Q: Where did you get the idea for FINDING OUT?
A: Over the years, I read many books about the young, nice assistant with the
mean boss but there was nothing about what happens to that person when she
moves to middle management and still wants to be nice. Another thing that I
noticed is that single women in their mid-thirties are always portrayed as having
a lot of friends around which isn't usually the case. I decided to write a realistic
story that is also entertaining about a woman in that period of her life as
she faces some universal struggles.
Q: Is Sheila based on you?
A: There are some parts of Sheila that are similar to me. I work in ad sales, I was
single in my mid-thirties, I lived on Gramercy Park South when I moved to New
York (though not where Sheila lives). I also had a dear friend who had
lived in Germany during World War II. But I was never dumped on the street (a
question that I get often) or had anyone steal my money.
Q: With two kids and a full-time job, how did you find time to write a book?
A: It was definitely a challenge but once I started to put the story on paper, I had to
make sure I found time because I really enjoyed it. I tried waking up earlier than
my kids, but they just started waking up the same time as me. I would
write when they napped on the weekends, on the train going in and out of New
York. Most importantly, any time a story line sprung into my head, I wrote it down.
If I didn't, I would forget which is very frustrating.
Q: Did you have the entire story planned when you started writing the novel?
A: No. As a matter of fact, the story took a lot of twists and turns as I was writing
it. I was taking an online course and told my instructor that my characters
wouldn't do what I wanted. I thought I was losing my mind. She told me that it
was actually a great sign and to let the characters tell the story, so I did.
A: Over the years, I read many books about the young, nice assistant with the
mean boss but there was nothing about what happens to that person when she
moves to middle management and still wants to be nice. Another thing that I
noticed is that single women in their mid-thirties are always portrayed as having
a lot of friends around which isn't usually the case. I decided to write a realistic
story that is also entertaining about a woman in that period of her life as
she faces some universal struggles.
Q: Is Sheila based on you?
A: There are some parts of Sheila that are similar to me. I work in ad sales, I was
single in my mid-thirties, I lived on Gramercy Park South when I moved to New
York (though not where Sheila lives). I also had a dear friend who had
lived in Germany during World War II. But I was never dumped on the street (a
question that I get often) or had anyone steal my money.
Q: With two kids and a full-time job, how did you find time to write a book?
A: It was definitely a challenge but once I started to put the story on paper, I had to
make sure I found time because I really enjoyed it. I tried waking up earlier than
my kids, but they just started waking up the same time as me. I would
write when they napped on the weekends, on the train going in and out of New
York. Most importantly, any time a story line sprung into my head, I wrote it down.
If I didn't, I would forget which is very frustrating.
Q: Did you have the entire story planned when you started writing the novel?
A: No. As a matter of fact, the story took a lot of twists and turns as I was writing
it. I was taking an online course and told my instructor that my characters
wouldn't do what I wanted. I thought I was losing my mind. She told me that it
was actually a great sign and to let the characters tell the story, so I did.
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| Answers to Readers' Questions |
| If you have a question about FINDING OUT or writing, send your question here and Sheryn will answer it on the site. |
Sheryn MacMunn
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