Please welcome Libby Malin, Author of My Own Personal Soap Opera (April 2010 - Sourcebooks) to My Reading Room - she is joining us
today for an interview.
- How did you celebrate when you
received the first call that you would be published?
That’s a terrific question! My first book was a YA mystery
published by a small press. I remember being very, very happy about it, but I
don’t remember what we did to celebrate. The next book was my Red Dress Ink
novel, Loves Me, Loves Me Not. I
think I got the call for that around my birthday that year. And I believe I was
in a kind of haze. I’m sure hubby and I opened a bottle of wine that night. And
later, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law bought champagne when we visited
them next.
- Was it just as exciting to see your
newest book, My Own Personal Soap Opera published?
Absolutely! In fact, in many ways I think the excitement is
more satisfying after you get past that first book. You know what to expect—the
joys as well as the disappointments—so you’re more able to appreciate the
highs.
- Without giving anything away - what is
My Own Personal Soap Opera
about?
MOPSO (don’t you
love that acronym?) tells the tale of soap head writer Frankie McNally who uses
her show as her own personal message board to the world. She has to deal with
one crisis after another—a leading man who broke his leg on Dancing with the
Stars, staff members who all want to be doing something else, abysmal ratings,
and a jewel thief imitating one on the show itself. Oh, and she has two men
after her heart—one who can give her everything she wants and the other who can
give her everything she needs.
Crystal: It's funny, I never thought a thing about the soap opera writers until I started reading this book - but you are right - they have a lot to contend with to bring their stories to life.
Crystal: It's funny, I never thought a thing about the soap opera writers until I started reading this book - but you are right - they have a lot to contend with to bring their stories to life.
- Where did the idea for My Own
Personal Soap Opera come from?
I’m a fan of soaps – Days of Our Lives, in particular, but
also Another World when it was on. When I watched them, I often wondered what
challenges the writers had to deal with—actor contracts running out, ratings,
staff writers, etc. I always wondered how those things had an impact on the
actual stories playing out on the small screen.
- Do you think My Own Personal Soap Opera appeals to readers of a certain genre (or genres) or do you think anyone can pretty much pick it up and enjoy it?
I think it’s definitely humorous women’s fiction and will
appeal mostly to women! But I received a real rave review of my 2009 release, Fire Me, from a man, so MOPSO could have similar appeal. I hope
so. I hope it appeals to bajillions of readers! LOL!
- Do you plan your books out or do you
just write and see where it takes you?
I’m a minimalist planner. I do think through where I want
the story to go, and I might jot down some bullet points to that effect. Then I
just write. MOPSO was sold on
proposal, which means I had written several chapters plus a very detailed
synopsis. I used the synopsis, of course, as my road map when I finished
writing the novel. But sometimes I might deviate from it if the characters take
me down a different path.
- Do you get time to read? What are your
favorite types of books to read?
More excellent questions! I do not get to read as much as
I’d like. I don’t like to read too much when I’m writing because I don’t want
to be influenced by another writer. So I always feel like I’m playing “catch
up” after I finish a project. I often read outside my genre. I like funny
books—I adore Jane t Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum
series. But I also like soulful reads. I enjoyed reading The Help recently. And I have heartily recommended Marilynne
Robinson’s Gilead ,
a very touching and inspirational book.
- What is your favorite room in your
house?
Oh, my living room. It’s very bright, with lots of windows.
In the spring, a forsythia blooms right outside one of the windows, and it
often feels as if a bright yellow light shines there.
- What is your favorite spot to read in?
The living room, with the windows open and a soft breeze
blowing, on a Sunday afternoon.
- What is your favorite snack food?
Milk chocolate. Yum, yum.
- What is your favorite season?
Spring. It’s a time of new beginnings.
- Do you have a schedule for writing
each day or do you just do it when you can?
I’m most creative in the morning, so that’s my best writing
time when working on a project.
