Special Note

This episode was recorded on May 14, 2020. A lot has happened since then, so I wanted to time-stamp this to provide appropriate context for our discussion. Next Wednesday, I’m releasing a special bonus episode sharing my favorite books by black authors.

In Episode 61, Kimberly McCreight (author of A Good Marriage) shares her 11 year journey to publishing her first novel, why she wanted to focus on marriage in this book, how working during coronavirus has been, and a possible sequel to A Good Marriage!

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Kimberly’s journey to becoming a writer (including her change from lawyer to author).
• What it’s like to work on a book for so long before having to trash it (she trashed 4 books before publishing her debut novel).
• The worst parts of being a writer.
• A piece of advice she always tells aspiring authors.
• What it was like to finally sell Reconstructing Amelia after 11 long years of trying to publish a book.
• A possible sequel to A Good Marriage.
• Why Kimberly wanted to focus on marriage as a theme for this book.
• Why Park Slope makes such a good setting for novels.
• How Kimberly is working through coronavirus.
• A preview of her next novel.
• How Kimberly’s own experience as a recovering alcoholic influenced her writing of Sam (a character in the book with an alcohol addiction).
• Why Kimberly tries not to read in her genre while she’s writing.
• What is was like to visit Rikers (as research for her book).

Kimberly’s Book Recommendations [31:56]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Hours by Michael Cunningham | Buy from Amazon [32:10]
• Blackout by Sarah Hepola | Buy from Amazon [33:49]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker | Buy from Amazon [37:48]
• The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda | Buy from Amazon [40:25]

One Book She DIDN’T Like

• Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce | Buy from Amazon [41:27]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins (Release Date: August 4, 2020) | Buy from Amazon [43:59]

Rate It Game [45:16] Other Books Mentioned

• Miracle Creek by Angie Kim | Buy from Amazon [1:28] 
• Wild Gameby Adrienne Brodeur (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [1:28] 
• Reconstructing Ameliaby Kimberly McCreight (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [2:04]
• Where They Found Herby Kimberly McCreight (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [2:23]
• The Outliersby Kimberly McCreight | Buy from Amazon [2:28]
• A Good Marriageby Kimberly McCreight (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [2:50]
• Big Magicby Elizabeth Gilbert | Buy from Amazon [8:08]
• Lost Girlsby Robert Kolker | Buy from Amazon [37:48]
• We Wish You Luckby Caroline Zancan (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [43:22]

About Kimberly

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Kimberly McCreight is the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia, which was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Alex Awards and was called Entertainment Weekly’s Favorite Book of the Year. Reconstructing Amelia has been optioned for film by HBO and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films. Ms. McCreight’s second adult novel, Where They Found Her, was a USA Today bestseller and a Kirkus Best Mystery of the Year. 

She is also the author of The New York Times bestselling young adult trilogy The Outliers (The Outliers, The Scattering and The Collide), optioned for film by Lionsgate and Reese Witherspoon’s Pacific Standard. Her next novel, an adult mystery set in Park Slope, is forthcoming in 2020.

Ms. McCreight attended Vassar College and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two daughters.

Next Episode

There will not be a new episode next week since the podcast is on its bi-weekly summer schedule.

The following week, there will be a full length episode all about book marketing featuring Morgan Hoit, Associate Marketing Manager at Avid Reader Press and the woman behind @nycbookgirl (airing June 24).

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