ℚ♫ Getting It Right The Second Time Around - Jennifer Frank

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with début novelist Jennifer Frank to talk about Getting It Right The Second Time Around (6 April 2015, Clean Reads, 329 pages), a New Adult Romance.

Alison lives a comfortable, safe, life advocating for women at the domestic violence shelter where she works and being bossed around by her cat.

When her dynamic Aunt Elinor decides to tie Alison’s inheritance to successfully completing law school, Alison confronts the past that led her to choose love over the law – and lose at both.

As Alison battles through law school admissions, the challenges mount both personally and professionally.  Will she sacrifice her dreams again to satisfy her new love, Ryan, and her Aunt Elinor?

Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

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A very warm welcome to Jennifer Frank; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.

To kick us off, do you have a music playlist that you used in Getting It Right The Second Time Around, or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"Musical inspiration is from the 90s and what I listened to in the 90s when I lived in Boston."

What was the inspiration for Getting It Right The Second Time Around?

"My inspiration was my experiences as a young woman in Boston wrestling with questions of love, work, choices, my future, and who I was."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Probably more than I initially thought because there is no way to prevent yourself from leaking into your writing, sometimes where you least expect it.

While, Alison is different in many respects from me in terms of personality and career, my time spent living in Boston and my personal preferences (for coffee and Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream) are featured heavily in Getting It Right the Second Time Around.  Plus, we both have cats."

John W. Weeks Bridge and the clock tower over
Charles River in Harvard University campus in Boston.

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover.  Can you tell us about your cover for Getting It Right The Second Time Around - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Amanda Matthews designed my book cover and incorporated landmarks from Boston in the background.  When I read new adult/chick lit, I like seeing a person on the cover as it helps me identify with them right away."

Why should we read Getting It Right The Second Time Around and what sets it apart from the rest?  What makes your book unique?

"Getting It Right the Second Time Around is a novel about a young woman finding her path.  What is unique about the main character, Alison, is how she handles her love interest.  While important, the romance does not overwhelm the central theme of Alison’s self-discovery.  Plus, this is a clean read – nothing to make your grandmother blush."

Can you tell us something quirky about Getting It Right The Second Time Around, its story and characters?

"This is pretty embarrassing, but early on in the writing process, I named one of the minor characters in the book “Ben” and my husband’s name is Ben.  He’s not a very nice guy in the book, although the real Ben is not like the character at all.  I must’ve been upset with my husband when I was writing that scene and did not pick up on it in the editing process."

Oops!

Who would you recommend Getting It Right The Second Time Around to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"This is a clean read, so if you are looking for bodice-ripping erotic scenes, you would be disappointed.  However, this is a great book for readers who enjoy the emotional connection people make as they fall in love."

If you could / wished to turn Getting It Right The Second Time Around into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Well, the setting would be Boston, of course – which is a wonderful setting for any movie given its proximity to the water and the historic architecture and landmarks.

I would love Emma Thompson for a director as I love pretty much everything she touches, and I believe she would be able to draw out the depth of the story.

As far as actors go, I am a fan of Jennifer Lawrence who has a wonderful ability to capture the essence of a book character and brings gravitas to her roles.

For the hunky leading man…hmmm…trying to think of my best crush right now – probably Ryan Reynolds because he is cute and charming.  Plus, he shares the same first name with Alison’s love interest."

What do you like to write and read about?  Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I write what I like to read, which is a plus since I re-read my writing so many times!  Getting It Right the Second Time Around is new adult fiction, but my second book is a murder mystery.  I devour books in both these genres."

What is your writing process?

"The fun part of writing fiction is that I do not know what is going to happen until it is being written.  It feels similar to when I read – I get involved with the characters and can’t wait to see what happens next."

What is in store next?

"Everyone’s favorite character in Getting It Right the Second Time Around is Aunt Elinor (who is deceased in the book).  So, my next project is in progress and is a prequel.  It will feature Aunt Elinor and give all the details about how she got rich and sassy."

Getting It Right The Second Time Around
Available NOW!

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