- Tell us the story behind the story. How did TAKE MY HUSBAND come to be?
I was working on another book—and truly in a zone, dedicated to finishing it—when the muse flew in through an open window landed in my lap, delivering the idea to wrote a book about a happily married woman who wants to kill her husband. It is, of course, pure coincidence that the muse paid a visit at the exact moment my dear husband interrupted my writing session.
- What was the most challenging aspect of writing TAKE MY HUSBAND?
It’s always important to make sure the reader is invested in the main character’s emotional journey, but with TAKE MY HUSBAND it was even more vital… and more difficult. This book was simply not going to work if the reader didn’t relate to Laurel and understand exactly why she snapped. That took a lot of mental energy, a lot of trial and error. For a time, I didn’t think it was possible to create sympathy for a character who wanted to kill her husband. But once I discovered he was in the way of a relatable desire—something burning and primal—I knew I had a book.
- What is the message you want readers to take away from your book?
Stand up for yourself in your relationship. Your needs and desires are just as important as your partner’s. A good relationship cannot be based on the subjugation of one person’s needs for another’s.
- How did Covid-19 impact/inspire your writing?
On the surface it didn’t, because I have a little office in my home where I sit and write, so my daily routine didn’t change much. But before the pandemic, I relished my time alone in the house. It just gave me the mental space I needed. Once we went into lockdown, my husband and three twenty-somethings were all home. All. The. Time. It could have driven me right up a wall, so I had to find a way to access my mental space while in a house full of people.
Then, of course, I wrote a book about a woman who wanted to kill her husband. So I worked out some demons!
- Describe your writing schedule. Do you outline? Any habits?
I do most of my writing in the early hours of the day. Usually, I wake up around 5 am, make myself some coffee, and spend a little playtime on social media while waiting for the caffeine to kick in. Then I’m good to go.
And yes, I do outline. I’m a firm believer in story structure. That said, my outline is a fluid thing, because once I start writing the book, I get to know my characters better, and sometimes they simply won’t do or say what I expected them to. And that always takes precedence over story. Character is sacred! So when that happens, I rearrange the story to allow the character to forge a true path.
- What books are on your nightstand? What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Debby Applegate’s MADAM: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age, and next up is STATE OF TERROR by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny. They’re both unusual picks for me, as I don’t read much nonfiction, nor thrillers. But these books called to me!
- What have you learned from this experience?
I learned it’s possible to tackle even the darkest subjects with humanity and humor.
- What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
The best advice: Write the story you most want to read. For my younger self: Study story structure. You can’t build without a solid foundation.
- What are you working on now?
I’m writing a novel that explores a difficult father-daughter relationship. New terrain for me!
For more information on Ellen Meister and her wildly popular and wickedly entertaining novels, visit her website.
