Best-Selling Author Emily Giffin Talks New Book In Westhampton Beach

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — For those who grew up following JFK Jr., from his little-boy salute at the funeral of President John F. Kennedy, to his law school headlines and then, his love story with Carolyn Bessette, the day the couple died in a plane crash — 23 years ago this month — put tragic end to the life of a bonafide golden boy and his bride.

Certainly, the Kennedy legacy has left a long mark on hearts and minds, even years later. And now, fans of best-selling author Emily Giffin will have the chance to meet her Thursday as she heads to the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center to discuss her newest book, "Meant to Be,"loosely inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

The book is a tour de force by a writer who's nothing short of a master at delving deep into the complexities of relationships and the ephemeral magic that keeps us all believing.

Giffin will appear as a guest on the podcast "Pop Fiction Women," where she'll engage in conversation about "Meant to Be" with hosts Kate Shumacher and Carinn Jade; guests can then have their pre-signed books — included in the ticket price — personalized. The event takes place at the WHBPAC on Thursday at 7 p.m.; Meant to Be rosé will also be available to purchase. For tickets, click here.

Giffin, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of 11 novels, including "Something Borrowed," "Something Blue," "Baby Proof," "Love the One You're With," "Heart of the Matter," "Where We Belong," "The One & Only," "First Comes Love," "All We Ever Wanted ," and "The Ties That Bind," is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Currently, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.

"Meant to Be", a work of fiction, centers on Joseph Kingsley Jr., the son of American royalty, and Cate Cooper, who escapes her mother's abusive husband and a turbulent past when she's discovered by a model scout at 16 — and soon, captures Joe's heart in a page-turner that keeps readers believing that some love stories are meant to last long past sun-kissed summers in the Hamptons.

"To be sure, 'Meant to Be' is inspired by JFK, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s story, though I want to be clear that this is a wholly fictional account and not a novel 'about them,'" per se," Giffin told Patch. "I think for those of us who lived through the 90s — and especially those who, like me, lived in New York City at the time when they were at the height of their fame — they embodied so many of our hopes and dreams, which made it all the more tragic that they died so young. It’s that sense of unfulfilled promise, that question of 'what if,' that really fueled the story in this book."

Giffin said she personally has very fond memories of the 90s. "I wanted the book to really conjure a sense of nostalgia for a decade that, in many ways, feels like this last moment of innocence, before the advent of social media, partisan politics, Columbine, and, of course, 9/11 changed everything about life as we know it."

She added: "I think it’s also important to remember, though, that we’ve made a lot of progress as a country since then — think #metoo, gay marriage, and Black Lives Matter — and the 90s weren’t, in reality, such a glowing time for large segments of the population. So balancing those two sentiments was definitely a little tricky."

Discussing her writing process, Giffin said she never outlines her novels. "I have a vague sense of beginning, middle and end, but for me, it is a very character-driven process. As I get to know my characters, and the relationships between them form, the plot evolves accordingly. Although this method of writing can be inefficient, and I sometimes have to scrap whole chapters if I don’t like the direction the story is unfolding, I love being surprised in the writing process."

Her daily writing life, however, is very structured, Giffin said. "Writing is my job and I treat it as such, maintaining a normal Monday to Friday workday routine where I write and handle all of the attendant marketing and promotional responsibilities from a home office above our pool house."

Reflecting on her career, which has touched readers around the world with stories written straight from the heart, Giffin said it was hard to answer a question about which of her books was her favorite.

"Naturally, I tend to feel closest to whatever book is my most recent release but, as a whole, I’d have to say 'Something Blue' is a sentimental favorite—partially because I love Darcy’s story, but mostly because of the time in which it was written. (I wrote much of the book while pregnant and on bedrest with my twin boys)."

Marriage and motherhood have shaped her artistic journey, Giffin said.

"All of my books are fundamentally relationship-focused, as I believe that there is nothing more important in life than the sum of our relationships. As I’ve grown older — and subsequently started a family — the focus of my writing has broadened a bit to include the full spectrum of those relationships, whether familial, platonic, romantic, or those bound by tragedy or circumstance."

