The KRISTEN STRASSEL Interview: On American Idol, Prune Whip, Miss Piggy, and SECONDHAND HEART!

If you’re a fan of rock stars, vampires, and books that mash them together like peanut butter and chocolate, you might already know the lovely and multitalented Kristen Strassel. She’s the author of the NIGHT SONGS collection (read my reviews here), a hot, sinister, crazy-fun series of paranormal romances. But this time around, she’s trying her hand at something a little different: a contemporary New Adult romance called SECONDHAND HEART, which I JUST put on my Kindle and can’t wait to read. The new book officially releases on October 7, and Kristen is here today to answer some questions about it and tolerate me as the interview devolves (as per usual) into silliness.

Read on for Kristen’s insights on the writing process, her Voice/American Idol inspirations, and which 80s power ballad she’d perform if she had to go on her fictional TV singing competition, The Spotlight.

JL: This is your second book (after Seasons in the Sun) that’s straight-up contemporary without a paranormal bent (though Seasons in the Sun leads into your Night Songs vampire series). How does your writing process differ when you’re writing contemp vs. paranormal? Is it easier or harder?

KS: I don’t think my writing process changes between my paranormal and contemporary books. I build them very much the same way. I’m mostly a pantser. I come up with a list of things that might happen, subject to change as I get to know the characters. However, I’m told that Secondhand Heart is a very different book than any of the Night Songs books.  In some ways, contemporary is harder, because I can’t explain a situation with BECAUSE MAGIC, I have to make reality magic. In other ways, it’s easier because I don’t have to create and follow a mythology.

JL: Yeah, “making reality magic” is a perfect way to put it. I feel the same way: I’ve written with and without fantastical elements, and they both ease and complicate the writing process.

So Secondhand Heart is about getting a second chance at happiness after tragedy and disaster: Daisy’s lost her husband and Cam’s music career has unraveled. What drew you to that theme–was it something personal? A more general response to current events?

KS: Daisy was the character that introduced herself to me first, as a girl who didn’t want to go out to celebrate her twenty-first birthday.  I kept asking why and what if to create the characters and the story.

I didn’t realize how much I really focused on renewal in Secondhand Heart until I finished the book. There’s lots of recycling, restoration, and second chances. Both of the characters are back home for unexpected and unwanted new starts, and I set the book in my hometown, so it really is a homecoming, and a do-over of sorts. The characters are helped and hindered in their healing by their familiar surroundings. I loved using Plymouth as a character, and I think it brought something to the book that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve by setting it anywhere else.

JL: Yeah, you did a great photo tour of Plymouth over on your blog, which I loved! The photo of Cordage Park makes me want to ghost-hunt there. Got me even more excited for the book.

One of your main characters, Daisy, is a military widow. I can’t imagine the pain of losing your life partner at such a young age. As a writer, what did you do to put yourself in her mindset? Did you research the grieving process or pull more from your life experience?

KS: I have plenty of experience with the grieving process. I lost my dad when I was twelve and my mom three years ago this Thanksgiving. You never really heal from these things, they don’t go away, they just become a part of you. But the pieces that are missing can never be replaced. It’s a hard thing to reconcile. Once I got more comfortable with writing, I found that I really needed to explore loss, and the healing process. It’s helped me get to a place where things can be better, and I hope that maybe it can help some other people through what is the hardest, most inexplicable part of life.

This all being said, this book has some heavy moments, but it takes place almost a year after Jordan dies. Things are at the new normal, and there’s a lot of light-hearted moments as well. Daisy is a very real narrator. She’s got a great sense of humor, but she tells it like it is. I really enjoyed writing her.

JL: I think everyone’s going to enjoy reading her. When a character comes from such a personal place for you, it really shines through.

Now, a fictional TV talent competition figures into the backstory of two of your characters, Ev and Cam (which is FURTHER proof that we’re connected, because my new WIP features a reality show for singer-songwriters). I know you’ve been a longtime Idol-watcher like me. Were your characters inspired by any past contestants?

KS: I wrote Secondhand Heart this spring, and I was watching a lot of The Voice when I was writing. Like binge watching it. I have a disgustingly huge crush on Blake Shelton, and he may or may not have influenced Cam’s character. Ev would probably be a little closer to a Kellie Pickler, who no one took very seriously on the show, but is talented and successful in country music. (Bonus note–Blade from Because the Night and We Own the Night was influenced by Idol’s Casey James! And Secondhand Heart is a song by Danny Gokey, who was an Idol contestant and also lost his wife at a very young age.)

JL: I love the Idol/Voice connections. See, I was totally picturing Ben Foster as Blade, but as soon as you mentioned the Casey connection, I saw it.

It’s been a long, long time since I last thought of my old Idol nemesis, Danny Gokey. Look, I wish the guy luck and happiness, but sometimes I still wake up in a cold sweat with his “Dream On” scream ringing in my ears.

Seriously, though, I love the phrase SECONDHAND HEART and think it’s an A+ title for your book.

