I
don't know about you, but I've always
wondered what it would be like growing up in
the White House. Think about it. You'd
have your own Secret Service agent, not to mention
a personal chef, doctor, and maybe even a stylist.
Now that's something I could definitely
get used to! And how about all of the people
you would meet? From heads of state to
movie stars, the possibilities would be endless.
This
month's Jen's
Jewels has done all that and then some.  Kristin
Gore, daughter of former Vice President Al Gore just in case you haven't
made the connection, is no stranger to the publishing world. Her diversified
credentials are truly remarkable. Her latest release, Sammy's
House,
is a delightful continuation of her smash hit Sammy's
Hill, which
is being made into a movie by Columbia Pictures. Don't worry! If
you haven't read her first book, you still can follow along. (I'm
speaking from personal experience here!) Her lead character, Sammy, is
such a dynamic young woman that I know you, too, will be taken in by her charm
and quirky wit.
As part of
this interview, Hyperion Books has graciously donated five books
for my monthly contest, of which I am very grateful! So, why don't
you go grab something cool and refreshing to drink and get to know the talented
writer, Kristin Gore?
Jen: From what I have read, your love
of writing goes all the way back to your college
days. Please tell us a little bit about your
educational and professional background and
how your love of writing evolved.
Kristin: I wanted to be a writer from a very
young age, basically from the moment I realized
that actual people had written the stories that
my parents read to me. Throughout elementary
and high school, I kept journals and wrote constantly,
but it wasn't until college that I got
into comedy writing. My work on the Harvard
Lampoon led to jobs writing television comedy
after college, for Futurama and Saturday
Night Live,among other shows. Though I enjoyed
the energy and creative collaboration of TV writing,
I was eager to create my own characters and story
lines, and to explore narratives in a more in-depth
way. Since my dream had always been to
write books, I took a break from television in
2003 to write my first novel, Sammy's
Hill.
Jen: When asked
to describe your latest release, I have said
that it's a cross
between the movie Legally Blonde and
the television show The West Wing. Would
you agree with this statement? I don't
think you can categorize it at as chick-lit,
although it does have some elements in it that
would appeal to that genre. How would
you best describe it?
Kristin: That's an interesting description.
I've actually never watched an episode
of The West Wing, perhaps because it
felt too close to home. I describe this
novel as a political satire featuring a young
woman navigating personal and professional adventures
in a high-stakes world full of crazy curve balls. It's
Sammy's story, but it's also the
story of a love affair with politics gone wrong. And
it's a comedy.
Jen: As writers,
we choose to write about what we know best
and of course, you have witnessed first-hand
what truly goes on the White House albeit as
the vice-president's
daughter. What was the reaction from
your family, especially your parents, when
you told them you were putting to print a story
loosely based on your experiences? Did
they have any advice?
Kristin: Both my parents read early drafts of Sammy's
House and luckily loved it. They were extremely
enthusiastic fans of Sammy's Hill,
but they told me that they think this book is
even better, which is very nice to hear both
as a novelist and as a daughter.
Jen: From conception to completion,
about how long did it take for you to write
the novel and if you had to choose, what is
your favorite scene from the book and why?
Kristin: From conception to completion, this
novel took about a year and a half. It's
difficult for me to pick a favorite scene, but
there are certain characters that I really enjoyed
writing. One of these - Alfred Jackman
- is first introduced in Sammy's Hill as
an 83-year-old constituent Sammy hand-picks to
testify about traveling to Canada to get more
affordable prescription drugs, unaware that along
with the Lipitor and Nexium Alfred picks up across
the border, he also routinely scores a fair amount
of Grade-A Canadian weed. So he shows up
for his Senate testimony completely, irreversibly,
loopily stoned, and Sammy has to deal with the
situation. Alfred Jackman was so much
fun to write that I brought him back for a cameo
in Sammy's House, where he causes
a bit more trouble and helps foreshadow a far
more shocking scandal coming down the pike.
Jen: Your first novel, Sammy's
Hill, is being made into a movie and
I have read that you are also writing the
screenplay. Congratulations! I
can't wait to see it up on the big
screen. What has been the biggest challenge
in converting the book into a script? Is
it a tedious process or have you found it
to be another creative outlet that you are
enjoying pursuing? Would you ever consider
screenwriting as a career?
Kristin: I've really been enjoying the
creative challenge of trying to tell the story
cinematically, which is a completely different
process. The hardest part was letting
go of things I love about the book that just
can't fit in the tighter structure of a
visual medium. Once I got past the pain
of that, I found it liberating to approach the
adaptation as a completely different project – to
embrace it as an entirely different incarnation
of Sammy's adventures. This adaptation
has led to other screenwriting opportunities
that I'm enjoying tackling, though I still
prefer novel-writing overall.
