Marybeth Whalen's She Makes It Look Easy

Title: She Makes It Look Easy
Publisher: David C Cook

Cover blurb: Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.
Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.
A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was sorting out a situation I saw unfold in my own community. I kept wondering if things could’ve turned out differently than they did, really questioning not only the people directly involved, but those of us who saw what was going on and did nothing. Because I process things best through writing—through telling stories—I began to play with this idea, involving other things that I had on my mind—issues of comparison and contentment with women, things like that. Out of all of that, She Makes It Look Easy came to be!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published:
It was my second novel so it was much different than the first. I think my main challenge this time was not having the kind of time to write it that I had with my first novel, The Mailbox. When you’re writing that first novel, you don’t realize what a luxury it is to just write when you feel like it. 

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers:
1. I have never been overseas. The only “international” travel I’ve done is to Mexico and Canada.
2. My husband is the son of one of my dad’s friends. They never imagined we’d grow up and get married.
3. I actually like to cook. And read cookbooks, cooking magazines, etc. This is reflected in the book as the two characters seem to do quite a bit of cooking or talking about cooking.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I will have a new novel hopefully coming out in fall of 12. This one is a follow up (not a sequel!) to The Mailbox. I’m writing it right now.

5) Parting comments?
This book was a hard one to write. It delves into things that many women have struggled with or are struggling with. I hope you’ll grab some friends, read the book and sit down and talk about it. Some good—and necessary—conversations will come from it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.marybethwhalen.com/