- I saw on your website that you use to
watch Another World, I loved that one when I was growing up and hated to
see it canceled (my mom and I often watched it together and my cousin and
I use to discuss it in letters to each other). Who was your favorite
character on Another World?
Frankie Frame! That’s why I named the protagonist in MOPSO “Frankie.” Frankie Frame was a quirky, intelligent,
sweet individual.
Crystal: I loved Frankie also, she was just so fun, and Cass and Vicky and Marly and Jake, Rachel, oh - I loved them all :) I also noticed other soap opera names in your book (I have started it) - Kayla, Victor were two of the others that made me smile.
- Did you find writing My Own
Personal Soap Opera to be difficult or did the book just take off with
no problems?
Every book has its problem spots and MOPSO was no different. A few times I stopped and wondered where
this character or that one was taking me. And I did go back and redo some
scenes, changing the timeline.
- Any book
signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
If you check the “events” section of my website, you can
find links to the various blog appearances I’ve made and am making on my
“virtual book tour.” After today, I’ll be at www.apprentice-writer.blogspot.com
on April 20, www.siamckye.blogspot.com
on April 21, at www.mamawriters.com
on April 28 and on the Casablanca Authors blog
(www.casablancaauthors.blogspot.com) on April 29. Sometimes appearances are added at the last minute, so it’s best
to check my website – www.LibbysBooks.com
– for the schedule. I did a book signing here in Lancaster ,
PA this past weekend, but might be doing one in White
Marsh, Maryland
- Do you have a new book in the works?
Yes—I’m working a couple projects. One is another humorous
women’s fiction tentatively called Wrong Place Oregon Trail . None of these are under contract as of
this writing.
Crystal: Good luck with both of them - they sound great, especially Wrong Place, Right Time.
- Anything else you would like to say?
First, thanks for having me as a guest. These promotional
opportunities mean a lot to authors, upon whom the burden of book promotion falls.
Speaking for my sister authors, I’d also like to encourage readers to actually
. . . buy the book. Authors can only keep selling manuscripts to their
publishers if readers are buying their books. So if you like an author – it
doesn’t have to be me! – buy his or her work to keep or give away as a gift.
MY OWN PERSONAL SOAP OPERA BY LIBBY MALIN—IN STORES APRIL 2010
Is life stranger than fiction, or vice versa?
Frankie McNally has found the perfect solution for life’s
perplexing problems: as head writer for the daytime soap Lust for Life, she
works them out on the air!
Meanwhile, Frankie’s being courted simultaneously by the
dashing older man sent in to save the show’s sagging ratings and by the soap’s
totally hot leading man. And just when Frankie thinks the plot couldn’t get
more complicated, a jewel thief starts copying the show’s storyline-a
development that could send the show’s ratings soaring, if it doesn’t get
Frankie arrested first...
In her signature blending of the hilarious with the poignant,
Libby Malin’s latest light-hearted novel combines the best of life and of
fiction into an entertaining and incredibly satisfying read.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Libby Malin is published in
women’s fiction, including the books Fire
Me, My Own Personal Soap Opera and Loves
Me, Loves Me Not. Writing as Libby Sternberg, she is also an Edgar
nominated YA mystery writer. As Libby Sternberg, she has an adult historical
mystery offered exclusively on Kindle called Death Is the Cool Night. Her first print adult historical, Sloane Hall (inspired by Jane Eyre and set in old Hollywood
Libby has worked in public
relations, as an education reform advocate, and was a member of the Vermont
Commission on Women. She is the proud mother of three children and lives with
her wonderful husband in Lancaster , Pennsylvania
Thank you again to Libby Malin for allowing me to interview her today and thanks to Danielle Jackson at Sourcebooks for my ARC of My Own Personal Soap Opera and coordinating this interview.
Giveaway:
Simply comment to enter. Additional entries for tweeting about this giveaway, and being a follower.
Giveaway open to US/Canada only. Open through 4/22.
Review of My Own Personal Soap Opera will be coming in the next few days.
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