Open Book with Michelle Gable

I have been a huge an of Michelle Gable’s since I first read, I’ll See You in Paris.  She has a way with her storytelling that transports you.  I was thrilled to hear that she was going to be writing about John F. Kennedy in her latest, The Summer I Met Jack.  I am a Kennedy enthusiast and always love a story that I do not know much about cue this book and the quintessential New England summer read.  I am so excited to have Michelle back on the blog to day in my latest “Open Book” feature and if you like Flashdance then you will LOVE Michelle- see below ❤

via Amazon ~

“[The Summer I Met Jack] offers an alternate Kennedy family history that will leave readers wondering whether America knew the real JFK at all.” —Kirkus Reviews

New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between John F. Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark – and the child they may have had.

Based on a real story – in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia is at once dazzled by the large and charismatic family, in particular the oldest son, a rising politician named Jack.

Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors and athletes and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while staying close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the two must confront what they mean to each other.

The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable is based on the fascinating real life of Alicia Corning Clark, a woman who J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep quiet, not only about her romance with Jack Kennedy, but also a baby they may have had together.

 

1. What three celebrities/authors/figures- living or dead, would you want to have a bookclub with?

JFK, Tim Ferriss, and Oprah. A dream book club could never be complete without her!

2. Current binge series?

I’m not really a binger, but the most recent series I watched was the One Day at a Time reboot.

3. Last favorite book?

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain

4. What 3 things to you pack in your bag for your dream vacation?  Where is it?

Bikini, linen dress, and a book. Two places I’ve been dying to see are Portugal and Isla Holbox in Mexico.  

5. Sunday NYT or US Weekly?

Neither. People Magazine and/or Entertainment Weekly. 

6. Last person you sent a text message to?

My good friend and doubles partner, Erin.  

7. Book you read that you wished you wrote?

Gloria by Keith Maillard

 8. Do you have a teacher who encouraged you to become a writer?

I was an accounting major (you know, like most aspiring authors), but took creative writing classes as electives. One professor said I was “selling out” by going into finance. I was like, “if by ‘selling out’ you mean, ‘pay my rent,’ then you are correct.” Maybe that’s not encouragement, exactly? When I was younger, the support definitely came from my dad.

9. Do you listen to music while you write? If so, who?

Never.   

10. Describe your writing space?

We recently turned our daughters’ former playroom into my office and it’s a great space. It’s at the top of the stairs, with a sliding barn door and windows that open onto the stairwell. It is gray with pops of blue and has white built-in cabinets and dark walnut floors lied diagonally. The desk is huge and there are three distinct work spaces, so my girls can do their homework with me, if they want.

11. Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.

 12. Do you have a favorite book that you gift?

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

 13. Book that you wished they would make a movie out of?

Amazon made a pilot for The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer and I loved it. I kept waiting for the rest of the series, but it never came. I wish they’d finish!

 14. If you could have one song as the theme song of your life what would it be and why?

This is embarrassing but the first song that popped into my head was What a Feeling by Irene Cara from the movie Flashdance. It reminds me so much of my childhood and I sing it to the girls all the time. I love the lines “Take your passion, and make it happen…” I was trying to convince my youngest daughter to use it for her “walk up” song this summer at the national playoffs for softball, but she was unmoved by my pleas.

 15. What/Who inspires you?

Other writers inspire me for sure—whether they write novels, or scripts, or something else. If I’m stuck, reading something always helps.

 16. Bravo reality TV- yes or no?

No—although I do like Bethenny Frankel.  

17. Favorite Instagram account?

That’s a tough one! Probably @celestebarber or @travelandleisure

 18. If you could name just one lipstick after a book, what would you call it and what shade would it be? 

I recently read and loved Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood. It comes out in August and is about the true story that inspired Nabokov’s Lolita. I’m sure there are many shades of “Lolita” out there already, so I’d call it “Sally” after Sally Horner, the real girl behind the book. It’d either have to be very light pink, to reflect her innocence, or a garish, glittery fuchsia, something a young girl would think was pretty just because it was so loud.

19. Current #TBR pile?

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara

A Theory of Love by Margaret Bradham Thornton

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

 20. Best advice you’ve ever received?

“If it’s not a ‘hell yes,’ then it’s a ‘no.’” This helps me prioritize and reminds me not to say yes to things out of obligation, especially when I’m on deadline, or about to go on tour!

 

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What’s in my Bookish {Beauty} Bag? ~ Michelle Gable

Coming off Mother’s Day weekend I thought it was fitting to feature a fabulous female author who also is a mom.  Michelle Gable captured me as a fan with her 2016 release I’ll See You in Paris (just releases in paperback!).  I loved her rich, intricate stories and ability to take me away through her writing.  Fast forward to today and her latest release, The Book of Summer.  Can we say beach reading at it’s finest?  This is sure to be a hit and I can’t wait to jump in and enjoy with the sand between my toes and the smell of sweet, salt air.  I was so thrilled Michelle wanted to join in on the books and beauty and share her bag with me.

via Amazon

The ocean, the wild roses on the dunes and the stunning Cliff House, perched atop a bluff in Sconset, Nantucket. Inside the faded pages of the Cliff House guest book live the spellbinding stories of its female inhabitants: from Ruby, a bright-eyed newlywed on the eve of World War II to her granddaughter Bess, who returns to the beautiful summer estate.

