Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Once upon a time, when her dad married Sage’s mom, Daisy was thrilled to get a bright and shiny new sister. But Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.
Sage didn’t have Daisy’s smarts—she had to go back a grade to enroll in the fancy rich-kid school. So she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down to elevate herself. After the divorce, the stepsisters’ rivalry continued until the final, improbable straw: Daisy married Sage’s first love, and Sage fled California.
Eighteen years, two kids and one troubled marriage later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But when the little sister they have in common needs them both, they put aside their differences to care for Cassidy. As long-buried truths are revealed, no one is more surprised than they when friendship blossoms.
Their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences. They could turn their backs on each other again…or they could learn to forgive once and for all and finally become true sisters of the heart.
Enjoy this Q&A with the author:
1. Love the cover of
THE STEPSISTERS. Summer Sun! Tell us what your new novel is about.
THE STEPSISTERS is the
story of two women falling into friendship. Daisy and Sage’s childhoods
intersected for a few years, when Daisy’s dad was married to Sage’s mom. The
girls were classmates and rivals but never friends, not even when they lived
together, and certainly not after their parents divorced. As teens, Daisy had a
crush on Sage’s boyfriend Jordan. After graduation, Sage left to live a more
glamorous life in Europe, and Daisy married Jordan.
The story starts when
the stepsisters are in their thirties. Daisy’s marriage is in trouble, Sage is
back in LA from a life that was not nearly as glamorous as it appeared from the
outside, and their shared half-sister needs their help. As they get to know
each other as adults, they uncover long buried secrets, begin to see the events
of their past with new eyes and discover they might even maybe like each other.
Until one of them does something that could forever sabotage any chance of a
forever friendship.
There were so many
moments in THE STEPSISTERS that stabbed me right in the heart while writing.
Daisy is one of those heroines you root for from page one, a nurturer at heart.
She’s such a caring mom, you can’t help but love her. Sage has sharper
edges—and a sharper tongue—but she had a harder life. I don’t want to say too
much, so I’ll just say that this is the kind of book that’s going to stick with
you in the best possible way.
2. What makes stories
about women's friendships so compelling?
Friendship stories are
compelling because they’re relatable, aspirational and infinitely variable
because no two women are friends in the exact same way. Most women are
hardwired to crave connections. It’s a primal need, to be part of something
larger than ourselves. To feel known, cared for and cared about, loved,
accepted. Friendship stories feed that need as we’re reading—especially over
the past year when so many people have felt isolated during the pandemic. As we
read, we recognize ourselves and our own friends, and we internalize lessons
about respect and opening our hearts.
3. Do you have to do
any research to write your novels, or is it all living and observing?
I definitely do
research, though the amount depends on the book, of course. In The
Stepsisters, Daisy is a nurse anesthesiologist as a direct result of
conversations I had with a nurse anesthesiologist. My original plan was that
Daisy, the daughter of a doctor, would be a doctor herself. But while talking
about the realities of an anesthesiologist’s life and schedule, I realized that
it wouldn’t work for the character I had in mind. So before I wrote one word,
my research took her in another direction.
The book is dedicated
to the woman who took the time to help me.
4. You've written so
many novels. Of course, THE STEPSISTERS is your current favorite novel, but
which book do you love the most?
I have many, but two
spring immediately to mind because they were so much fun to write—Daughters
of the Bride and The Friendship List. Daughters of the Bride was the
only book that came to me fully formed. When I got the idea, I knew
everything—I knew the mom and each of the sisters. I understood them. That book
was a joy from start to finish.
I had to work a little
harder to plot The Friendship List, but once I had the plot down and got
to the fun part (writing the story), every day was a good writing day. With
most books, there are five or ten scenes that I can’t wait to write, but with The
Friendship List, it seemed like every day I got to write a scene I was
really excited about. When I write, it’s almost like a movie playing in my
head, so it’s very entertaining for me to see what the characters say and do as
the scene comes to life.
THE STEPSISTERS was a different kind of pleasure—more internal
conflict between the characters because of their history with each other, which
led to such a heartwarming, soul-satisfying ending. I couldn’t do anything for
a couple of days after finishing this story because my mind and my heart were
still in it too deeply. I think it will stick with you, too.
5. Any tips for
wanna-be writers?
Never give up. The
world is full of incredibly talented writers who didn’t want it enough to keep
going no matter what. The middle of a book is always hard, which means you’ll
never finish a book if you can’t get through the middle. You’ll never sell a book
if all you can write are great beginnings. You have to keep going, keep
learning, keep improving. Try different methods so you can figure out what
works for you. Write a great story, and readers will find you. And then write
another. And another.
About the Author:
#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.
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