I am interviewing Facebook Jeanie author Addison Westlake!
When did you know writing was for you?
Around nine or ten years old I started keeping a journal and writing stories in those little blue examination books. Writing for me has always been like having a great conversation with a friend; I find it really fun and enjoyable. I don’t think I ever formally thought about pursuing it, I’ve just always done a lot of writing.
How would you describe your books?
My books are pure escapism and entertainment. I write books to read while curled up on a comfy chair with a glass of wine or a mug of hot cocoa. I think we all need to relax and unwind with a book that makes you laugh a whole bunch and sigh happily at the happily-ever-after ending. So that’s what I write.
Why was Facebook Jeanie a book you wanted to write?
I think we all have those moments when we wonder… what if? What if our lives hadn’t followed the path we chose? What if we did take that job offer in another city or if we did decide to marry that ex-boyfriend? “Facebook Jeanie” came out of that universal experience. I imagined what if there were some way for a character to have a ‘do over’ with the one that got away.
What do you think are the best and worst aspects of social media?
I find social media fascinating—it both connects and disconnects you. You can keep in touch with friends and family, and you can spend two hours on it not paying any attention to the friends and family in the room with you. I created a character stuck in a Facebook rut, engaging more with photos of someone in her past than anyone in her present. And then I imagined what would happen if a new Facebook app let her travel back in time, making her past her present. It was a fun way to play with both the best and worst aspects of social media.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding the time to write!
What are your favorite genres to read?
I love light and entertaining reads of all kinds, particularly in the romance genre. I also enjoy nonfiction when it’s written in an engaging manner like Malcom Gladwell’s books.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I really want my readers to simply enjoy themselves while they’re reading. I suppose if “Facebook Jeanie” does have a larger message, it’s about how essential gratitude is to finding real happiness. But that sounds awfully heavy for a book that’s essentially a chocolate-covered, caramel-filled bon-bon of a treat.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
For self-published writers, social media is the difference between being read or not being read. It’s essential. I’m still figuring out how to use it well or to the best advantage; I’m always trying to learn from others and reading advice on the subject. Twitter, in particular, feels like learning a new language. Happily, I’m enjoying as I’m learning so I take that as a positive sign!
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write what you enjoy and don’t be critical of yourself. If you worry too much over the quality of your work at the outset, you’ll stop your writing process before it has even begun. And sometimes the best way to get better is to simply write and then write some more.
