Author Confessions: Jamie Brenner

On her new book, her love of Cape Cod and the complexities of female friendship.

It’s easy to fall into a good Jamie Brenner novel—they’re breezy and fun and teeming with depth—and I’m happy to report that she has a new one out this summer.

Jamie has been so incredibly kind to me over the years as she offered up advice and contacts as my books were coming out, and we’ve stayed in touch since. I blurbed her latest book (loved!), and we’re even doing an event next Tuesday in Warren, RI (just outside of Newport) at Ink Fish Books. Come say hello!

At the event, we’ll be talking about her brand new book: A Novel Summer. Set on Cape Cod, the book follows three friends navigating their relationships while one finds love working at a charming beach town bookshop. It’s so full of charm, and it plays into so many of my fantasies. Plus, I love the Cape setting.

Jamie stopped by Dear Fiction to share insight about her book and her writing process. Wait until you hear about her “creative beer goggles.”

How did you come up with the idea for A Novel Summer? 
When my 30th college reunion rolled around I thought about the best friends I still have from that time and how life gets in the way of seeing each other. The things we dreamed of in school – careers, husbands, children – are the things that keep us apart most of the time. And it’s a natural life progression, but a trade-off we never fully anticipated. And that started me thinking about a fictional group of friends who reunite a few years after graduation at the beach one summer. That was the spark.

You've set some of your books on the East End of Long Island. Now you've moved to Provincetown. What is it about P-town that captured your heart?
I fell in love with the place when I spent time there writing The Forever Summer. It has all the beauty of the Cape with the art and culture of a city. The place has a long history as an arts colony and I never fail to meet interesting, creative people whenever I’m able to spend time there. It’s just a dream place full of possibility. It’s the ultimate setting for a book, especially books about love and self-discovery.

You write about the complications of friendship. Did you have a friend that got away? Why does friendship interest you as an author?
I think in many ways our friends are our first loves. Not romantic love, but certainly the first people we meet and choose to spend time with and get great joy from knowing. And friendships inevitably have complications just like romantic or familial relationships. They’re endlessly fascinating. A friendship can pre-date a spouse and children and remain with us even as we lose our parents. I’ve had some of my friends for as long as I can literally remember, relationships that will literally be lifelong. They are a sort of miracle.

You've written several novels now. When you begin a draft, what do you dread the most about the process? Do you ever doubt yourself?
There’s always this weird point in writing a novel when I think things are going great, I have a few chapters written, “this one’s going to be easy.” It’s like having creative beer goggles. When I read the material a few weeks in, I realize it’s just plain bad and not a single word is usable.  That moment of realization is the thing I dread the most about the process. Especially since I always have the hope that it won’t happen this time!

If you could live in one of your novels, which one would it be and why? 
BLUSH! I want to live on a vineyard with my dynastic winemaking family. Plus, the house has a great library.

Lastly, if you could relive one moment of your writing life, what would it be and why? 
The best moment of my writing life happened in the summer of 2018, the year I published THE HUSBAND HOUR.  I was doing a book event in my hometown, looked out at the audience, and saw my high school English teacher. Nothing will ever beat that.

I absolutely love that answer. My English teacher came to one of my events this year and it made me so happy. It was like having a long lost family member show up in your life. So special.

Jamie’s book just came out and you can buy it here, here and here. As always, if you like what you’re reading, please “heart” this post. Have a great weekend, everyone!