Author Interview Series: Jamie Brenner

Jamie Brenner is the bestselling author of eight novels, including The Forever Summer and Blush. She grew up in suburban Philadelphia on a steady diet of books and daytime dramas, then moved to New York City for a career in publishing before becoming an author. After raising two daughters in Manhattan, Jamie now lives in a quaint small town worthy of its own novel.

Beachy Reading

Ms. Brenner’s books are enticing, fun reads any time of year. Though, they’re especially delicious in the summer. They invite you to pour a crisp glass of wine (or a crispy mocktail) and settle into a comfortable chaise by the pool or in a beach chair in the warm sand as they detail the frothy, complicated lives of her main characters, who aim to live their truth in their dynamics. 

I first read Blush in preparation for a book-and-author-centric fundraiser. I read it in a single sitting, which is the hallmark of an excellent beach read. 

You get to know her characters well enough to feel like you’ve become friendly with them— relatable people with remarkable lives. In Blush, the family owns a winery. In Forever Summer, the main character owns an inn. 

In her latest, A Novel Summer, the main character is an author who returns to her beloved beach town.

Author Shelby Archer found inspiration for her first novel while living on the picturesque shores of Provincetown on Cape Cod— where she expects a warm homecoming when she comes to the town to celebrate her new bestseller. Instead, she is confronted with the cold shoulders of friends and neighbors who feel exposed and betrayed.

Today is the last official day of summer, but the weather will remind you it’s not quite fall yet. 

Squeeze in one more beach read and pick up Ms. Brenner’s newest book, A Novel Summer, in Siren Books' always-open storefront!

Ms. Brenner kindly answered some of The Siren’s most pressing questions. Enjoy! 

What were your favorite books growing up? 

It’s Not What You Expect by Norma Klein and Mistral’s Daughter by Judith Krantz.

Was there a particular author you idolized/loved/wanted to be? 

Judith Krantz – her stories about women’s lives opened my eyes to a world beyond my suburban upbringing. They were audacious and made me want to become a writer.

What’s your most asked question (and answer) about being an author, and what do you think people should understand about being an author? 

People ask me if I always wanted to be a writer, and I tell them yes – for as long as I can remember. I think people should understand that no matter how much you want to be a writer or how much you enjoy being one if it’s the way you’re earning a living, it becomes a job with its own ups and downs and stressors just like any other job. It’s not carefree by any stretch of the imagination. 

Your books are fun, delicious, and perfect for summer (or any season); what is the season's magic for you?

Summer always brings me back to a time in my life that was innocent and filled with joy: summers at the beach with my family. I think of summer as the time when lifelong memories are made, so I lean into this when I’m writing my books about sisters, friends, first loves, and family.

I loved Blush because of its generational aspect. Do you have any books or authors you share with your loved ones? 

Unfortunately, my two daughters have very different tastes than I do in reading. That was part of the inspiration for writing Blush: I wished I had my own mother/daughter book club. But my oldest reads very literary and experimental fiction, and my youngest likes Colleen Hoover and some of the romantasy out there. Nothing I read really overlaps. Although I did recently ask my youngest to try a novel, I just read and loved called The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

Your latest release, A Novel Summer, includes the love of books (and friendship); what inspired this book? What beach town do you love to visit and read at in the summer?

Provincetown, Cape Cod, is my favorite. I’ve set four novels there and still have more to say about the magic of its shores. 

Which of your characters would you choose to go on summer vacation with?

I would want to go on vacation with a character from my first summer book, The Forever Summer: Amelia Cabral. Amelia is a Provincetown native, an artist, an amazing Portuguese cook, and owns a perfect inn on the beach (so finding a place to stay won’t be an issue ☺). And she’s older and wiser and the type of person you could just talk to about anything. 

Rapid Fire Questions, go:

What sparks your writing process? 

Caffeine.

What’s one book you recommend the most? 

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I think it’s a perfect novel.

What’s a genre you’ve always wanted to tackle as a writer? 

Horror.

What’s next for you? 

I have a book coming next year about a mother and daughter who go on a knitting retreat in New Hope, PA, looking to bond but find their relationship starting to crumble. 

Buy A Novel Summer, Blush, The Forever Summer, and all of Jamie Brenner’s works in the always-open Siren Books Storefront! Don’t miss the audiobook versions through our partner Libro.fm! 

If you’re an author and would like to be featured in the Author Interview Series, please contact sirenbooksllc@gmail.com with the subject: Author Interview Series Inquiry.

You can find Jamie Brenner here:

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