Jen: When it comes to your writing,
whose opinion do you value most and why?
Kristin: I have a small posse I really rely on
made up of my husband, my parents, and my editor. They're
my go-to first readers and I'm continually
grateful for their candor and encouragement. Neither
my husband nor my father minces words, which
I very much appreciate. Responding to
their reactions always makes my work better.
Jen: I have to admit that I am a little
biased towards your hometown of Nashville.
(I'm a Vanderbilt University graduate!) Growing
up, did you spend a lot of time there or did
you mostly reside in Washington, D.C.? What
do you like most about Nashville? Washington,
D.C.?
Kristin: It's always a pleasure to meet
a fellow Nashville lover! It's a
fantastic town. Growing up, I spent about
four months of the year on a farm fifty miles
east of Nashville, and the rest of the time in
Virginia and D.C. Tennessee has always
been the place I've felt the most peaceful
and creative, so crucial parts of both novels
and the screenplay were written there. As
for D.C., it's already provided the setting
for two novels I never knew I'd write until
they came tumbling out. It's a vital
town filled with a lot of energy, drama, and
comedy, and I've thoroughly enjoyed writing
about it.
Jen: In Sammy's House,
your lead character, Sammy, is such a lovable
character who is self-confident (most of the
time) and a real go-getter. Is she modeled
after yourself?
Kristin: Sammy is not me, though I do like her
a lot. I wanted her character to reflect
and celebrate a type of person I came across
time and time again growing up: an idealistic,
smart, passionate person devoted to a cause larger
than herself and determined to change the world,
who might also be a little bit of a mess in other
areas of her life. I'm thrilled you
find her lovable – I loved her so much
I didn't want to stop writing her. Hence,
the second book of her adventures!
Jen: Your leading man, Charlie, is an
extremely witty character. Why
do you think Sammy and him are such a good
match?
Kristin: At their cores, they're both optimists. They
understand that they're operating in an
imperfect world full of unfairness and disappointment,
but they refuse to give in to cynicism. They're
both intelligent, caring, sensitive people who
look for humor in practically every situation.
Jen: What has surprised you the most
about the publishing business and why?
Kristin: That no one can really explain how or
why certain books succeed more than others. Even
the professionals who've been in the industry
for decades seem perpetually mystified. I
suppose that makes it exciting. And very
mysterious.
Jen: As far as your craft is concerned,
how have you grown as a writer comparing your
work from your college years to today? And
what advice would you give to someone contemplating
a career as a writer?
Kristin: During my college years, my creative
writing was largely restricted to short comedy
sketches, but my recent novelistic endeavors
have liberated me to explore the world beyond
one-liners, with happy results. Quitting
my paying TV job to attempt my first novel was
incredibly scary, but I'm so happy I took
the plunge. I feel like a much better storyteller
now. For anyone contemplating a career
as a writer, I would urge a thorough exploration
of all different genres of writing, because you
never know how naturally something might come
to you until you try.
Jen: Will there be a sequel and if so,
what can you tell us about it?
Kristin: I'm writing a new novel that isn't
about Sammy or politics or D.C. I'm
happy with where I left Sammy at the end of Sammy's
House, and consequently I've been
really loving immersing myself in a fresh fictional
world.
Jen: Do you have a website? Blog? Mailing
list? E-mail notification of new releases?
Do you participate in author phone chats and
if so, how would my readers go about arranging
one?
Kristin: I don't have any of those things except
for My Page on HyperionBooks.com. I've
never participated in an author phone chat, but that sounds fun. If anyone
wanted to arrange one, the best person to contact is Allison McGeehon at Hyperion:
allison.mcgeehon@abc.com
Jen: Kristin, it has been such a pleasure
interviewing you. I've backtracked
and started reading Sammy's Hill so
that I can get caught up on all of Sammy's
adventures and it's absolutely hilarious. Best
of luck with the book and I look forward to
seeing the movie. Congratulations!
Kristin: Thanks so much! I've really
enjoyed this.
I hope you have enjoyed the sneak peek inside
Kristin's world and perhaps have learned
a thing or two about the publishing business,
but more importantly, why not pick up a copy
of Sammy's House for
your trip to the beach? This book would
be the perfect companion for a lazy day in the
surf!
Okay….the first five readers to answer
the following question correctly and e-mail me
at jensjewels@gmail.com will
win a copy of Kristin's latest release. Good
luck!!
How would you go about arranging an
author phone chat with Kristin?
Later this month, I will be bringing to you
an interview with Maeve Binchy, one of my all
time favorite authors. You won't
want to miss it!
Until next time…..Jen |
Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels