Q&A With Dan Begley

Recently, I read, reviewed, and loved Dan Begley's debut novel, Ms. Taken Identity. Since Dan is incredibly nice, he agreed to answer some questions for my blog. Check out his interview below and definitely pick up a copy of his book. For a guy to write chick lit, you know it's going to be interesting, to say the least.

1) What made you want to write a book that is essentially considered "chick lit?"
The cover. I knew the only way I’d ever get pink fuzzy slippers on the cover of one of my books was to write chick lit.

Just kidding! Actually, I was writing a serious literary novel based on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” It had lots of symbolism and carefully crafted sentences. I’d even counted syllables. However, it turned out to be the book not taken, as every agent passed on it.

My wife suggested that I write something fun and upbeat, like chick lit. My response: are you crazy? Guys don’t write chick lit. But then I realized that she’d hit upon the perfect plot idea. What if a guy who has no business writing chick lit actually decides to write it? What would drive him to do it? And what would the outcome be? In a flash, I realized I could write about all the things that interest me: pop culture, literature, sports, and guys and gals trying to figure each other out. And I could do so with a mix of humor and poignancy, because chick lit allows that. In the end, I took the road not previously taken—a guy writing chick lit—and I’m so glad I did.

2) In your book, Mitch visits a dance studio for inspiration. Did you do anything similar to figure out your characters?
I didn’t have to visit a dance studio because I’d already done that. My wife had been salsa dancing for years before we met. She surprised me with a trip to a studio for my birthday one year, and I loved it. People in dance studios sure are friendly.

What I did have to do, however, was bone up on all things fashion and “chick,” especially handbags and heels. Oh, and chocolate. For this, I started reading every issue of Vogue and Cosmo and Elle I could get my hands on and strolling the malls, stopping in stores like bebe and Bare Escentuals and Lucky Brand Jeans and Godiva. I asked a lot of questions, such as, “What’s an empire waist?” “What’s a bronze plumper and how do you use it?” “Which flavor of truffle sells best?”

The women in the stores were always very friendly. I didn’t tell them I was researching for a book, just shopping for my wife. Occasionally, I’d bring something home. My wife loved my research days.

3) Is there any part of you within the character of Mitch?
Sure there is, though I’d like to think that Mitch reflects the me of many years ago. Mitch hates popular fiction, especially chick lit, because it’s not literature. It’s not art. As a college student and early post-grad, I had similar biases. James Joyce was a writer, not James Patterson.

But what I’ve come to realize is that telling a great story is the goal of fiction. Sometimes, that great story is art. Sometimes it’s just a great story, like the Harry Potter books. And those are just as fantastic as any piece of so-called “art.” Anything that entertains and engages us, anything that moves us, anything that brings us pleasure has value. That’s why we love campfire stories: the sheer thrill of what comes next.

In terms of Mitch’s voice and sense of humor, some of that is me, but most of it is just Mitch. As for any other bad qualities he possesses, don’t look at me; that’s all him!

4) Katharine Longwell is considered pretty much the queen of chick lit in your novel. Is she based off of any current popular novelist?
I loved writing the Katharine Longwell character because she got to voice a lot of the thoughts that I just mentioned. She’s smart and confident and she has learned that great story-telling is what’s important. She delights in the fact that her readers love her books, to hell with what any critic may say. She’s a woman who turned her life around by recognizing her God-given talent with words. I’d love to meet her.

As to any real-life counterpart, I was thinking of Candace Bushnell when I created her. I honestly don’t know too much about Ms. Bushnell, other than she’s incredibly successful. I certainly respect that. She’s obviously gained fame and fortune as the author of Sex and the City and her other books. Do Katharine and Candace share much else in common, in terms of personality? I don’t really know. I do know that Candace is a very attractive woman, and I certainly wanted Katharine to be that.

Interestingly enough, I recently discovered that Nora Roberts was a stay-at-home mom before she became an industry unto herself. So in that regard, the way Katharine turned her life around with her writing, she bears some resemblance to Ms. Roberts.

5) How has your life been since writing the book? Are you more inspired to watch episodes of Oprah?
Well, the NFL season just got underway, so I’m not sure I’ll have any time for Oprah or any of the girls!

Seriously, though, I’m working on another book that is similar in style and tone to Ms. Taken Identity. Though it won’t feature the same characters, it will be told from a guy’s POV and again focus on dating and relationships and love. (In other words, another chick lit novel.) Plus, this time around there’s a fireman.

So, I am again browsing all my favorite fashion magazines as a refresher course. Notting Hill and The Devil Wears Prada will making an appearance in my living room. (Maybe The Ugly Truth, also, when it comes out on DVD.) The work of a chick lit writer, when you’re not a chick, is never done!

6) What are some of your favorite books? Authors?
Wow, how much space do we have here? Well, starting as an early grade schooler, I loved the Velveteen Rabbit…

Okay, maybe I’ll just stick to what’s currently on my shelf. I tend to be a very eclectic reader with both fiction and nonfiction. My method is to go in the bookstore, browse tables and shelves, and just start picking up books that look interesting. I’ll also read the blog sites for recommendations. Right now, this is a partial list of books that I’ve recently read, am reading, or plan to read in the near future:

Love the One You’re With—Emily Giffin
Scot on the Rocks—Brenda Janowitz
The Devil in the White City—Erik Larson
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle—David Wroblewski
A Short History of Nearly Everything—Bill Bryson
Your Best Life Now—Joel Osteen

As far as favorite books go, I’d say Memoirs of a Geisha, Bridget Jones’s Diary, High Fidelity, Pride and Prejudice, The Birth of Venus. Those are the five I wouldn’t mind being stranded on a desert island with.