Interview with Chantel Simmons
Q: Why did you decide to start writing?
A: Ever since I was old enough to write, I’ve wanted to be an author. Of course, often when you tell your guidance counsellor at high school your dream, they tell you that it’s not a real career, and instead recommend going to university for journalism, which is exactly what my guidance counsellor advised me. Unfortunately, they’re not at all the same thing! One is all about reporting the truth, and the other is all about making things up (And I wanted to do the latter!). Still, off I went to j-school to get my degree. I don’t regret it, but it was definitely a different career path. So a few years ago, while working at ELLE magazine as the beauty editor, I decided that I couldn’t put off writing a novel any longer. I set myself a deadline and every night after work, I’d work on what eventually became Stuck in Downward Dog, my first novel.
Q: I love the concept behind Love Struck! Where did that inspiration come from?
A: I wanted to write a novel that was light and fun, but that had a deeper underlying dilemma, to which female readers could relate. I thought about the dynamics of relationships and the instance of affairs–and how oftentimes, we have these hard and fast rules that we would break up with our boyfriend/spouse instantly if we learned he was cheating. But I think it’s easy to think that it’s black & white, but would it be a harder decision if it actually happened to you? What if you really loved the person who cheated on you? Relationships are something that everyone can relate to, and so I thought that made for an interesting theme. Then, I threw in the lightning and the memory loss, just to complicate things, and make the novel a bit of fun and escapism.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a writer?
A: I recently quit my full-time job as a magazine editor to write–and now, I love the freedom of being able to do what I love every single day, even from the couch!
Q: Do you have a certain area (office, bedroom) where you have to be in order to get writing done?
A: When my agent sold Stuck in Downward Dog, my husband bought me a writing desk, and we turned our spare bedroom into my office. I’m all set up there, but I have a laptop (pink, of course) so I usually alternate from working at my desk, to sitting on the couch, or writing in bed (on the weekends, when I’ve got the entire day to write).
Q: I read that you were an assistant to a literary agent. How was that job, and how much did you learn?
A: I learned so much being an assistant to a literary agent. She was (and still is) quite a successful agent, and it was incredible watching her run her business as a one-woman show. I learned what an agent does for an author (so much, without any pay until she sells the book!) and how passionate most agents are about the work and the clients they’re representing. I ultimately realized though, that I couldn’t bear to file and answer phones while I witnessed–daily–every other author write their novels, get signed by an agent and sell their book. That was my dream, so I had to make it happen for myself.
Q: How did you land your positions at places such as ELLE and TV Guide?
A: After graduating, a friend asked me to cover a few of her shifts at one of the newspapers in Toronto. I did, and ended up sitting next to a woman who, a few months later, was hired to work at ELLE, which was just launching its English Canadian edition. She called me a few days after she started and asked if I wanted to proofread the magazine a few days a month. Two months later, the editor hired me full time, and I worked my way into the beauty department the following year. After two years of writing about self-tanners in July and holiday glam in December, I applied for an open position at TV Guide, which was published in the same building. I loved working there, and getting a sneak peek at new shows before they were on TV. Now, while I’m in Dexter and Glee withdrawal, I wish I was back there so I could get a little preview at the coming season!
Q: Love Struck is due out February 15th. Do you have a third novel in the works?
A: Writing a novel is such a labour of love that for months and months you’re bogged down in the very unglamorous aspects of writing, revising and editing. So now that the book is done and about to come out, I definitely want to just enjoy this time as much as possible, including my launch party and other media appearances. Of course, the reality is that the moment I finish writing a novel and there’s nothing more I can do to it, I start thinking about my next idea. But I’m superstitious, so until I have something set, I don’t like to tell anyone my idea.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
A: I have a few favourite authors, depending on the genre. For commercial women’s fiction, I adore Emily Giffin. Her latest novel, Love the One You’re With, is my favourite book. For YA, I think Sarah Mlynowski (Magic in Manhattan series) is the funniest writer I’ve ever read. And for short stories, I love Stuart McLean. When I was at Ryerson University, Stuart was a professor in another program. For four years I wanted to stop by his office and ask him to sign one of his books for me, but I couldn’t work up the nerve because I was so intimidated. It’s ridiculous, really.
Q: What would be your advice to aspiring authors?
A: Write! You can definitely achieve your dream of being an author, but you have to write. So often, other aspiring authors ask me for the secret, but I really don’t think there is one. If you love writing, you will eventually succeed. I’m no expert, but I try to remember these three things, whenever I get discouraged or need inspiration.
a) It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at any activity. So the only way to be a good writer is to write as much as you can. Eventually you will become a good writer!
b) Success is only 1% luck. The rest is 99% hard work.
c) There’s no such thing as writer’s block. If you don’t want to sit down and write your novel, then you probably don’t love the story. And if you’re stuck on a scene, cut it. It probably won’t work anyway, if you can’t figure out how to write it.
Q: What is or do you think would be your favorite place to travel?
A: Last fall, once I finished my final edit of Love Struck, my husband and I took three weeks off to travel to South Africa. I loved it. It was such an amazing mix of history, culture, and wildlife. It was the best vacation I’ve ever taken, and I’m a bit worried to take another vacation, since I doubt it will compare!
