For her tenth novel, best-selling writer Allison Winn Scotch was impressed by the concept of a preferred feminine star whose profession and picture are threatened by a scandal and the lengths she’ll go to revive her status.
“Within the time of post-#MeToo, ladies nonetheless have it more durable, they’re nonetheless put below a microscope otherwise. They’re nonetheless judged over the smallest slip-up. And, I used to be thinking about seeing how that might derail a lady’s life.”
“Take Two, Birdie Maxwell” is about an actor, named Birdie Maxwell — who’s best-known for her rom-coms. She returns house to her small city after a PR catastrophe to plot her subsequent film, and discovers an unsigned love observe from years prior. Birdie decides one of the simplest ways to rehab her status can be to distract the general public and get them invested in her reconciliation with a former boyfriend who wrote her this love letter.
Her longtime best-friend’s brother, Elliot, who’s now a reporter, agrees to assist Birdie observe down every of her exes and discover out who wrote that letter.
In an interview with The Related Press, Scotch shares the inspiration for Birdie, pulls again the curtain on the writing enterprise and shares some ideas on Taylor Swift.
Solutions are shortened for readability and size.
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AP: What was your inspiration for the Birdie character?
SCOTCH: I type of envisioned her as Julia Roberts in her heyday. I really feel like film stars now are just a little totally different than within the early aughts and even 90s. Social media has made them extra accessible, however there was type of this mystique about them for a very long time. And (Roberts) particularly, I believe, stood out to me as any person who was some of the well-known folks on the planet. She had her personal set of individuals attempting to color her as tough or problematic again within the day.
AP: The dynamic between Birdie and her sister Andie is basically humorous. Andie isn’t remotely impressed by her sister’s fame or standing.
SCOTCH: I dwell in LA and also you see fairly rapidly that the mystique of celeb wears off. They go to your colleges, they play in your groups. From my understanding of relations of celebrities particularly, they’re completely happy for the success, however like, you’re nonetheless the annoying particular person they grew up with. So I actually I cherished writing Andie. Even if you happen to don’t have a well-known sibling, I believe we are able to all be all relate to being irritated with siblings.
AP: You typically put up about new books by different writers on social media and others do the identical. It looks as if feminine authors particularly actually assist one another on-line.
SCOTCH: 100%. It’s a actual pleasure. This can be a distinctive job, and lots of people don’t essentially perceive it. I personally really feel it’s insane to assume that (different authors) are opponents. Like, if any person likes Emily Henry, they could like my books. So let’s be part of forces and be stronger collectively. And one rom-com e book learn results in one other one. Not all people has that mentality however I do assume that a number of ladies in publishing actually are one another’s finest champions and it’s superior.
AP: You’ve shared with readers that pre-orders of books, critiques and requests are extraordinarily essential. Why?
SCOTCH: There’s a number of inside baseball stuff that readers don’t perceive and I’m completely happy to speak about that. Lots of your favourite authors are one failed e book away from by no means being supplied a deal once more. I used to be in that scenario midway by means of my profession the place a e book that everyone had excessive expectations for actually didn’t carry out. When it got here time for me to write down one other, folks wished me to alter my title. They wished me to write down in a unique style. I’ve a private connection to the truth that there are a number of writers who actually are white knuckling it to the subsequent contract.
Numerous readers don’t perceive that. If you wish to purchase a e book, please do. Please inform your folks. Please make a request on the library. Please put up a assessment on Goodreads or Amazon. These metrics all make a distinction within the lifespan, not simply of the e book, however of an writer’s profession. It truly is a profession of beginning over always.
AP: One other one among your favourite topics is Taylor Swift. Why are you invested in her relationship with Travis Kelce?
SCOTCH: For her to seemingly have discovered any person who isn’t threatened by her and is type of in awe of her is actually one thing that my teenage daughter is watching. I used to be speaking to her about Travis touring to see Taylor on tour now that he’s within the low season and he or she mentioned, ” Taylor confirmed up for all of his video games. How tousled wouldn’t it be if he didn’t present up for hers?’ And I used to be like, ‘OK that’s the perspective that you really want whenever you’re on the lookout for a companion.’ However I don’t know that I had that perspective at 17 or 25 or no matter.
I believe that’s the reason a number of us have been taken with this story. You see the distinction in how this unbelievable businesswoman and songwriter has been handled by males. She’s been diminished. And right here is any person who’s like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m courting Taylor Swift.’ I really feel like that’s how we must always all be handled, even when we’re not Taylor Swift.
AP: It’s enjoyable to observe moms and daughters occupy area within the Taylor Swift fandom and go to the live shows collectively.
SCOTCH: When the tickets went on sale for “The Eras Tour,” I simply assumed my daughter would need to go along with a good friend. She’s 17, and on the age the place they’ll go off and do their very own factor. And she or he mentioned, ‘No, I solely need to go along with you.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, OK. No matter it prices, that’s what we’re doing.’ And we nonetheless discuss it. It’s actually been one thing that I believe we are going to maintain on to perpetually.
Alicia Rancilio, The Related Press
