Wendy Francis

Author Interview - Wendy Francis

Author of Betting on Good

Amid the heralded springtime traditions and fabulous splendor of the Kentucky Derby, two Boston couples -- longtime friends-- indulge in a once-in-a lifetime getaway. The weekend in Louisville feels like a winner. But as the bourbon begins to flow and the horses thunder down the track, secrets and simmering tensions begin to spill. Soon, the friends are forced to consider what, exactly, constitutes a "winner," not only in the high-stakes world of horse-racing but also in love and companionship.

Author Interview - Wendy Francis

Author I draw inspiration from:

There are so many contemporary authors whose stories I admire. For summer reading, I like Jennifer Weiner, Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry, Steven Rowley, Annabel Monaghan, Kristan Higgins, and Elinor Lipman. I'm also drawn to books with a strong sense of place and with characters who feel so real that I might as well be sharing a cup of coffee with them at their kitchen table. The authors in this category for me are Kent Haruf, Elizabeth Strout, Jane Smiley, Barbara Kingsolver, Emma Straub, and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, to name a few. To choose a favorite book among all these talented writers would be akin to choosing a favorite child; I can't do it!

Author Interview - Wendy Francis | Author I Draw Inspiration From

Favorite place to read a book:

On the couch in our sunroom, where my dog likes to snuggle up beside me.

Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:

Yikes. I'm going to take a pass on this question because the thought of being stuck in an elevator WITH ANYONE makes me want to hyperventilate.

The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:

Hmm. . .good question. I'm not sure I can point to one distinct moment. I've always loved writing, but becoming an author probably had more to do with happenstance than anything else. I was at home with my one-year-old son and missing my connection to books in the publishing world, where I'd been an editor for more than a decade. It seemed as good a time as any to give writing a shot. I suppose when my agent first signed me is when it all started to feel real, this notion that I could actually be the person writing the books -- not editing them.

Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:

Hardcover books seem to have more staying power in the stores. They also seem more likely to get reviewed, although I have no idea if this is actually true.
All my novels are available in paperback, and I think it's a great way to attract readers at an affordable price point.
E-book: I know, I know: it's the format of the future. I still love holding an old-fashioned paper book in my hands, though. Reading a book on a screen reminds me too much of work.
Audiobook: Another growing format. I'm not an audiobook listener, but I know plenty of people who swear it's the best way to "read" a book.

The last book I read:

Dennis Lehane's Small Mercies, about the 1970s busing crisis in Boston. It's a propulsive narrative/mystery that brings to light multiple viewpoints around this once incredibly divisive topic.

Author Interview - Wendy Francis | The Last Book I Read

Pen & paper or computer:

Computer. I might scribble a few paragraphs in a notebook when I'm figuring out my characters or when an important plot point comes to me, but the majority of my writing happens on the computer.

Book character I think I’d be best friends with:

Alice in Emma Straub's wonderful novel, This Time Tomorrow. Alice's sense of humor, her perspective on life, loss, and second chances-- all of it rings true to me. Plus, literary plums/truths are scattered throughout the book. For instance: "It was the worst fact of parenthood, that what you did mattered so much more than anything you said."

Author Interview - Wendy Francis | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With

If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:

Bookstore owner/kringle bakery owner

Favorite decade in fashion history:

The '80s, naturally! ;)

Place I’d most like to travel:

Greece. What's not to like about all that bright blue, sparkling water and the white stucco homes climbing up into the hills? I also imagine that the slightly slower pace of life (e.g. afternoon siestas) suits me better than the frenzied pace of American life.

My signature drink:

The Kentucky Oaks Lily! Better than a mint julep. And a diet Coke at the beach.

Favorite artist:

U2; Bruce Springsteen; Chopin; Matisse

Number one on my bucket list:

Going to the Kentucky Derby topped my bucket list for years. Traveling to Greece has since moved up to number one. :)

Anything else you'd like to add:

I hope readers will enjoy being transported to the spectacle of Churchill Downs and that they'll also relate to these characters who --while they may look fabulous in their Derby finery--pose the larger question: are there ever "winners" when it comes to marriage and friendship? Or do the rules not apply to our most important relationships?

Find more from the author:

• www.wendyfrancisauthor.com

• @wendyfrancisauthor on Facebook and Instagram

About Wendy Francis:

Author Interview with Wendy Francis

Before becoming a writer, Wendy Francis was a book editor for more than a decade. She is the author of seven novels, including Feels Like Summer, Summertime Guests, and Three Good Things. Her writing has also appeared in Good Housekeeping, the Washington Post, and NPR's Cognoscenti, among others. She lives outside Boston with her husband and sixteen-year-old son and is the proud stepmom of two children in their twenties.