Events such as Thursday's at the WHBPAC hold great meeting for Giffin, who takes great joy in meeting her readers.

"Writing is such a solitary exercise, so it’s always gratifying to have the opportunity to meet my readers and get to know their stories, whether in person or via social media," she said.

Fans of her work can find Giffin on Instagram at @emilygiffinauthor and @egbookclub, she said.

"It’s always amazing to hear how one of my books might have impacted somebody’s life, or provided them some level of comfort during a difficult time in their lives. I’m also just so thankful for everyone who has ever taken the time to buy and read my books — I would still be stuck in a career practicing law if not for them," she said.

The core story of "Meant to Be", Giffin said, "is about living your most authentic life; though in this case, it’s co-mingled with the challenges of accomplishing that in the face of intense public scrutiny. At the end of the day, I just hope my readers resonate with Joe and Cate’s story, and that it helps bring some clarity about what’s most important out there, fame and money aside."

For those fledgling writers afraid to take the leap, Giffin offered words of advice: "First, stop referring to yourself as an 'aspiring writer.' You might aspire to get paid for what you do, but you are a writer if you write."

She added: "As a corollary, stop worrying that you won’t be good enough, or comparing yourself to others. Don’t let the idea of a novel overwhelm or intimidate you so much that you are too afraid to begin. It’s like training for a marathon. Nobody gets out there and runs 26 miles on their first effort. It takes daily training and discipline and desire. There’s no real magic to writing a novel or one method that works for all — it’s just a question of attacking the project sentence by paragraph by page by chapter."

She also suggested writers try to follow Stephen King’s advice, from his memoir "On Writing", to keep the door “closed” when writing early drafts.

"In other words, don’t concern yourself with what others might think of your work, or whether it is commercially viable," she said. "Write what you feel and be fiercely honest. If you don’t feel a deep connection to your characters and writing, then chances are nobody else will."

Other books that Giffin recommended included "Turning Life Into Fiction," by Robin Hemley, "Bird by Bird," by Anne Lamott, and "Self-editing for Fiction Writers," by Renni Browne and Dave King.

And, she said, "When you get to the 'finding an agent' stage, check out Jeff Herman’s 'Guide to Agents.' I found it to be very useful in that it gives a bit more background on agents. Always keep in mind that publishing is a very subjective and personality-driven. Therefore, you really want to click with your agent and be sure that your work resonates with her. If you have multiple offers, do your due diligence and ask to speak to their respective clients. And until those offers come in, resolve to have a thick skin."

Rejection, she said, is simply part of the process. "It happens to most every successful writer. Many times. When I was writing Something Borrowed in London, I lived around the corner from J.K. Rowling’s flat, and derived strength from walking by her place on my way to get coffee and thinking of all the rejection she endured. So no matter what else, persevere, believe in yourself and keep doing what you love."

Although "Meant to Be" is only "loosely inspired" by JFK Jr. and his love story with Carolyn, Giffin said she has heard from Denis Reggie, who was John and Carolyn’s wedding photographer. "He read and loved the book," she said.

Looking ahead, Giffin said there are so myriad stories still to be told. "I am currently brainstorming ideas for my next novel, and also working on some film treatments for 'The Lies that Bind' and 'Meant to Be.'"

With "Meant to Be" a story about a love that is, in the end, truly just that, Giffin said the question of whether true love can conquer all is something she's explored in a number of her books, including 'Love the One You're With', 'Baby Proof,' and, of course, 'Meant to Be.'

"Honestly, the answer shifts in my head, as well, though I am generally a believer that soul mates and happy endings do exist," Giffin said. "I also firmly believe that happiness in relationships comes as much from how we feel about ourselves as how we feel about the person we're with, so it's important to not lose sight of who you are and what you want and need — even in the midst of a shared life."

"Meant to Be" is published by Ballantine Books.