Today we have the absolute pleasure of chatting with author Clare Gilmore as she answers 20 questions about herself and her new book, LOVE INTEREST.
Before we hear from Clare, let’s take a look at LOVE INTEREST, a debut co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com. Reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally and The Devil Wears Prada, this workplace romance set at a Conde Nast-style company follows Casey, a hardworking finance expert who’s passed over for a promotion that ends up going to the board chairman’s son, Alex. Casey can’t stand Alex but has to learn to work with him when they’re put on the same project team where they each have something to prove. For Casey, it’s getting tapped for a transfer to the London office. For Alex, it’s successfully launching a brand that will impress his distant father. As the two end up spending more and more late nights at the office together, things begin to heat up, and Casey realizes Alex is not as detestable as she originally thought.
NOW LET’S HEAR FROM CLARE!
- How are you doing today?
Amazing. I had an oat milk latte and chicken soup, and I’ve been hanging out with my dog while I knock out some work outside in the autumn weather, bundled in a cozy sweatshirt. - What are you currently reading?
I just finished the audio book of THE SILENT PATIENT from the Nashville Public Library on my Libby app ☺. Next up is DIVINE RIVALS. - What’s your go-to writing snack/drink?
I’m currently on an OliPop kick. My favorite flavors are Classic Root Beer and Vintage Cola. For a snack, I gravitate toward a salty peanut/pretzel combo or apples with peanut butter. - What’s something that made you smile today?
TikTok videos of Taylor Swift trying to get her cup out of the cupholder at the VMAs. - What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?
Playing pickleball with my friends, reading at Centennial dog park while my pup plays, researching recipes to try, planning vacations I honestly can’t afford. - What was your favorite book/series as a child?
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale!!! I also loved Sarah Dessen novels as a teenager. I fall apart for the Vampire Academy Books. And how could I not mention Ally Carter’s I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You series!? - Where is your favorite place to write?
On a giant table, in a silent house, surrounded by notebooks and pens and highlighters and a stack of my most favorite novels for inspiration. Stretch goal: transplant that entire scene into the French countryside. - What’s your favorite city in the world?
Right now, I’m missing Dublin. I have family in Ireland, and I love being there. - What other debuts are you loving/excited about?
I’m stoked for readers to find THANK YOU FOR SHARING by Rachel Runya Katz, another romcom debut this Fall. I can’t wait to read The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore. I’ve recently loved You, with a View by Jessica Joyce and I’m also super-duper looking forward to You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. - Best advice you received for writing your debut?
Leave it all on the table. I remember thinking I didn’t want October 2023 to roll around and for me to think, “I could have worked harder. I could have dug deeper.” I gave this book my very best effort, and while nothing is perfect, I know LOVE INTEREST is the product of hard, rewarding work. - What’s been your favorite part of your journey publishing LOVE INTEREST?
When readers tell me the very specific lines and moments that made them laugh or swoon. - What’s a movie/show/book/song that inspires your writing?
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies are SO GOOD for inspiration. They are heartwarming, so funny, so off the cuff. I adore Emily Henry novels; I reread random chapters of her books often. Lately my musical inspirations have been Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, and Sabrina Carpenter. - Where did you get the inspiration for Casey’s love of finance in the book?
I wanted to have a moment for numbers girls who find stability and calmness in data, rather than write a creative type who eschews (and sometimes even condemns) this type of person. There are some amazing STEM-focused romcoms out there from authors like Helen Hoang and Ali Hazelwood, and their protagonists definitely paved the way for how I wrote Casey. - Casey and Alex are very different characters from one another. While Alex is sociable, charismatic, and easy-going, Casey often prefers to spend time with her few close friends, tend to her plants, and focus on her work. Who would you say you relate to more?
Casey! I’m definitely an introvert and do better with a few close friends and a few passion projects I can focus on. - What inspired you to write about a corporate workplace romance?
I wrote what I knew; I drew inspiration from my experience at two different corporate offices! On top of that, I was influenced by writers like Casey McQuiston, Emily Henry, and Ali Hazelwood pretty early on in my romcom journey that shaped the story structure and voice. - While reading LOVE INTEREST, I loved watching Casey and Alex’s relationship develop through her eyes, even when she perceived him as the enemy. While writing, did you ever consider a dual perspective or wish to dive deeper into Alex’s point of view?
While I LOVE reading multi-POV romance novels, for me, I prefer writing from a single POV lens. I think it adds a layer of mystery that, as a writer, is fun to pull at. Additionally, since Alex is a mixed-race Korean American character with a parental situation I can’t relate to, I didn’t feel like I’d be able to write from his perspective with the appropriate level of care needed. It seemed better suited for him to communicate his feelings to Casey, and then have her empathize the best way she could. - Who was your favorite character to create in LOVE INTEREST?
Favorite side character has got to be Benny, the executive concierge. He’s got some zingers in dialogue!☺ - LOVE INTEREST demonstrates a variety of important relationships, whether that be romantic relationships, friendships, or parent-child dynamics. Why do you think that it is important to showcase each of these different relationships?
It’s fascinating the way a single person can have different-looking relationships with all the important people in their life. For Casey, she’s one thing to Alex, another to Miriam, and yet another to her father and stepfather. For Alex, it’s almost the opposite. He has the same relationship with most of his acquaintances, but then with Casey, he wants it to look different, feel different. Alex breaking out of that sunshine, easygoing mold and forming a true, enduring, authentic relationship with Casey was so fulfilling to write. I think it’s important to showcase how different relationships can look and feel so we can establish what relationship types we want in our own lives, in the ways that serve us best. - If you were to write a sequel or spin-off of LOVE INTEREST, which side character/s would you most want to write about?
Miriam and Brijesh! - If you could write about anything in the world next, what would it be?
I want to write a romcom about a guy from the low country and a girl from the panhandle who somehow must convince the other that their beach town is the better beach town. A road trip is involved. Something big is at stake; I just haven’t figured it out yet 😉
LOVE INTEREST by Clare Gilmore; 9781250880543; 10/10/23
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