tL: Can you talk a little about your book that is coming out this April? You must be thrilled. What was the writing process like for you in terms of how long it took to get to the finished product, finding a publisher, etc.? S: I started the novel right after I graduated from my MFA program and worked on it for about a year and a half. I had written a story that got enough attention so that when it was time to find an agent I already had some contacts. I worked with my agent for about six months on revisions before we sent it to editors. I landed at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and I feel honored to be there. I have really amazing people in my corner: my agent, editor, publicist are all people that I respect and adore. I’m so very lucky. tL: You will be back next fall as a visiting professor, correct? Can you talk about the course that you’ll be teaching? S: Not sure about next semester yet. I hope to be there. tL: What do you do when you aren’t teaching at Conn (professionally and for fun)? S: I read and do lots of yoga and go for long walks through TriBeCa and the West Village, or when I’m out east on the beach in Amagansett. I cook a lot a lot a lot with friends. My book is very much about food and food has become such a huge part of my life, socially and career-wise.
TL: Do you have any advice for young writers? S: Advice for young writers: read read read. And then write write write. Say something unique. You are making something that’s not yet in the world, something brand new. Let the significance of that direct and motivate you.
tL: What’s your favorite novel and/or author? S: Impossible to say favorite novel or authors but I love Virginia Woolf and Alice Munro and I just re-read The Great Gatsby, which is just amazing.
Photo courtesy of Vogue