Interview with the authors of Meant To Be

Today, I'm interviewing the authors of the fabulous chick lit book, Meant To Be, Sue Warhaftig and Beverly Butler. Welcome ladies!

Sue (left) and Beverley

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?

SUE: The first time I read She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb it made me not only go 'wow', but I skipped a couple of meals to complete it. I was riveted from the first page. I loved the narration voice that Wally Lamb gave to his female character. He's is great contemporary fiction writer.

BEVERLY: The Twilight series had that effect on me because my daughter (and ALL her friends) was reading it and I couldn’t understand the phenomenon. I read the first book and then was ravenous to read the rest. The series did such a great job of tapping into the psyche of young women: exploring love, passion and good vs. evil.

Who is your favourite author and why?

Sue: "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. I love a twisted dysfunctional family story. Heck, throw in a carnival setting and I"m sold.

BEVERLY: Anna Quindlen is my favorite author. I love how she writes poetically in the fiction genre (Blessings, Black and Blue) and then can pen an editorial or a non-fiction best seller. She is amazing.

What is your all-time favourite book cover?

SUE: One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish - Dr. Seuss.

BEVERLY: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I found it very compelling adding a layer of mystery to the book.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?

SUE: D.H Lawrence: What a great chick lit writer.

Jennifer Weiner: Smart woman, who keeps reinventing herself. Writing, movies, t.v. she does it all.

Candace Bushnell: Great conversationalist and a hot dresser!

Chelsea Handler: Hysterical, and a brilliant marketing genius. I have a couple of questions for her.

Beverly Butler: A super, fantastic up and coming writer I would add to the mix!

BEVERLY: Steve Martin because he is so dang funny- fabulous comedian and terrific writer. Anne Lamott because she is so direct, and spiritual and funny. Shakespeare because who WOULDN’T want to talk to Shakespeare?!?! And John Irving and Ken Kesey because both are/were so brilliant and handsome.

Who, or what, inspires you?

SUE: My friends and family, every day.

BEVERLY: People doing selfless things. And nature: from the veins in a leaf to the sunset over the mountain in my backyard.

Where is your favourite place to write?

SUE: At my kitchen table, with that first cup of coffee, and my dachshunds in my lap from 7am on...

BEVERLY: Computer in office on a rainy day with homemade soup on the stove.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?

SUE: Bridget Jone's Diary

BEVERLY: Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd (1967 movie with Julie Christy, Alan Bates, and Peter Finch)

Tell us a little about Meant To Be?

SUE: It's our first collaboration, a great chick lit book that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. It's a coming of "middle age" story with a cast of characters that have very interesting and unusual lives. How many books do you know have a watermelon queen and a vibrator company president in them? Meant To Be will make you laugh, perhaps cry and definitely entertain you. It's a cheap, fun vacation!

BEVERLY: Meant To Be is about a family in turmoil due to conversations NOT had. It’s also about resilience and the moment when you know you MUST change something in your life.

What inspired you to write it?

SUE: I have several books rattling around in my brain that I need to share. What good is it if I'm the only one that knows them?! Check out Suzy's guest blog post for more inspiration infomation.

BEVERLY: Sue inspired me to think I could write a novel; together we put together some interesting characters, mined from our collective experiences.

I really felt like I connected with the main character, Judith. Is she based on you, or anyone you know?

SUE: She isn't based on me though I'm always struggling with my weight! Beverly and I are very different people therefore when we write, we are able to collaborate and create a complete person like Judith. She is a culmination of many people. We all have a little bit of Judith in us, don't we?

BEVERLY: Judith is a lot like me and I wrote many of my own “issues” into her character.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?

SUE: hmmm. I'd leave that to the experts. Bev?

BEVERLY: I think Demi Moore would be a great Judith. Kim Cantrell is definitely Debbie. Robert Downey Jr. is Rod. Kathy Bates is Dolores. Tammi? We would have to have a casting call to find the perfect beautiful, young, blonde vixen!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

SUE: I was an unregistered, stow away at a University dorm, for a year.

BEVERLY: I was performing en pointe when I was a five year old ballerina. My feet have never been the same!

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.

SUE: Home to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.

BEVERLY: Marin County, California is where mountain bikes were born.

Winter or summer?

SUE: Summer...though it has been pretty cold here!

BEVERLY: Winter. Cashmere sweaters and mugs of hot tea. Love it!

Ebook or paperback?

SUE: Paperback. Though I'm hoping to bond with a Kindle in the future.

BEVERLY: ebooks. Just read a novel on a plane ride/business trip. Lightweight and easy.

Favourite food?

SUE: Saucy ribs.

BEVERLY: Sushi

Sporty or couch potato?

SUE: Sporty...no doubt!

BEVERLY: Is there something in between?!?!

Cook or be cooked for?

SUE: Thank God my husband likes to cook! Or, I'd live on Yogurt and salads.

BEVERLY: I love to cook but my husband loves to grill; so it’s a toss-up. Whoever gets home first starts dinner.

Thanks for coming ladies, this was a really fun interview!

For more information about Meant To Be, visit www.meant-to-be.net