Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of four novels: Who Loves You Best, Crazy To Leave You, Husbands And Other Sharp Objects, and Lift And Separate. She grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from NYU, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, married a man she met in an elevator and owned an award-winning advertising agency for more than twenty-five years.
My Q&A with the author:
How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?Visit Marilyn Simon Rothstein's website.
I think the title --along with the cover--makes it clear Who Loves You Best is a warm and humorous contemporary story and that there is a competition going on. From the cover, it’s also clear that the people in the book wear shoes.
The working title for Who Loves You Best was Battle of the Bubbies.
What's in a name?
A lot. I go for names of people who are gone but meant and still mean, a lot to me. Often, I utilize someone’s name to say thank you for being there for me. In my first two books, the main character is Marcy Hammer. Hammer is my mother’s maiden name. In Crazy to Leave You, Lauren Leo is the protagonist. Leo was my dad’s name. His nickname was Honest Leo.
How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your new novel?
Shocked. As a teen, I could never have imagined myself as a woman with the life experience to write about older mothers, adult daughters and too many grandmothers.
Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings?
Endings are the most difficult for me. On the other hand, not one of my four books begins with the words I originally envisioned.
Which do you change more?
It’s probably a tie. I can rewrite the beginning or the ending endless times. Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?
My characters are of my world. The protagonists have a sense of humor, lean on the ability to laugh while experiencing sadness and sorrow. I do that a lot.
What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?
My idea of research is going to lunch with my daughters. Or, walking around the reservoir with a friend. Or, listening in intensely while at Starbucks. Do not sit in Starbucks telling your secrets to a friend. I like to listen in.
The Page 69 Test: Who Loves You Best.
--Marshal Zeringue