Growing up in New York, there are things that the rest of the country knows all about that you don't have the foggiest clue. Like community theater. Or selling coupons. Jeannie Callahan, the heroine of Becky Motew's new novel Coupon Girl, knows all about selling coupons and going to whatever lengths necessary to get customers - even donning a nun outfit in community theater.

Check out our interview with Ms. Motew:

1) What is the inspiration for the book?

I always knew I would write this book. The kernel of inspiration was the coupon job itself, although it wasn't that different from other sales jobs.   Parts is parts, some say and they are right.  Whatever you have in your bag, you still have to walk in cold and try to sell yourself first.  It;s intimidating.  It takes guts.  Plus sales people are buffeted by everyone, the boss thinks he knows the best way for you to handle clients, the customers laugh and reject that and tell you how you should REALLY do it, and then your colleagues have their own ideas.   You have to find your own way and that's the story I tried to tell with Jeanie.
I don't mean to leave out the theatre aspect of the story.  In a way, CG is a three-legged race with the two plots side by side.  The intriguing part of community theatre to me was always the addictive nature of it.  I couldn't get enough.

2) What are you working on right now?
 
I'm working on a story about an ex-nun who resumes regular life after 20 years in the convent.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
 
I can walk on stilts.  Would that surprise my readers?  I'm not sure.  Thanks, you guys.

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion