 Sibling
rivalry is a touchy subject. We all would like
to believe that it’s a moot point once we
reach adulthood, but… it’s not. It’s
just the same old story, but with a whole different
set of issues. In a nutshell, with age comes the
knowledge of learning how to channel our feelings
of jealousy and sometimes resentment in what we
hope is a much more productive way. Sometimes
we tend to forget how supportive our siblings
have been in helping us become the person we are
today. The old adage is true…blood is thicker
than water. If only it were that simple, right?
This month’s Jen’s Jewels,
Ellen Meister, touches upon this very subject
in her latest release, THE SMART ONE.
It’s the hilarious story of three sisters
who get caught up in one big mess with only each
other to rely on. From start to finish, Ellen
plays up the importance of family loyalties, trust,
and above all the true meaning of love. It’s
a feel-good book that makes you want to go hug
your brother or sister and tell them how much
you love them!
As part of this interview, Avon, an imprint of
HarperCollins Publishers, has generously donated
five copies of THE SMART ONE
for you, my readers, to win. So don’t forget
to look for the trivia question at the end of
the column. Good luck!
Go ahead and grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte
(my favorite autumnal drink) and get to know this
month’s shining gem…Ellen Meister.
Jen: Please tell us a little bit about
your educational and professional background that
led to you becoming a writer of contemporary romance
novels. And, what attracted you most to this particular
genre?
Ellen: First off, I love contemporary romance
novels, but I think the broader label (no pun
intended!) of contemporary women's fiction is
a better fit for my books. My first novel, SECRET
CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA, is often referred
to as mom lit, and my new book, THE SMART ONE,
is considered a sister story, albeit with romantic
and mystery elements.
 As
far as my background, I was an English major in
college and always dreamed of being a novelist
one day. But upon graduation, I went the pragmatic
route and had a career as an advertising and sales
promotion copywriter. It wasn't until after my
three children were born that I decided to stop
procrastinating and pursue my lifelong dream.
I never felt like I chose a genre, but like the
genre chose me. Always fascinated by the inner
lives of "ordinary" women, I was compelled
to explore the pain, passion, joy and heartache
buried beneath the surface.
Jen: From conception to completion, approximately
how long does it take for you to complete your
standard length novel? What is the most challenging
part of a book to write? And, which is the most
fun?
Ellen: My first book took me two years to write,
but I'm at the point now where I can finish a
novel in a year if I really set firm goals.
For me, the most challenging part is when I decide
to make a change that requires unraveling much
of what I've written. It can be so intimidating!
I have to admit that I love writing dialogue.
There's rhythm and cadence to those passages—I
can hear it as I write—and to me it's like
music.
Jen: There is nothing quite like that
feeling of accomplishment when an author sees
her work on the bookstore shelves for the first
time. Your debut novel, Secret Confessions of
the Applewood PTA, was very well-received. Now
comes your next hurdle…writing book #2!
How did you arrive at the premise for The Smart
One?
Ellen: Thank you, Jen! You're right about that
sense of accomplishment. I wept the first time
I walked into a store and saw my book.
THE SMART ONE started out as the idea to take
a close look at the relationship between sisters,
and explore the ways in which we continue to define—and
limit—ourselves by our childhood labels.
The more I thought about the idea, the more I
knew I had the beginnings of a novel I would want
to read. And when I sat down and wrote an experimental
chapter and my protagonist's voice emerged, I
knew I had the beginning of a novel I wanted to
write!
Jen: The three main characters (who are
sisters, may I add) in The Smart One have very
distinct voices that parlay their inner struggles
to the reader quite brilliantly. Of the three…Clare,
Bev, and Joey, who can you best relate to and
why?
Ellen: Thanks so much. While none of the sisters
is truly based on me, I found emotional common
ground with all three. In fact, I think that's
imperative for a novelist. You have to find something
to relate to in each of your characters, even
your antagonist.
Jen: Bev seems to be your typical middle
child. Not surprisingly, she has been pushed to
the side more times than not by her beautiful
older sister, Clare, and also by her needy, yet
flashy younger sister, Joey. I think without her
realizing it, she is the gel that holds her family
together. What are her greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
Why has she had such poor choice in men?
Ellen: Bev probably thinks her intelligence is
her greatest strength, but I think it's her heart.
She has a profound capacity for love, which is
why she wants so much to help people better themselves.
Her weakness is her fear of failure, and her insistence
on thinking it comes from her family rather than
herself. This ties right into her bad career choices
as well as her love life.
