GCC Interview with Eileen Cook

Today I’m pleased to present an interview with Eileen Cook, author of Unraveling Isobel, The Education of Hailey Kendrick and her latest from Simon Pulse, Almost the Truth.

Book Summary:

From the author of Unraveling Isobel and The Education of Hailey Kendrick, a smart, romantic novel about a teenage con artist who might be in over her head.

Sadie can’t wait to get away from her backwards small town, her delusional mom, her jailbird dad, and the tiny trailer where she was raised…even though leaving those things behind also means leaving Brendan. Sadie wants a better life, and she has been working steadily toward it, one con at a time.

But when Sadie’s mother wipes out Sadie’s savings, her escape plan is suddenly gone. She needs to come up with a lot of cash—and fast—or she’ll be stuck in this town forever.

With Brendan’s help, she devises a plan—the ultimate con—to get the money. But the more lies Sadie spins, the more she starts falling for her own hoax…and perhaps for the wrong boy. Sadie wanted to change her life, but she wasn’t prepared to have it flipped upside down by her own deception. With her future at stake and her heart on the line, suddenly it seems like she has a lot more than just money to lose….

Praise for Eileen Cook’s books

“.. enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read…..the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” – Kirkus Starred Review

“Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious.” – Lisa McMann, bestselling author of the Wake trilogy

“Sassy and sly and sweet all at the same time, this book made me laugh out loud.” – Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries and Airhead

Interview with Eileen Cook

What is your writing process like?  Are you a plotter or a pantser?  Do you schedule time to write each day or are you a spree writer?

I am a panster by nature, but find I do more and more plotting.  I can’t plot everything out or else I lose interest in the story, but I’m finding it helpful to have some idea of where the book is going- at least the major turning points. I try and schedule some time every day to write, but there are days/weeks/months where the best made plans don’t work. When that happens I sneak the writing in anyway I can.
 
What is the hardest part about the publishing process for you and how do you get through it? (For me, it’s copyediting and sour cream and onion chips.)

The waiting! Everything in publishing takes soooooooo long. I get through it by keeping busy.  And chocolate. Never underestimate the healing power of chocolate.
 
We drop your hero or heroine on a deserted island.  Quick, what are the three things he or she can’t live without?

Her best friend Brendan (who she sort of accidentally slept with- but she’s going to sort that out), pizza from her favorite local place and a book on architecture to keep her busy.
 
If your story were a film, who would you cast?

I’m terrible at this! I always want to cast actors who died years ago or else I can’t remember their names. I think I would have them cast all unknown actors- that way I won’t have any preconceived ideas.  However, I’m open for them putting Colin Firth in the movie just so I can meet him.