With the release of her latest novel, Some Women, writer Emily Liebert dives into the complex relationships that makeup the daily lives of women: friendships and marriage. Whether you are daring or demure, you will recognize yourself in her characters. Here we sit down with the novelist to talk about the work:
How is this novel different from your others? “Some Women is my fifth book and, as with the stages of my own life, my writing has developed through the years. I’ve now been married for over a decade. My husband and I have two sons. And, two years ago, we moved from New York to Connecticut. So much has changed, for us in the best possible way. On the flip side, as you age, the issues that evolve along with you tend to be weightier. Many of my friends are going through divorces, losing loved ones or realizing they want their careers back after staying home to take care of their children. I felt a certain responsibility to take all of this into consideration. I also felt some pressure to raise the bar for myself and for my readers. In this book I tackle the intricacies of marriage, friendship, and the power of unexpected connections. I hope people will find it thought provoking and engrossing.”
How has living in Westport influenced your writing? “I write about what I know and the world that I live in. So, this means that Westport has a big impact on my writing. Some Women is about three women who meet at a new barre studio in their Connecticut town. As it happens, not only am I a barre enthusiast as a means of staying in shape, but I’m also a teacher at Pure Barre Westport. Additionally, there are people and places in the book that—while their names are different—were definitely inspired by this town. In another way, Westport has influenced my writing because I have everything at my finger tips, which streamlines my life and affords me the time to devote to my work.”
Did any of the characters surprise you, thinking they’ll go one way and then suddenly do something you didn’t expect? “My characters always surprise me! I outline my books in advance (except the one I’m writing now!), so I have an idea of where the plot is going. That said, typically half way through the process I realize that I didn’t really know my characters until I’d written enough of their stories. In this book, what surprised me most about all three women was their ability to forgive. I’m kind of a grudge holder, so it was especially therapeutic for me!”
How do you begin a new novel—how much planning do you do? “In the past I’ve written a chapter-by-chapter outline for each book. That usually takes a month or so—although it always ends up changing as I write. For my sixth book, which I’m working on now, I did not outline anything, which is very freeing for me. I’m taking a much less structured approach—not an easy task for someone as Type A as I am.”
What have you learned from your best friend? “How to keep a secret. And how to be the best mom I can be. We’ve been best friends for over twenty years and she has five kids. I’ve never seen her lose her cool. That is impressive.”
You are partnering with a cosmetics company to launch the novel. Tell us a bit about that. “Yes, I’m very excited about this! My leading ladies are the inspiration for The Some Women Collection, which is a gorgeous and exclusive set of lip glosses created by Gerard Cosmetics, a line designed for women by women who empower each other. Mackenzie wears Wild Orchid because she’s daring and driven, with a bit of an edge. Piper prefers Salmon because she’s understated, delicate, and independent. Annabel delights in Candy Apple because she’s confident, classic, and composed. Gerard Cosmetics will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales to The Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley, which is so important. I hope my readers will enjoy channeling their inner Mackenzie, Piper, and Annabel by wearing these vibrant and stylish glosses.”
See more at emilyliebert.com and gerardcosmetics.com.