About the author: Marie Vareille is a French writer born in 1985. She is the author of three romantic comedies and a young adult dystopian trilogy. She lives in Paris with her husband and way too many books.
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INTERVIEW
Describe yourself in five sentences: I am a French 33 year old writer. When I was 28, I decided life was too short to make compromises and I quit my job in marketing to become a writer. Five years later, I basically spend my time reading, writing and drinking wine on Parisian terraces, so it seems like it was a good idea ! I don’t like to take things too seriously, except for food. Food should always be taken seriously. I am married and currently expecting a child (and obviously totally panicking about it).
What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? I write in the morning. Usually I start around 7:30am. I try to write or work on my manuscript at least 4 to 5 hours a day everyday so I can keep my story somewhere in my head all day long. I am a slow writer. Usually, first drafts take me minimum 5 months, then I forget it for a few weeks and spent 4 to 5 more months editing and rewriting it.
Even though I always plan and plot my stories in advance, I never follow the plan and change everything during the writing. But if I don’t plan, it doesn’t work, don’t ask me why…
My editor don’t read it before it is finished and usually there are not so many changes to be made. After that, I can go sleep or write another book and a few months later, depending on the publisher schedule, my book is finally released (and it’s my favourite part)!
Salty or sweet? Salty usually, but since I am pregnant I seem to be obsessed with anything containing sugar…
How do you come up with titles of your books? I am very bad at titles. Usually I propose a crappy one and my editor change it.
What are you reading right now? I just started Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert.
How did you celebrate the publication of your first book? I went to the gym et 7 am ! I was so excited, I could not sleep and needed something to calm me down… And then, obviously I drink (too much) champaign with friends and family, a stupid happy smile on my face.
What is your favorite quote? “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” Neale Donald Walsh
In what surroundings do you tend to write the best? At home, in my office, door closed and no noise ! I had to get used to write on trains or planes, when it’s bookfair season, but for me the quieter the better.
Do you have a guilty pleasure? A lot, some more guilty than others!
People would be surprised to know that you…: That I did a summer internship as an investment banker when I was 21…
What do you want readers to take away from your books? Enjoy life, find love wherever it is, don’t judge, don’t pay too much attention to what others think of you and follow your dream, they know the way.
What are you currently working on? I am currently finishing the 3rd book of my Young Adult trilogy and planning on starting the sequel of my romantic comedy “I don’t really need you” very soon after that.
*****
“I Really Don’t Need You”
Blurb: Chloe is the perfect Parisian: she’s too skinny, smokes too much, and drinks too much. She also has the bad habit of getting into toxic relationships, particularly with her ex Guillaume who is engaged to another woman. Her friend Constance, however, is a hopeless romantic, spends all her money on Jane Austen memorabilia yet is unable to find her Mr. Darcy.
One day, the two friends make a bet: Chloe will spend one year in the countryside, far from men and temptations, to finally write the novel she has always dreamed of; Constance will let go of her foolish dreams of romance and start hooking up with perfect strangers.
From Paris to Bordeaux vineyards to London, this bet will have completely unintended consequences.