Friday, October 16, 2020
Meredith Jaeger is the author of two dual-narrative historical fiction novels: The Dressmaker’s Dowry, a USA Today bestseller, and Boardwalk Summer.
Asked about her motivation for writing The Dressmaker’s Dowry, Meredith explained that, depressed by the gentrification brought about by the tech boom, she wanted to write about San Francisco’s history to help newcomers be more aware of it.
Meredith’s work tackles issues such as working women’s rights, the socio-economic divide, environmental issues, and immigration.
Meredith explained that her “big break” did not happen overnight – and that the expectation that it might is often misleading. Meredith wrote The Dressmaker’s Dowry on the weekends and on her honeymoon.
The advice Meredith would give aspiring writers: remember why you do this. She recommended that – given the challenges of the industry – writers ask themselves: if no one were to ever read what I write, would I still write because of the joy I get from writing?
Meredith’s current work-in-progress is called The Pilot’s Daughter, a dual-narrative historical fiction novel set in the 20s and 40s in New York City.
Podcast editing and episode notes by author and podcast producer and host Matthew Félix (matthewfelix.com).
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The SFWC website is: www.SFWriters.org