it is embarrassing. But I will tell you because I think other authors feel awful about how they write. They feel guilty about their process. And they shouldn't feel guilty.
They read those interviews where the author says: "Oh, I'm disciplined. I write six days a week, five pages daily…" Or "I write every day for four hours." Or the big lie, "I'm at my desk for five hours every day, even if I can't think of anything to write. I just sit there." Well doesn't that one make you want to slit your wrists? Hey I've got a husband, children, grandchildren, a puppy and friends, two homes, not to mention the wash, ironing (yes I still iron) and bills to pay. I don't have time to punish myself if I'm experiencing writers block. I'm a woman with things to do. I write or I don't write. But what I don't do is gaze out the window (I'd just look at weeds that needed plucking or think about taking Sophie for a walk). But what I did do was write erratically. I'd write every day, all day for three weeks and then nothing for two. It's difficult to do everything I do and then run Armchair Interviews and write a book. I should be three women. What I need is a wife. Oh, did I say that as busy as I am, we're discussing another puppy? Crazy woman that I am. Yes, Sophie and I need a companion and we're thinking about a certain Yorkie. A little boy that needs us. My husband Bob has veto power and we're waiting to see what he thinks. But I digress. See how it goes? Its tough to have a writing schedule when you've developed adult onset ADD.
Article comments