Photo Content from Jen Marie Wiggins
When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I always wanted to be a writer, but was very afraid of the idea. I journaled and wrote stories that I wouldn't show anyone. The itch was always there. Around the time I turned 40, I finally decided that I was going to do the thing. I was going to speak about it, get serious and go all in. Once I did, things started to line up (well maybe not perfectly, ha) but I got my first story published, I found an amazing writing teacher, got in a writing group and from there, my confidence grew. It's been a long twisty journey, but I feel this is what I am supposed to be doing.
Can you tell us when you started THE GOOD BRIDE, how that came about?
I started writing The Good Bride in 2019 after Hurricane Michael hit the small town of Mexico Beach, FL. The coastal town is on the panhandle and is a place where my family had vacationed and owned property for many years. We have so many beautiful memories there and the town was basically decimated by the wind and water surge from the storm, leaving the whole area completely uninhabitable. At that same time, Megan Markel and Prince Harry were getting married and I thought about what it would be like if this small struggling town got that same kind of attention. From there, my imagination took off. . .
What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?
My favorite chapter in the book is the one where my main character, Ruth (the bride) takes her estranged father on a beachwalk the morning of the rehearsal dinner. It's a really visually beautiful scene, yet there's this connection they are both trying to force. They seem to be struggling to make small talk, but each has their own agenda and while one thing is being said, there are many layers to the conversation. The chapter takes place at a point in the book where some nefarious stuff has already happened and later the reader will want to go back and reread that scene again with fresh eyes.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your characters?
That's a really good question. I knew I wanted to write a suspense novel where the main character was someone the reader could root for. Often in this genre, most of the characters turn out to be just awful. I love that while Ruth is struggling under the weight of the expectations of her sisters and she goes through all this crazy and terrifying journey, she's still able to find her voice and strength while retaining the virtues that make her who she is.
What were your inspirations for the character development?
My characters tend to be a blend of interesting characteristics in many people I know or who I have observed. Characters-like people-aren't all good or bad and it's that moral ambiguity, the moral compass that we all are operating from which makes a person interesting. One of the themes in this novel is good intentions versus the outcome of those intentions. All of the characters in The Good Bride are operating from this place where they believe they are doing "the right thing." It's the collision of those perspectives that creates conflict and makes a good story . . . and makes life interesting.
What was your favorite subject when you were in school?
English was the only subject I really liked. In 11th grade, I took Advanced English and we read Anna Karina which is the world's thickest book. I was one of the only kids who actually finished it. I really loved the tragedy of it, and for me, it reinforced the power of words.
What is the first job you have had?
The first job I had as a kid was working at an A&W Rootbeer stand. It was the old fashioned kind where people drive up in their car and you put the tray of food on their window. I was 15 and actually wore roller skates to wait on people which is crazy. I made $2.13 plus tips...there is definately a good story in that somewhere.
If you could go back in time to one point in your life, where would you go?
I would go back to when my kids were babies and toddlers. I have three boys who are all teenagers now and life is a very different kind of crazy. When you are the mom of small children, there is so much worry and it feels overwhelming. (Like that point in your life will never end, but looking back it goes by in a blink.) I would soak up those moments again if I could.
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
I would definately choose love with the promise of heartbreak. The older I get, the more I see there is a lesson behind every experience-good or bad. The colors of life are most vivid when you experience the pain, love, heartbreak, everything life has to offer. As writers, those emotions are we mine in our stories.
What is the first job you have had?
The first job I had as a kid was working at an A&W Rootbeer stand. It was the old fashioned kind where people drive up in their car and you put the tray of food on their window. I was 15 and actually wore roller skates to wait on people which is crazy. I made $2.13 plus tips...there is definately a good story in that somewhere.
If you could go back in time to one point in your life, where would you go?
I would go back to when my kids were babies and toddlers. I have three boys who are all teenagers now and life is a very different kind of crazy. When you are the mom of small children, there is so much worry and it feels overwhelming. (Like that point in your life will never end, but looking back it goes by in a blink.) I would soak up those moments again if I could.
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
I would definately choose love with the promise of heartbreak. The older I get, the more I see there is a lesson behind every experience-good or bad. The colors of life are most vivid when you experience the pain, love, heartbreak, everything life has to offer. As writers, those emotions are we mine in our stories.
The Good Bride is in development for TV!
The Wedding of the Year turns disastrous in this twisty family drama full of lies and betrayals, perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Ware.
One year after a devastating hurricane, bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying her perfect groom in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast. The weekend is carefully curated, with the displays of pomp and social media magic meant to promote an area still struggling to rebuild as well as bring Ruth’s estranged family back together.
Yet as good intentions often go, this road to wed is hell and paved in complications. With tensions rising between the family and the bridal party, long-buried secrets come to light, and accusations start flying. Things officially spiral out of control when the oceanfront rehearsal dinner is rocked by a series of gunshots, and a high-profile guest goes missing. As the investigation gets underway, it turns out that everyone has something to hide.
Big Little Lies meets The Guest List in this gripping page turner that asks the big questions about messy family liaisons, modern media, and the lies we tell the world.
You can purchase The Good Bride at the following Retailers:
And now, The Giveaways.
1 Winner will receive a Copy of The Good Bride by Jen Marie Wiggins.
Please comment below/share on Instagram to enter and tag JeanBookNerd.
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