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Ask the Author: Michelle Gable

“Ask me a question.” Michelle Gable

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I‘m having a hard time deciding which of your books is my favorite. Loved them all. Do you have a new book coming out soon? Can’t wait. Thanks, Jane
Michelle Gable I'm sorry it took me so long to respond--I just saw this question! I have a book coming out in August. The Bookseller's Secret. There's actually a Goodreads giveaway for an advanced copy running now!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
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You said in your own review of The Book of Summer in 2017 that "if novels are children, this is my favorite book kid by far." I am curious if that is still true? I have recently read two of your books (The Summer I Met Jack and The Book of Summer) and I am curious if that statement is still true? I really enjoyed both books, but I certainly did fall in love with Cissy, Ruby, and Bess in the Book of Summer.
Michelle Gable I'm sorry it took me so long to answer. I just saw this question! TBOS is probably still my favorite. I had so much fun with the characters and it remains my easiest to write, by far.
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Are all of the journals original and non-fiction? I am assuming the story about April is fiction and is from your wonderful story telling talent. Is that correct?
Michelle Gable I'm sorry it took me so long to respond--I just saw this question! The journals are entirely fiction. I don't know that there were journals, but when I saw pictures of the apartment, I noticed neatly tied up stacks of paper and decided that's what they were. Although, many of the people from the journals are real (Boldini, the professional farter ;), etc).
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Does your books have any mature content?
Michelle Gable There are some mature themes in my books, as well as some "language" and the occasional "romantic" scene (some more "closed door" than others).
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Hi Michelle! One of the things I love about your books is that you are able to transport your readers to the books location with your words. When I read " The Book Of Summer" there were moments when I could smell the Nantucket air; it's amazing! Before you sit down to write do you personally visit the location of your book to get a feel for its vibe? Have you ever visited a site and felt instantly inspired to write?
Michelle Gable Hi Shel!
I hadn't seen this earlier--sorry for the delay! Yes, wherever possible I try to visit. You'll notice that my characters tend to live in nice places. ;) I'd always wanted to write about Nantucket and when I saw the Vanity Fair article about the homes in Sconset, I knew this would be my angle. I've been several times and two summers ago my family and I actually stayed in a house ON Baxter Road. Of course, on the non-cliff side. Glad you enjoyed it. I loved writing that book.
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Michelle, Just wanted to say how excited I am to read THE SUMMER I MET JACK. I literally screamed out loud with joy when I got the ARC. Love that you wrote it and love the amount of energy and research. cant wait to dive in! Can you tell me if you had to get permission from the Kennedys to write this?? xoxox I'm an excited reader
Michelle Gable Hi Marisa! So glad you're excited for the new book. To answer your question, it would be very unusual to seek "permission" from a public figure/family/person/business for a novel. Generally the only permissions required involve copyrighted song lyrics or quotes from books/poems/etc., that sort of thing. While this novel is based on facts (and GOBS of research), there are certainly gaps (especially in Alicia's storyline/history) I filled in with my imagination. All of my books are based on real people and events, and I try to make them as accurate and realistic as possible but, in the end, I do write fiction! Not that permission would be required for non-fiction, either. Plenty of biographies and memoirs have been written about the Kennedys that I'm sure they would not approve (e.g. memoirs from JFK's various mistresses).
Hope you love the read!
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I loved A Paris Apartment. It is reviewed on my blog, Silver's Reviews and on Goodreads. I am currently reading I'll See You In Paris. I am enjoying the book. THANKS. I need a question mark in my comment so here goes. :) ? Elizabeth
Michelle Gable Thank you so much Elizabeth! So glad you're enjoying I'll See You in Paris!
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Hi Michelle I am reading 'Paris Apartment' now, and am wondering is it based on a true story? I am enjoying your lovely story and style of description of the beautiful pieces. Thank you for a good read.
Michelle Gable Hi Bette,
I'm so sorry for the egregiously delayed response. I only just realized that these pending questions were sitting here! Yes, it was based on a true story. My agent sent me the below article and I went from there! So glad you enjoyed it. :)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world...
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What make you went through an idea of writing A Paris Apartment ?
Michelle Gable Hi Ankit, Sorry for the delayed response, I just realized I had this backup of questions! No idea! To answer your question, in 2010 my agent sent me an article about the abandoned apartment:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world...

And said that she thought I could write an interesting story around it. My two questions were what must it have been like to see the apartment for the first time and why did the original inhabitant leave? That's how I ended up with two time periods/story lines.
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Michelle- I saw that you liked my review of "I'll See You in Paris". I was over the moon to get the ARC and I can't tell you how much I loved that book. I finished it in two days between teaching and my own writing, then went and blogged about it. I loved everything about the novel. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Do you have a follow up planned? Kate
Michelle Gable Hi Kate! Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm thrilled you enjoyed the book. I do have a third book coming out in about a year (early 2017) that I just turned into my editor about a month ago. Like my first two books, this one has multiple storylines and time periods, but the second takes place in Nantucket! :) Thanks for taking the time to write a review.
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Note that you live in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.. I am V-Pres. of the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, do you book talks? Irene camillebythesea@cox.net
Michelle Gable Hi Irene! I just noticed this question. Absolutely I do talks at libraries. I've done them before. Feel free to email me to schedule something. I love CBS library! m.gable@outlook.com
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It seemed that while Marthe's apartment in present day was slowly being emptied out, that in the journals, at the same time, the apartment was being filled up by Marthe at the same pace so we reached a full, locked apartment at the same time that we reached an emptied one. Was that an intentional plot device during the writing process or did it just end up that way when you were organizing the two stories?
Michelle Gable Wow - that's a fantastic observation and you're the first person who's pointed it out! It was not intentional, and just how the stories ended up coming together. But now I kind of wish I'd planned it that way. ;)
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