Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

Welcome to Author Meg Mitchell Moore


Bio:


Meg Mitchell Moore worked for several years as a journalist. Her articles have been published in a wide variety of business and consumer magazines. She received a master's degree in English literature from New York University. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and their three children. The Arrivals is her first novel.


Interview:


If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Definitely the past.

What is one book everyone should read?
I am so influenced by what I'm currently reading but right now I would say The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because not only is it a great read but it touches on so many different and important topics: science, race, poverty, journalism, health care...

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The ability to subsist happily on almost no sleep. OR, maybe a Samantha-in-Bewitched sort of thing where I could snap my fingers and all of the laundry would be washed, folded and put away.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Coffee, preferably with some kind of chocolate in there.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Smoothie.

Night owl, or early bird?
Early.

Skittles or M&Ms?
Definitely M&Ms.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
If you HAVE a parent or you ARE a parent there's something in there for you.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
My second book is currently with my editor, and I hope to start my third this summer.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
As a child I read the Betsy, Tacy and Tib books by Maud Hart Lovelace. I am now reading them with my own daughters and I still love them.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Listen to those wiser than you.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
I have many favorite authors but if I had to pick just one I'd choose Alice Munro. I can open any of her books to any random page and be completely blown away by the writing and the way she brings her characters one hundred percent to life, every single one of them. There is no such thing as a stock character or a stock description for her.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
An agent who did not end up taking on my book was very encouraging about an early draft but told me that my characters weren't in enough danger (could be emotional or physical)--she said it seemed like they could take care of themselves, so why should the reader worry about them? She advised me to have my characters do things that would make the reader cringe. I think that's excellent writing advice.

Hidden talent?
I'm really good at putting memories in context: for example, if someone says, "What month did so-and-so get married?" I'll remember something strange like, well, we took the dog to the beach that day, and they don't allow dogs on the beach after May 1st, so it must have been April, because I know it was after Easter...." etc. I also remember odd details about people I've never met or don't know well (like if a friend told me a story about her friend I'll always remember that detail about the friend even though I may never meet her).

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
A house with a gorgeous mudroom (cubbies, shelves, shoe racks) to contain the detritus my children shed each time they come in my front door. Unfortunately in my town
said house would probably cost more than one million dollars but it would be a really good start.

What's your favorite season/weather?
Bright sunny windy fall New England day--cool enough for long sleeves but only just. I was married on a day like that.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
I bought a Nespresso machine I had had my eye on for some time.

The Arrivals:

It's early summer when Ginny and William's peaceful life in Vermont comes to an abrupt halt.

First, their daughter Lillian arrives, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely when Jane ends up on bed rest. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood - only this time around, their children are facing adult problems. 

By summer's end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family - and the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true.


Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group I have 2 copies of The Arrivals for Giveaway.
Open to US or Canada (no P.O. Boxes)
Ends 6/16/11

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