So Secondhand Heart is the first in a planned series of books featuring characters who competed on your fictional TV show, The Spotlight. What can you tell us about your plans for future books? Is The Spotlight just for singers, or will there be other types of performers featured? (If you write about competitive jugglers in love, I WILL TOTALLY READ IT.)

KS: As of right now, I plan on sticking to singers. I decided I was going to write about rock stars or vampires, so I’m sticking to that for now. Both series do feature reality shows, Night Songs has Immortal Forever, and of course this one has The Spotlight. The next book in Night Songs will take place at the circus with a fire dancer, whenever I get around to writing it.

JL: EEK! Fire dancers? WRITE THIS NOW and give it to me.

Gotta ask, since this is a music-heavy book: What are Daisy’s favorite songs to listen to when she’s feeling down? What about Cam’s favorites?

KS: Daisy listens to country music when she’s down. Cam really uses music to lift himself up as well. I’ll quote him because he says it better than I do: “But when ten thousand people are singing your song as soon as you play the first chord, or when someone tells you that words you scribbled down on the back of a paper menu helped them through a really shitty time in their lives, that’s the kind of high you can’t buy anywhere.”

JL: You’re a makeup artist in your other life. What skills/qualities from that job have you found useful in your writing life?

KS: They’re both creative fields, and they have a lot of similarities. The world is not begging for more makeup artists, and I really had to knock on every door to get established in the field, and refuse to leave once someone finally opened said door. My career isn’t a straight line, it ebbs and flows, there are busy times and times when I think I’ll never work again. It’s taught me a lot about being motivated to achieve something, I’m completely self-employed so if I don’t do something, it doesn’t get done. It’s taught me time management, marketing, and how to deal with a lot of different personalities.

JL: You are awesome, the way you balance two careers and kick ass at them both. Mad respect for you, girl.

OKAY NOW FOR SOME SILLY-ASS RANDOM QUESTIONS:

JL: Name your favorite Idol performance that no one else seemed to like.

KS: Hmmmm….I don’t know about people not liking these guys, but I got hooked on the show season 4 because I loved Bo Bice. My all time favorite contestant is Adam Lambert. I got to see him play with Queen this summer in Las Vegas. It actually brought tears to my eyes to hear him sing. It was that good. Even the gray haired guys were like DAMN, so it wasn’t just me fangirling.

JL: ADAM. YES. I saw him on the GlamNation tour and he’s an incredible talent. He’s the only Idol contestant that I actually picked up the phone and voted for.
 
If you were on The Spotlight and had to sing an 80s power ballad, which one would you pick?

KS: “Paradise in the Sand” by Beau Nasty. Or “Never Let You Go” by Steelheart. Probably Steelheart, but if I got voted through to the next week (which DUH), then Beau Nasty.

JL: Steelheart. Oh good lord, I forgot about this song! “Angel eyeeeeessss…” If you sang this, I would power-vote for you.
Which would you rather eat: prune whip, or cucumber-tomato aspic?

KS: Prune whip. Prunes, despite their terrible rep, are quite delicious.

JL: Macramé owls or black velvet paintings?

KS: Man. I am TORN.  I have a macrame plant holder, but I would love a Velvet Elvis.

JL: Bon Jovi or Whitesnake?

KS: Is this really even a question? Do you pay no attention to me? I thought my Bon Jovi problem was better documented than this.

JL: Look, I gotta lob you some softballs once and a while, right?
What movie scene makes you cry every single time?

KS: I don’t watch movies over and over. I know, I’m weird. I watched Marley and Me one day at the nail salon and cried through my mani and my pedi.

JL: What’s your favorite discontinued snack food from the 80s/90s?

KS: It’s not really snack food, but there was this place in town called The Dugout. They were a dirty sub shop, and if you asked really nicely, they’d bring you cigarettes, too. We used to order so much from them, the delivery slip would just say “The Pool.” I actually live on the same street I grew up on, and am still friends with all the kids I grew up with. We totally monopolized the apartment complex pool every summer. (Fun fact: Julie Hutchings also grew up on this street.) Thirty years later, we all still talk about how good those steak and cheese subs were.

JL: Okay, remind me not to conduct interviews with you when it’s been more than three hours since my last meal.
If you had to do Miss Piggy’s makeup for the next Muppet movie, what kind of look would you give her?

KS: We discussed this question in the trailer today at work. We all decided we’d have to go full on drag queen with her, like Ru Paul style.

JL: That is perfect. (And I LOVE that this was discussed in the work trailer.)

Last question: If you could add one talent to your already-impressive roster, what would you choose?

KS: Tarot card reading, singing, and roller derby queening.

***

Huge thanks to Kristen for stopping by today! SECONDHAND HEART releases on October 7, but you can preorder it here.

Want a preview? You can read an excerpt of the book on Kristen’s blog.

OH AND ENTER THIS GOODREADS CONTEST and you could win a paperback copy of Secondhand Heart!