4. What was the revision process like for you, particularly given that you wrote the first draft of The Flood Girls so quickly?
Editing is painful. There is no better feeling than filling pages while writing a rough draft, but editing is like math, addition and subtraction. I hate math. Writing a book is like having a baby, but then you have to wait months to find out if your baby is cute, or completely horrendous. This process has taught me so much about patience, and most importantly, letting go. I am so thankful that I had such great readers and editors—Jenny Bent and Alison Callahan were invaluable, and I trusted them completely.
5. You depict many different examples of drug and alcohol abuse in The Flood Girls. What would you most like your readers to take away from your novel regarding the nature of addiction?
For me, it’s really about faith. Rachel tries to push her way through recovery, and I know that doesn’t work. I have learned that I am powerless over people, places, and things. All I can control is my effort, and my reaction. Everything else is out of my hands. I’m sure that is why I am drawn to fiction—I can still control what happens, without having to make an amends!
6. What do you think the future holds for your characters beyond the ending of the book? Will the Flood Girls improve upon their first winning season?
If it were up to me, I would only write about the Flood Girls for the rest of my life! I am madly in love with every character. I want to know what happens to them! Laverna needs a trophy, dammit.
7. Does Jake take after you in listening to music while he works? If so, what is your writing soundtrack?
Absolutely. I cannot write in silence—I have an unquiet mind! I must have music, and I am a Type A Gay Virgo—each character had a playlist that I loved curating. Jake’s soundtrack had lots of Florence & The Machine, Sinead O’ Connor, and The Cure. And tons of house music from the ‘80s and ‘90s—especially all of my cherished Madonna remixes. When writing Rachel, I listened to Patty Griffin, and only Patty Griffin. Her music devastates me, and makes me write honestly and with grace. Laverna, on the other hand, had a playlist full of Don Williams, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, The Judds, and Miranda Lambert. It was totally the jukebox at the Dirty Shame!
8. Who are your biggest literary influences? What inspires you to write?
Anne Tyler, without a doubt. She can do no wrong. “Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant” is a book I re-read every year. “Geek Love,” by Katherine Dunn, is probably my favorite book of all time—I read it at a very young age, and learned that there are no boundaries in fiction. That book is FEARLESS, and should be canonized. I’m also obsessed with Ann Patchett, John Irving, Richard Russo, Barbara Kingsolver, John Updike, Kate Atkinson, Truman Capote, and Jackie Collins, of course.
9. Who would you cast in the movie version of The Flood Girls?
Jake would have to be an unknown—I know there is a fabulous kid on youtube somewhere that would be perfect for the part. I always imagined Jennifer Lawrence as Rachel—she just has this strength and quiet sadness that I am drawn to. Laverna is hard to cast; there are so many actresses that I admire for their ferocity—Alison Janney, Vera Farmiga, Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore. Although she seems an odd choice, Reese Witherspoon would be perfect for Laverna—the character is an adult version of Tracy Flick from “Election.”
10. What are you working on next?
Hopefully, more Flood Girls novels! Currently, I’m writing a horror novel, just because I wanted to write something completely different. I’d love to write a novel about NYC in 1990—I’m obsessed with the supermodels (Naomi, Linda, Christy, etc.) and the drag ballroom scene. “Paris Is Burning” meets “Gia.” It’s just an honor to be a writer, and it is truly a pleasure to entertain people. I’m looking forward to the future!