Tell us about the inspiration for Ask Me If I'm Happy.
Well, there were several sources, really. The initial inspiration came from watching a television program when I was visiting my home in the US after living in Italy for a couple of years. The program was about the city of Bologna and I found myself incredibly homesick while watching it – the accents of the English-speaking Italians were so similar to my students' accents, and I love the city anyway – and this almost immediately sparked an idea for a story set in Bologna.
Another source of inspiration came from the music of Samuele Bersani, an Italian singer-songwriter. His songs are quirky and wordy and sometimes strange – which I adore – and there's something about his melodies which fed my creative impulses. He's lived in Bologna for many years now, and his last album had a song about the city, but it came out after I'd finished the novel. I admit that certain details in Ask Me if I'm Happy were influenced by his work – not least the title itself, which comes from one of his songs
Describe a scene you're particularly proud of and tell us why.
Hmmm… I'd have to say I'm pleased with several scenes in the book, but I'm particularly proud of a scene early in the book where Davide and Emily are dining together on the day they first meet. There's a lot of description of the food, and his enjoying watching her enjoying the meal, and (I hope) a subtle tension that's building as these two get to know each other and their attraction to one another really starts to take hold.
Another scene I love is in Davide's POV, when he's reading the first letter he's gotten from her. He's so conflicted – eager to read it, but wanting to savor it – that he puts off reading it as long as he can. He takes the letter to the library with him and there's a moment when he's examining every little detail of the envelope before opening it; he realizes that, if he were home alone instead of in a public place, he'd actually sniff the envelope to see if it had her scent. I think this says so much about him, about the kind of man he is, deep down – and maybe it's just me but I thought it was ridiculously romantic of him.
Where do you like to write?
I prefer to write in my office in my flat in Italy if I can, but I've found I can write just about anywhere. One of my favorite scenes was jotted down in a tiny notebook while at a birthday dinner in a restaurant with my husband and several of his friends. I excused myself and just scribbled down the barest details, but when I got home, those few lines became an entire scene, and then nearly half a chapter. I've always had the habit of taking small notebooks with me everywhere, just in case. That's saved me more than a few times.
Will we be seeing these characters again?
It's starting to look like we just might. The ideas started jumping around in earnest when I was flying to London for the launch of Ask Me if I'm Happy, and after that a friend who had helped with the final edits started bouncing ideas off me. Naturally, that got the wheels turning a bit, but I'm waiting for them to tell me what happens next. I can't force it – it has to be organic – so I'm biding my time until Emily and Davide speak up loud and clear and refuse to let go. Then the story will get rolling.
What project is next?
Well, I'm trying to wrap up the first draft of 27 Stages, which is a novel set in a fictional road cycling stage race (think le Tour de France). It's all about conflict and dealing with unexpected challenges. Federico is a cyclist dealing with team rules and politics, an incredibly difficult race and his desire for a married woman – all at the same time. Meanwhile, Abby is dealing with her marriage falling apart, her attempts to understand her dreams for herself and her undeniable attraction to someone who is ten years her junior – which is only complicating matters further for her.
Once that's done, I have another project in line as well, but I'll decide what to work on next once I'm actually "there". So many stories, so little time!
4 comments:
Hiya Kimberly! I'm excited to read Ask Me If I'm Happy. And I bet you have had alot of fun researching for 27 Stages! Hugs!
(Previous post removed because of spelling errors - I'm a perfectionist when I can be. LOL!)
Hey, Mary! I hope you'll enjoy Ask Me... when you get a chance to read it - and you're right: I've had lots of fun doing my research. ;) Thanks for coming by and commenting, too. Hugs back to you!
Hi Kimberly, that sounds so glamorous - flying to London for a launch. One of the perks of living in Europe. If I travel from Boston to NY, who cares? lol Good luck with the book. I like the subtlety of the details you mention. Are you a foodie?
I have to say - I know it *sounds* glamorous, but reality is frequently very different. I admit, when I find the funding and a little extra time, I plan on visiting more cities in Europe with the hubby. :)
Thanks for the good wishes. I'm a big fan of using subtlety and subtext - there are quite a few details in Ask Me... that not necessarily *everyone* will get, but those who've lived in Italy or know something about the culture will pick up on them straight away.
In spite of my pleasingly plump figure (I'm a woman of substance, don'cha know?), I'm really not a foodie. I do have a fantastic recipe for eggplant parmigiana, though. Heh.
Lack of "foodie"ness aside, the first dining scene with Emily and Davide sort of demanded some attention for the food they shared. It's another layer of the growing intimacy between them, I think, and while they don't feed each other or anything, Davide's desire to see her happy with the meal is an indication of two things: His Italian nature, and his feelings for her.
Laws, I've gone and written another essay! Sorry to ramble!
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