The Funny Thing Is…
Now that my new romcom, Running with Hounds…and an English Degree has officially launched, I’ve been asked some questions about my writing style and sense of humor. So here are my answers. 😊
I would describe my style as varied, depending on the genre I’m writing. My first book, Letting Go and Holding On, is more in the general fiction/suspense category, dealing with the theme of teenage mass suicide shooters. I wanted a serious tone, of course, but also wanted the book to be accessible to all kinds of readers. They say if you want to sell a serious book, you should try to infuse lighter moments throughout the narrative. So I found places where characters who were close could joke with each other in a normal setting.
Fast forward to my next novel with cute boys and even cuter greyhounds, and you have a much livelier story full of witty banter and slapstick. There are mini golf misfortunes, wild animal mishaps, and karaoke gone wild. It’s a character piece told from my protagonist’s point of view and sarcasm is her language of choice. And while she’s judging others who actually have their shit together, she’s desperately trying to ignore the inner voice of reason judging her. While the book has some serious moments, the overall tone is fun and funny.
I guess the biggest thing tying those books together as mine are the main characters. Both books are led by a female college student, who share the trait of being book smart but are also clueless as to how things actually work outside their protected bubble. It’s exactly how I felt going into the college experience after growing up in a small town. My teachers and professors were always very encouraging about my writing and I got decent grades for handing in, essentially, the first draft of my papers. (Can you say, procrastination?) But beyond that, it took a lot of stumbles and mistakes before I found my footing in the world.
Thankfully, looking back, I can laugh at those moments and have a clearer perspective on what they meant and how they brought me to this point in my life. I know who I am, I know what I want, and I’m much more confident in my ability to make things happen. My self-image and self-worth have risen over the years, and I’m not as concerned about what others think of me. And that allows me to be open and honest with my thoughts and experiences in a way that others have told me they can relate to. Because don’t we all stumble through life at some point, trying to figure out where we fit and how we can be happy? I feel like that would be the motto for marketing the human condition.
For me, it’s all about connection. And I’ve found the kinds of people who gravitate toward me are those who share (or at least appreciate) my dry wit. They also don’t want to be restricted in their conversation or have to be cautious with their words—they want to let their snark flag fly. So once they realize they don’t have to watch their tone with me, we’re off trading barbs and sardonic observations in a stock exchange of clever repartee, feeling right at home.
And that’s exactly what I want for those reading my books—a sense of understanding. Everyone deals with conflict throughout their lives, and I’ve found talking about it with others helps to lift that weight off your shoulders and send it into the void. We’re all in this together, so we might as well try to help each other make it through with plenty of compassion and humor.