Annabel Monaghan author of Summer Romance
In this episode of "Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books," hosted by Zibby Owens, guest Annabel Monaghan discusses her novel "Summer Romance." The novel's protagonist is a professional organizer whose personal life is in disarray, grappling with the loss of her mother and the recent departure of her husband. The central plot revolves around her idea of having a summer romance to break free from her emotional stagnation.
Monaghan shares that the inspiration for her book came from a deep personal place, wanting to explore the theme of external appearances versus internal chaos. The conversation delves into themes of motherhood, personal growth, and the complexities of relationships. Monaghan also discusses her writing process, the challenges of balancing humor and emotional depth in storytelling, and her experiences in weaving her personal life into her narratives.
Introduction to Annabel Monaghan's Novel: Zibby Owens introduces Annabel Monaghan, who discusses her latest novel, "Summer Romance," focusing on its plot and main character—a professional organizer with a chaotic personal life.
Inspiration and Themes: Annabel shares the personal inspiration behind the novel, including the ironic twist of a professional organizer whose own life is disorganized. She touches on themes of grief, romantic escapism, and personal chaos.
Writing Process: Discussion shifts to Annabel’s writing process, exploring how her own life experiences and emotional challenges influence her characters and storytelling.
Character Development: Annabel talks about the development of her characters, especially the protagonist’s journey through personal loss and the attempt to find new love.
Humor and Emotional Depth: The conversation explores how Annabel balances humor with deep emotional themes in her writing, discussing specific humorous instances from the book.
Motherhood and Family Dynamics: Annabel and Zibby discuss the complexities of motherhood as depicted in the book, reflecting on personal experiences and the impact of maternal relationships.
Future Projects and Closing Thoughts: The podcast wraps up with Annabel discussing her upcoming projects and her reflections on writing as a tool for personal expression and coping with life’s challenges.
On Personal Chaos and Irony:
"I wanted to write a book about a professional organizer whose house was a mess."
On Writing and Emotional Connection:
"It really came from like the deepest place in my heart."
On Motherhood and Letting Go:
"The hardest thing about being a mother is letting my children fail... letting them struggle, letting them do something that I know is gonna be a disaster so that they can feel the disaster and learn and move on."