Jen: Without giving away any spoilers,
why did you choose to incorporate a whodunit aspect
into the novel? How does this enable you to move
the story along without losing sight of the main
focus, which is the relationship among these three
siblings?
Ellen: The whodunit storyline is actually inspired
by a true crime that happened right in my home
town, and thus captured my attention. I knew it
was something I wanted to write about and explore,
and the more I thought about it, the more I realized
that the macabre discovery could act as the very
catalyst that sets the sisters' journey in motion,
leading them to their arcs as individuals …
and changing the nature of their relationship.
Jen: The two most colorful characters
in the book are Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, the couple
who are interested in buying the Waxman’s
home. How do these two compliment your tongue-in-cheek
sense of humor without offending the reader in
the process? What significance do they play in
helping move along the storyline?
Ellen: I suspect that every novel has at least
one element that's utterly organic and took the
writer by surprise. That's the case with the Goodwins.
They just showed up, and I fell in love with them.
Obviously, they play a key role in several aspects
of the plot, but also point to the differences
in Kenny and Bev's sensibilities, and allowed
me to explore the theme of acceptance.
Jen: Bev’s on-again, off-again
boyfriend named Kenny Waxman is a truly complex
character with many facets to his persona. What
are his most prevalent insecurities? And what
makes him so vulnerable in respect to his ever-present
need to gain Bev’s approval and ultimately
her love?
Ellen: Kenny grew up with a monster of a father,
and his greatest fear is that deep down he's just
like him. Honing his sense of humor and becoming
a comedy writer was a coping device, setting him
apart from his angry dad. I believe that the reason
he wants Bev's love is that he's truly in love
with her … and always has been.
Jen: As is always the case, Bev’s
older sister, Clare, has many chinks in her armor
that come to light despite her best efforts to
keep them hidden. Would it be fair to say that
she is not unlike many stay-at-home moms today
who feel drowned by their circumstances without
knowing a way to overcome them?
Ellen: Yes, I think it's easy to look at women
who are beautiful and rich and assume they have
it all. But in my experience, there's always some
pain beneath the surface if you look hard enough.
And that's what I tried to show with Clare.
Jen: I have to mention that the twist
towards the end of the book was well-executed.
(That’s all I can say about it without giving
too much away!!) Please tell us about the youngest
sister, Joey. Why is she such the rebel? What
exactly is she yearning for that makes her willing
to roll the dice time and time again?
Ellen: For Joey, taking chances comes naturally.
And since it was the very thing that got her attention
as a child, it's a hard habit to break. And you're
right—hard to go any further without issuing
a spoiler alert!
Jen: What is your favorite scene in the
novel and why?
Ellen: Oh, dear. This is almost like being asked
which one of my kids is my favorite (they all
are!). But I think I have special affection for
the scene where the three sisters make the grisly
discovery.
Jen: If given the choice, would you change
anything about your writing career thus far? And
what, if anything, has surprised you most about
the publishing business?
Ellen: I don't really believe in regrets, so there's
nothing I would change. (Whatever doesn't kill
me makes me stronger, and all that.) But I would
have to say that the biggest surprise is how darned
hard it is to sell books.
Jen: Are you at work on your next
novel? And if so, what can you share with us about
it?
Ellen: Oh, yes, I'm hard at work on my next novel.
I can't reveal too much yet, but I will say that
it's a departure for me—darker, more serious
and higher concept.
Jen: Please tell us about your new website.
Do you have e-mail notification of new releases?
Mailing list? Do you participate in author phone
chats? And if so, how would my readers go about
scheduling one? Do you have a blog? Any upcoming
appearances? Book signings?
Ellen: All of the above! If your readers visit
ellenmeister.com, they can register for my mailing
list, sign up for a phone-in author chat, see
where I'm appearing, read my blog, etc.
Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by
to chat with my readers. It has been an absolute
pleasure being able to have you here. Congratulations
on what is sure to become your next big hit! I
wish you only the best in your writing career.
Ellen: Jen, this was a wonderful interview! Thanks
so much for your careful read of THE SMART ONE
and very insightful questions. All the best!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Ellen.
Please stop by your favorite book store or local
library today to pick up a copy of THE SMART ONE.
Okay…here we go. Time for the trivia question!
Be one of the first five people to e-mail me at
jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to
the following question and you’ll win! Good
luck!
All the books are gone. Congratulations
to Kathi S., Connie H., AnnaMarie S., Harriet
R., and Pam F.
Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview
with New York Times Bestselling Author
Allison Brennan. You won’t want
to miss it!
Until next time…Jen
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Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels