Better Believe It
By: Fern Ronay
Publication Date: December 3rd 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Jada Marlone’s life appears to be perfect on social media. She has a loving husband, a beautiful child, and a successful career. What she doesn’t post about is the disconnect she feels in her marriage, the difficulties of motherhood, and her strained relationship with her mother.
Resigned to never being truly happy, Jada runs into an ex-boyfriend. While trying to decide whether the coincidence is her second chance at happiness, Jada begins having dreams that feature her dead cousin Gina.
With Gina’s help, Jada starts to uncover the real reasons behind her life decisions. As Jada tries to figure out her future, uncontrollable events threaten her resolve. Will she be able to draw from all she learned from Gina, or will she risk making the same mistakes twice?
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Hello and happy summer. My name is Emily and thank you for giving me some of your time.
Of course! I'm so happy to do this, Emily. Thank you for having me!
Was writing your first love?
No. In fact, I really never considered myself a creative person because, to me, creativity was playing the piano and singing and painting, and I can't hold a tune or a paintbrush. But there was a time when I found myself living in NYC and working as a lawyer and wanting to tell a story. I didn't know the first thing about writing but, if nothing else, I'd always been a good student. So, I did what good students do and took a class. It opened my eyes and it was where I started a novel. The novel would later be published by Red Adept and is called Better in the Morning.
Where do you like to write?
On my bed. I always had visions of writing in cafes or, since we live in sunny LA, on the beach, but that never happens. I liked the comfort and privacy of my bed but maybe I'll be a cafe or beach writer one of these days. I'm always evolving!
Is writing everything you thought it would be?
Yes. Anytime I finish a page, a chapter, a scene, or even a blog post, it's like coming out of a meditation. To be in that flow and release those words and thoughts, it's magic, and I'm grateful for it. Now, editing? That's another story.
Who is/was your favourite character to write about?
Women who could be your friend or neighbor and you have no idea the inner turmoil they're going through. Everyone has a story and I love hearing about them, reading about them and writing about them.
How do you form your story ideas?
Ideas come to us, I believe, from the universal mind. Ideas are a gift and I always look up and say "Thank you!" But then to "form" the idea and mold it, that's where the work begins, but again, I try to just let it flow. Sometimes, I can't believe what comes out of my fingers as I type and again, I just say "Thank you.”
Do you keep notes during the day? (In case something inspires you or, if you had a lively
conversation and thought, “Hey that would be great in a book.”)
Yes, in the Notes section of my phone and in the million notebooks and journals that are in every room in my house.
Do you write in one sitting or in bursts?
I'd say bursts because I drink 3L of water a day and so I am forced to take breaks!
What was the last book you read? Did it live up to your expectations?
I am almost finished with Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and I can say I loved it! It's not over yet but yes, it lived up to my expectations. It is told from the perspectives of four young people during the end of World War II and it is heartbreaking and beautiful.
What are some of your most difficult parts to write?
Descriptions. I'm a dialogue girl. I love dialogue. I love banter. I don't care how the trees swayed but I know it helps set the scene so I'm happy to sway trees for readers but it doesn't come as easily to me as dialogue.
Did this book follow your original plan? Or did it turn into something completely different?
Better Believe It is the story of Jada, an unhappily married mother who is guided in her dreams by her dead, chain-smoking cousin. It did follow my original outline but there were parts that came to have a deeper meaning that I didn't expect though are happily welcomed.
Did your characters ever stop talking to you at any point in your writing?
Luckily, I haven't had characters give me the silent treatment. Instead, they usually won't shut up.
Was it hard to stay motivated during your writing process? What were some of your go-to
strategies to stay on point?
I promise myself that every single day I will write just one line. More often than not, I end up writing much more but I make myself write at least one line.
Do you have a playlist for this book? Or any song that helped you develop a particular scene?
I don't have a playlist or a song for a particular scene but whenever I hear Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield I think of my main characters, Veronica and Jada, who think their story has been written and that they are stuck and they are so wrong.
Lastly, what is one key piece of advice you would give to anyone wishing to go down the writing path?
Be patient. People say that a lot about the publishing process but I think it applies to the writing process too. Take the time to edit, to beta read, to change things. Be patient with yourself and the process and the story and let it develop.
Thank you for your time today :)
Thank you!!
Fern Ronay has lived in NYC, Chicago, and now sunny Los Angeles with her husband, but she will always consider herself a Jersey girl. She is the author of two novels, Better in the Morning and Better Believe It, and is the host of the podcast Signs from the Other Side, as well as a host at the AfterBuzzTV network. Follow Fern on Instagram @FernRonay and check out her free ebook at FernRonay.com.
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