Welcome to Meredith Cagen

Good morning Meredith. It’s so nice to have you here today. Before we have a chat tell us a bit about yourself.


Hello Margaret, thanks for having me today. I’m a working wife and mother living in New York City. I work as a freelance writer and Registered Nurse. My family has awarded me the “Queen of the Multi-taskers” title. In my free time I go to the gym and love to eat out.
I returned to school to obtain a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Finding the subject dry, technical and boring, I had a difficult time focusing on my studies. Easily distracted, and prone to daydreaming, I wrote Size Eight in a Size Zero World, which is the story of a working wife and mother living in New York City.

My goodness, you’re a busy lady. I feel tired just reading what you get up to lol. So what drew you to write in your current genre?

First time authors tend to write what they are familiar with. I consider my genre NYC-Lit, Woman’s Romance. I live and work in NYC. I write what I know about. My book is fiction, but it contains adaptations on my personal experience and my friends. An incident might of happened, but not to me, and I adapted it to a specific character.

How many novels have you written to date and are they all in the same genre?

Size Eight in a Size Zero World is my first novel.

I can imagine how excited you must feel. What were you doing when you got the call?
I was mashing potatoes and dropped the phone in the hot food, only to fish it out and have hot potato burning my ear for the duration of the call!!

That’s funny Margaret, I have a scene like that in my book when my protagonist Lindsay drops a spoon into hot spaghetti sauce and the sauce flies onto her outfit. I am self published, the “phone call” was different. It was my decision to control my fate and characters.

I spend minimal time on plotting. I know, I’m so bad lol How much time do you spend on it before you start writing?

My process is differs from most writers. I get an idea and it flows out of me. I knew the end of my novel around the same time I started writing the beginning. The story is getting to the end. Sometimes I am surprised at the plot and I am the one creating it!

I know what you mean by that. Where do you do most of your writing?

Living in a New York City apartment, space is at a premium. My home office, is my side of the bed. It’s affectionately referred to as my Queendom. All my executive decisions are made from my side of the bed. I am answering your questions on my laptop from my side of the bed, the throne.

FYI: My bed is Queen size and I share it with my 6 foot husband and 2 Havanese dogs. It gets more crowded every year!


I hear you with the dogs. I have two who have a firm belief the sofa is theirs!!! Long may you reign in your ‘Queendom’ lol Now for the really interesting part. Tell us about your latest release.

How cute is this picture!!!!!!



My main character, Lindsay is one of them (us). She is a typical woman for this new millennium, working a job, taking care of her family, running her household, overworked, unappreciated, no time for herself, a super multi-tasker, while her husband watches TV and plays on the internet.
She struggles to keep a sense of herself. And then one day she meets someone who causes her to re-evaluate how she lives her life, turning her world upside down. Suddenly there she is at only 32, doing all the rights things but she reminds that she has neglected her needs. She lost her way and her dreams and voluntarily put herself into the proverbial box.
Lindsay decides it is time that she took some risks. She is a good girl trying to do the right thing and the wrong thing simultaneously, while remaining true to herself, whoever that is. The story is her adventure into New York City society and relationships.
Read the book, and share your thoughts with me, mcagen@gmail.com
How can your readers keep up with your news?

http://www.sizezeroworld.com/

Facebook


Most authors rely on critique partners for an extra eye on when they are writing. Who do you rely on and why?

My friend Noreen Delaunay reads my stuff, and tells me if it makes sense. I trust her instincts.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Getting my ideas down on paper and reading it back. I love that I am creating this world and I am in control! It’s like seeing your newborn baby.

How do you get past all the frustrations that come with trying to be a successful writer?

Thank you for acknowledging that it is very aggravating trying to promote and distinguish my book. My book, like my children, is my greatest accomplishment. I wish I can convince the public to read it! The book has potential to be a best seller, and someday a Television Show.

Promotion of books and competition for media coverage is highly competitive and without a known brand, platform or name, it is challenging (and frustrating.).

Fortunately I have many things going on in my life that I don’t dwell on this.

What do you like to read?

I love thrillers and mysteries. I’ve read all the Twilight books and The Sookie Stackhouse books. Anything by Karen Quinn is a must! I wish someone could top The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. A brilliant nonfiction book is Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll, I think everyone should read it.

What actor/actress gets your pulses racing?

George Clooney and Enrique Iglesias are lovely to look at. As a Registered Nurse I would love to take their pulses, for strictly medical reasons……………..and if you believe that……


I DON’T believe that for one minute Meredith. It’s been a pleasure hosting you today and I will be looking very closely at your new novel with great interest.

Meredith Cagen, author of Size Eight in a Size Zero World