For the first time in four years, physician Bess Codman visits the compound her great-grandparents built almost a century before, but due to erosion, the once-grand home will soon fall into the sea. Bess must now put aside her complicated memories in order to pack up the house and deal with her mother, a notorious town rabble-rouser, who refuses to leave. It’s not just memories of her family home Bess must face though, but also an old love that might hold new possibilities.

In the midst of packing Bess rediscovers the forgotten family guest book. Bess’s grandmother and primary keeper of the book, Ruby, always said Cliff House was a house of women, and by the very last day of the very last summer at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother’s words in ways she never imagined.

I’m a purse girl, but my favorite is the Longchamp “Le Pliage” nylon tote in navy, because when in doubt, navy blue. What I love about this bag, other than its size, is that it’s not too fancy for the softball fields (my daughters play year-round), but it’s still appropriate if I don’t have time to swap it out before meeting my tennis buddies at The Wine Loft.

In my tote is a spiral notebook (I write all my first drafts in pencil) and whatever book I’m reading at the time, which is currently All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg. Right now I’m trying to finish my fourth novel and whenever I’m deep in a draft, I’m a very distracted, impatient, and critical reader. Attenberg’s latest is the perfect antidote to my frazzled mind. It’s hilarious, fast, smartly written, and brimming with heart. As I’ve said to my girls a hundred times: “always bring a book with you.”

Almost important as reading and writing material are my sunglasses and hat (or visor) to protect against the San Diego sun. The current version is red, to match my girls’ team color and also because I had to burn all of my Chargers gear when they betrayed me by moving to Los Angeles. I also must carry snacks (personal favorite: RX Bars) because I’m always hungry.

Inside my tote is a fun, black and gold pouch—a Target find—which holds the rest of my essentials, including pencils for writing, sharpies for book signing, a Tide To Go pen, earbuds, and aspirin for air travel, a necessity due to my history with blood clots. My Shiseido sun protection stick and Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm in Zinnia or Red Dahlia are all the makeup I need on hectic days, or while traveling.

My skin gets oily by the end of the day so I’m a fan of blotting papers, but a toilet seat cover works just as well (seriously!) Pro tip: blot while still in the stall otherwise a coworker might find you standing at the sink, rubbing a seat cover all over your face. She will in no way believe this is a legitimate “beauty hack.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking and I’m also curious as to why a long-haired writer who plays tennis, works out daily, and attends multiple sporting events per week has exactly no brush or hair ties in her bag. Apparently, in addition to being softball and volleyball players, my daughters are also thieves.

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❤ Thanks Michelle for sharing your bag with us and taking the time to chat!

I’ll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable + Author Q & A

Lavender and book

Winter is a great time to get lost in a book especially when that book is I’ll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable.  I am new to Michelle Gable as she is also the author of the bestseller A Paris Apartment. I’ll See You in Paris is her second novel and sets place between London and Paris.  Gable goes back and forth between past and present as she takes the reader into the colorful life of Gladys Spencer-Churchill, The Duchess of Marlborough, through the search for answers for a young woman questioning her past.

Annie is a young woman who is newly engaged.  Laurel, her mother needs to settle some legal matters over in London and decides it’s the perfect mother-daughter trip.  The night before their departure Annie finds her mother reading an old, ancient book.  When asked about this book Laurel plays dumb and secretly tucks it away.  Annie, now wondering what its all about finds it and puts it safely into her suitcase.  What she doesn’t know is she is about to embark on a journey she never knew existed.

Once they land in London, Laurel is booked with meetings which leaves Annie to get lost in this mystery book.  Annie discovers this book is based on the life of the Duchess of Marlborough.  Why would her Mom hide this book?  It makes no sense to her but she wants to continue her research and takes the book to a local pub.  While at the pub she meets Gus.  Gus is intrigued that Annie has this book as it is a very rare book.  A friendship is sparked and Annie discovers Gus has more to do with his book then she thinks.  From the cobblestone streets of London to to the allure of Paris, Annie, Gus and Laurel uncover secrets and truths they never knew existed all the while learning about the zany and mysterious Duchess.

Part mystery and part heart-warming family story, I’ll See You in Paris is a classic page turner.  I loved the weaving in and out of past and present.  The story of Annie and her Mom fit seamlessly within the factual, bold life of Gladys.  Gable has a way to entice the reader from the beginning and take them on a journey where you never know what’s around the corner.  I was surprised at what I learned at every chapter and where the story went, more reason to make this hard to put down.  I can’t wait to see what Gable has in store for her readers next as I heard her next novel will be set in Nantucket!  Hello, perfect setting by a fabulous author?  Can. Not. Wait.  In the meantime I was excited to send Michelle some questions about her ideas for this book and some fun facts about her as well.  See my interview below and make sure to add I’ll See You in Paris to your must-read list ASAP!

