Episode 159: Character Relationships that Resonate — Interview with Jane Green

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of having bestselling author Jane Green on the show!  Jane has written 17 New York Times bestsellers, and her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

While her latest book The Sunshine Sisters might be pegged as a “beach read” there is a depth and a richness to the relationships between the characters that makes it so much more. Listen in as we discuss Jane’s latest novel and the craft of writing intricate character relationships.

In this episode Jane and I discuss:

  • How to craft a story around a large issue, such as the right to die, without writing an issue driven book.
  • How to craft characters with very different personalities all striving to find their “happiness” in a way readers will love, and the poem that inspired Jane to write about mother-daughter relationships.
  • How to balance the tug-of-war between writing for the market and writing from your heart.
  • Why you need to hear feedback, and how to know whether you need to listen to it.
  • How using a unique POV framework can crystalize who the characters are, and keep things exciting for you as a writer.

Plus, Jane’s #1 tip for writers.

About Jane Green

A former journalist in the UK and a graduate of the International Culinary Center in New York, Jane Green has written many novels (including Jemima J, The Beach House, and, most recently, Falling), most of which have been New York Times bestsellers, and one cookbook, Good Taste. Her novels are published in more than twenty-five languages, and she has over ten million books in print worldwide. She lives in Westport, Connecticut, with her husband and a small army of children and animals.

To connect with Jane check out her website at www.janegreen.com.

The Sunshine Sisters

The Sunshine girls– Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy– are as different as three sisters can be. As daughters of Ronni Sunshine, former Hollywood starlet, they grew up in the shadow of their mother’s self-absorbed quest for fame. Each girl pursued happiness away from her mother and sisters.

But the selfish and manipulative Ronni has been diagnosed with a terminal illness… and wants her daughters back home to make amends before she takes her final bow. As the sisters face the loss of their mother, their relationships with each other start to heal, setting the stage for a final act in which, through making peace with their mother and each other, they will become the women they were truly meant to be.

If you decide to check out this fabulous book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase DIY MFA makes a small commission at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 159

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

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