Interview with Becky Monson!

I am delighted to have author Becky Monson on 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings' today, as part of the CLP blog tour for her novel 'Thirty-Two Going on Spinster' (check out my review here)!

By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last...but it probably won't. 

Can you tell us something about your novel, ‘Thirty-Two Going on Spinster’?

Well it’s about Julia, who hates change and is stuck in a rut. But then change is forced on her through a series of events, and you get to see how she works through it, and how she evolves. Yah, that makes it sound too serious. Really it’s more fun than what I just described. But essentially that is what my story is about.

Where did you find the inspiration for the plotline of ‘Thirty-Two Going on Spinster’?

It was a story I came up with years ago, that evolved and changed into what it is. But it basically started with a work crush I had (before I met my hubby, of course). Thank goodness for the work crushes I had, or I don’t know how I would have survived. I realize now, looking back, that I was not the most stellar employee.

Is the main character, Julia, based on someone? Are there perhaps bits of yourself in her as well?

Julia is a mix of a few people. My hysterical friend Julie, for sure (Julie/Julia - not a coincidence). She is definitely me too, except that I am not totally freaked out by change. I actually kind of like it sometimes.

The main character of the novel, Julia, loves to bake. She’s especially known for her delicious cupcakes. Are you a baker yourself as well, and if so, do you have a favourite recipe? 

I do bake. That trait Julia and I have in common, for sure. I am not as obsessed with it as Julia is, but I do enjoy it when I get a chance to do it. I just hate the clean-up part. That is my least favorite part of baking. I do make a pretty amazing chocolate chip cookie, if I do say so myself.

I read somewhere that you love anything chick lit. What is your favourite chick lit novel or author?

Sophie Kinsella, for sure. She really is so hilarious. My favorite book from her is I’ve Got Your Number. I really love that book. I could read it over and over again. I also just read a book called Yours Truly from an Indie author, Kristy Greenwood, and I swear I have never laughed so hard while reading.

This is your debut novel. Do you have any tips for others who would like to publish their own novel one day?

Yes, please learn from my mistakes. Here is my best advice for future authors out there: Write. Don’t worry about all of the other things out there that you will need to do (and there is A LOT), just write. Write something good – something that you would like to read, and when you are done get yourself a good editor (something I wish I would have done – paid for a professional editor). Also get yourself some reliable beta readers. Once your book is done, get yourself a great cover. I cannot stress how important a great cover is. It will make or break your book (people really do judge a book by its cover). (Wow, I used a lot of parenthesis in this answer) (sorry)

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

That change can be wonderful, if you let it.

That was cheesy. I apologize. But it’s true.

Last but not least: if you had to describe ‘Thirty-Two Going on Spinster’ in just three words, which words would you pick?

Funtastic, Romantical, Chicklity

(Yah, those aren’t words. I think I ate too much sugar for dinner. Sorry, again.)

Thanks so much to Becky for taking the time to do this interview! And if anyone is interested, Becky is willing to share her recipe for her amazing chocolate chip cookies with us! ;-)

Follow Becky on Twitter via @bmonsonauthor // Get her novel on Amazon by clicking here!