 

 

BLISS BEAUTY BOOKS INTERVIEW with Michelle Gable

1. What brought you to the idea to write about the Duchess of Marlborough?

Artist Giovanni Boldini is a central character in my debut novel A Paris Apartment. Back in the Gilded Age, you weren’t anyone unless he painted you and so I studied every person Boldini rendered. When I stumbled upon Gladys Deacon, I knew she had to get top billing in a future novel. She’s too delicious to leave to history!

I used dozens of the Duchess’s expressions, mannerisms, and real-life stories throughout the novel. Yes, she disappeared from her palace. Yes, she turned up in a dilapidated Grey Gardens-style manse forty years later. Yes, she chased people with guns. My only problem was picking from the litany of crazy.

 

2. Your descriptions of the settings within the books were so real.  Did you visit the locations within London and Paris that you discuss in the book?

Thank you so much for the compliment! I try to visit the settings of my books. I’ve been to Paris several times for work but after A Paris Apartment launched I went with my husband and daughters. I wrote bits of I’ll See You in Paris while we were there and parts of our trip made it into the manuscript. My youngest daughter was interested in Notre Dame’s gothic architecture, including its famous rose windows, so I made reference to that. My oldest daughter noticed that tourists bought luggage at Galeries Lafayette to cart home their purchases, another sidebar from the book. Also Île Saint-Louis enchanted us all and so I decided it’d be center stage in the conclusion!

Visiting the locales isn’t necessary, but it gives added context and texture and provides an excellent excuse to travel!

 

3. What was your favorite fact that you learned through your research about Gladys?

It’s impossible to pick! One fact that first attracted me to Gladys Deacon was the rumor she had paraffin wax injected into her nose to maintain a “perfect Hellenic profile.” There’s some dispute as to whether this really happened and so it didn’t feature strongly in I’ll See You in Paris.

Also, I found her relationship with Winston Churchill comical. He was her husband’s cousin and best friend. He drove Gladys bonkers, and she tried to repay the favor. One of her favorite ways to irritate both Winston and her husband was to compare Churchill (unfavorably!) with Hitler: “When you think how hard it is to create a rising in a small village, well, [Hitler] had the whole world up in arms! He was larger than Winston. Winston couldn’t have done that!”

She had moxie, I’ll give her that.

 

4. How did you come up with idea of Annie and Laurel?  Do you find it difficult to weave in a fictitious story with factual events?

I wanted a modern-day element to the story, but couldn’t use the 2010s as the timing wouldn’t mesh with the true-life aspects of the novel and the fact I wanted to use the 1970s as backdrop. The 9/11 angle struck me as ideal because the tragedy affected so many. Those weeks after the attacks were so insecure and unsure and that very much reflects Annie’s life when we meet her. In addition, since large portions of the story take place at the tail end of the Vietnam War, the two periods serve as interesting contrasts. Two wars: one very much supported (at least at first), and one vastly out of favor.

Regarding the character of Laurel, I wanted to tackle a mother-daughter relationship in this novel. It’s again a counterpoint to the historical storyline as Gladys had a challenging relationship with her own mother and was never a parent herself.

Sometimes it’s difficult to weave together truth and history. Other times it aligns perfectly and you can’t believe it worked out! Both of my novels are based on lesser-known historical figures—perfect for fiction. Not much is documented so I can fill in the details with my imagination. I adhere to real timelines and events as closely as possible but sometimes tinker with things for the sake of plot.

 

5. As a writer, where is your favorite place to write?

Unfortunately I don’t usually have a choice! I write whenever and wherever I have a spare minute. I wrote much of I’ll See You in Paris in pencil at various softball complexes throughout Southern California. If given a choice, however, I prefer to write outside, specifically at the pool or beach. We are a few blocks from the ocean and in the summer I love going in the late afternoon and writing while my girls play in the surf.

 

6. Name 3 blissful things that you can’t live without?

Massages, lightweight cashmere for San Diego “winters,” the ocean.

 

7. What is the first thing you do when you complete a book?

I am terrible about “shutting down” and resting before jumping into the next thing. If it’s a first draft I force myself to take a break before editing. For final drafts I force myself to wait before starting a new project. Other than that, I’m like most writers…we take a photo of the screen where it says “THE END.”

 

8. What was the last book that you read?

The Ambassador’s Wife by Jennifer Steil. So great!

 

9. While on tour what is a must-have beauty product in your make-up bag?

Neutrogena makeup remover wipes and La Prairie eye cream.

 

10. Are you looking forward to any books that are coming out in 2016?

So many! The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelly Rowley, Where I Lost Her by T. Greenwood, The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield, Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany, to name a few. I read an early copy of The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney and it’s as amazing as everyone says!

 

*Thanks to St. Martin’s press for sending a copy for review.