Q&A With Carinn Jade

I am so thrilled to be doing this Q&A with Carinn Jade who recently released her debut mystery novel The Astrology House. Carinn is also a lawyer & cohost of the podcast Pop Fiction Women. Carinn’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, DailyWorth, & Motherwell!

Q: Carinn would you give a brief description of your mystery novel The Astrology House & talk about where the idea for the novel came from?

A: The Astrology House follows four Manhattan couples who escape the city for a weekend at an astrology themed retreat. Long simmering resentments and new perspectives on old wounds lead to fresh conflict and confused desires. At the center of it, the astrologer host has a terrifying secret of her own, and not everyone will be leaving The Astrology House at the end of the weekend. The idea for this novel came from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! Erika Jayne had an astrology party and my imagination kept building on the idea of a group of friends, the secrets they keep and the desires they hide.

Q: The Astrology House is your first novel & I can’t wait to read it since I enjoy mysteries! Out of all the genres to write in, what fascinates you about writing mysteries?

A: I love complicated characters, but mostly I love to figure things out. I love clues and red herrings and a mystery to solve. It gives my brain a break from worrying about my life but keeps it busy working out a fictional world!

Q: How long did it take you to write The Astrology House?

A: It took me three months to write a first (messy) draft, and about a year to revise it. I then spent four more months editing with my publisher. I think. I’m actually terrible with keeping track of time passing.

Q: Is the plot of your next book a new mystery or will it be a sequel to The Astrology House?

A: No sequel in the works (yet?) but my next book will also be a vacation thriller. It will involve a famous actress, a lawyer grappling with new motherhood and an island with secrets.

Q: How does it feel knowing that The Astrology House is an Amazon editors pick for best mystery, thriller and suspense? How does it feel knowing that New York Times Bestselling authors Ashley Audrain, Sarah Pearse, Katy Hays & Mary Kubica gave the book rave reviews?

A: Getting blurbs from other authors happens early in the publishing process and receiving those felt like Christmas morning. Their words took my breath away, truly. The Amazon editors’ pick came very late in the publishing journey, and it was another joy. It felt like confirmation that this book was ready to be out in the world and find its readers. It all feels wonderful!

Q: How do you juggle writing, being a lawyer and having a podcast?

A: I am very fortunate that I love everything I do and that makes it easier to find time. I also know the value of even just a few spare minutes. I always have a novel and a note in my phone with me so that I can read or write when 5-10 minutes arise. It’s all about stealing moments and those minutes add up to a lot. I’m terribly wasteful with time when I have a huge chunk stretched out before me. I do best with bite sized moments.

Q: Would you talk to about your podcast Pop Fiction Women, & provide a link to your podcast here? What made you want to start this podcast and what is your advice for anyone wanting to have a podcast?

A: Starting a podcast is so much easier than it was a few years ago! There are one-stop apps that do everything for you now, it’s wonderful. My biggest advice would be to know what you want to say, what you’re obsessed with. I was obsessed with writers and women centered entertainment and I knew I could talk about it for years, week after week. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-fiction-women/id1488652233

Q: What’s it like having your essays appear in The New York Times, DailyWorth, & Motherwell? What is your advice for anyone wanting to submit pieces for those publications and what is the submission process like?

A: Writing nonfiction personal essays was the way I bridged the gap between writing and revising legal contracts to creating fiction. I learned how to structure a narrative, albeit a much shorter one! My advice for anyone wanting to write essays is to focus on quantity. Over the years I published hundreds of short pieces, each one strengthened my voice. Voice is essential in good fiction.

Q: If The Astrology House were to be made into a limited series or a movie, who would your dream cast be for the characters you created? I’m also tired of remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels and spin offs. We original content again and they should use more books as ideas!

A: I agree!! Book-to-screen adaptations absolutely thrill me. I recently watched Divergent (the Veronica Roth adaptation) with my kids and was enamored with every role. Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q. That casting director can spot a star from a decade away!! I’m also really obsessed with the cast of Twisters – Daisy Edgar Jones would be an amazing Margot.