Q&A With Molly Fader  

 Today I’m doing a Q&A with USA Today’s Bestselling Author Molly Fader. Molly Fader is the author of “The Sunshine Girls,” “The McAvoy Sisters,” and “The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season”.  

Q: So Molly at what point in your life did you realize that your calling was to be an author? 

 A: Pretty early on.  I was an avid reader as a kid and when I got a hold of Emily of New Moon by LM Montgomery  – I realized a writer was an actual job a person could have. After that I was constantly writing something. Usually short stories about a bookish girl and her cat   

 Q: What made you want to write contemporary romance in particular? 

 A:  Well, in all honesty, probably an introduction to Harlequin Romance novels at what could be argued was too young an age   But once I got my hands on a romance novel – I was pretty obsessed. The obsessesion was then cemented when I was a teenager and I had two significant tragedies occur in my life. A friend was killed by a drunk driver and another friend committed suicide – in the aftermath of those two events I dove head first into romance because of the closure they provided. The Happily Ever After was something I needed to experience because my friends and I were all in such pain. Romance novels became an escape into another world and a constant comfort. And that was such a powerful experience that I wanted to provide some of that comfort to other readers…  

 Q: What is your advice to anyone who wants to pursue writing as a career? What’s your advice to anyone who struggles with writers block?  

 A: I think there can be a lot of worry about publishing and career and finding an audience and the first step is always the book. Actually, the first step is always the idea. Take your idea and shine it to as high a polish as you can. Remember the things you love as a reader, the tropes, the characters, the twists the reveals, all that stuff – and apply it to your idea. And then write. And then write some more. Write when it’s hard. Write when you think it’s boring. The act of finishing a book is seriously the best writing teacher you’re going to have. Finish a book. And then… set it aside for a month. And then read it and start making it better. Find readers you trust and admire (not just readers you know will say something nice) and have them give you feedback. Apply it.  

As for writer’s block – for me, writer’s block usually means I’m doing something wrong. I’ve taken a wrong turn. But I have only learned that through YEARS of writing. If you have writer’s block, sit back, put your book aside for a while so you can look at it with fresh eyes – read it and see if you’ve made a wrong turn. If yes, fix it. If no, but still blocked: do all the things that usually inspire you – move your body, talk to friends about your book, listen to music, read, watch television and movies – and then make yourself write a hundred words. Keep chipping away at it until the words come back to you.  

 Q: If you were to write in a totally different genre, which genre would it be and why? 

 A: I’ve been very lucky to be able to write in the genres that really interest me.  Sometimes I admire and relish the fantasy world building, but I don’t have the memory, imagination or fortitude for that kind of writing.  

 Q: Are you writing a new novel now? If so can you spoil a little bit about it? 

 A: I’m putting together a proposal for a book I’m very excited about. Sadly, I can’t talk about it yet, because it’s still coming together in my mind!  

 Q: If you were to collaborate with another author who would it be with and why? 

 A: Oh! I am actually currently writing romance novels with my oldest and dearest writing friend. We met at the very beginning of our careers and have been each other’s cheerleaders and critique partners for years. When I had burnout last year – I reached out to her with the idea that we could co-write because we both needed to be reminded of the joy in writing romance novels. And it worked. We’re working on a rom com series – but the name is still a secret…  

 Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to any of your novels? 

A: I WISH! Sunshine Girls got some interest and so did Everything I Left Unsaid which is a book I wrote under the name M. O’Keefe. I hope that Hollywood learns from Bridgerton and realizes that the adaptation of romance novels done right – comes with an ingrained and rabid audience. More romance novel adaptations – PLEASE!