Claire Casey's Had Enough
An Interview with Liz Alterman
This week I’m delighted to share a Q&A with Liz Alterman where she takes us behind the scenes of her hilarious and relatable new mom-com, Claire Casey’s Had Enough.
With sharp wit and relatable characters, Alterman masterfully explores love, nostalgia, and the complexities of midlife, with a fresh voice. A delightful read that will leave you laughing and reflecting long after the final chapter!" ― Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author
I'm really drawn to reading stories about women like Claire, navigating mid-life in all its complexities. What do you think makes these characters' lives so rich for a novel?
These characters are juggling a lot — parenting, careers, romantic relationships, trying to make time for friendships, caring for aging parents — so their days and their interior monologues are never dull. They’re also often caught between looking back at all the “what if”s and looking ahead, hoping things will be “better” in the future, as the present sort of has its way with them. I think there’s a really interesting sort of “taking stock” of their lives that we can all relate to — for better or worse. We grow up and assume by midlife we’ll have most things figured out, and for a lot of us, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I read that Claire Casey's Had Enough was seven years in the making. How did the book finally come to life?
I joke that it’s either a study in perseverance or madness — I suppose time and reviews will tell! After dozens of revisions and hiring two developmental editors, I was very fortunate that the editor who acquired my suspense novel, The House on Cold Creek Lane, asked if I had any other projects to share. I polished up the manuscript for what felt like the millionth time and two months later she made an offer. Needless to say, I had to reread her email ten times before it sunk in that Claire had finally found her home.
There are so many hilarious, relatable moments woven into the novel. Does the humor come easily to you? (I also imagine you as someone constantly jotting down conversations or anecdotes that could later be funny scenes!)
Aw, thank you so much for saying that! I’ve always loved comedy and grew up with my mom quoting Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry. In high school, my dream career was to write David Letterman’s Top Ten lists. I often joke that humor is my drug of choice and I think if you can find the funny during dark moments, you can get through almost anything. I’ve recently been trying my hand at stand-up so I’m definitely trying to jot down anything and everything that I might be able to use in my “act.”
I went back and forth as I was reading about the decisions I wanted Claire to make — including who to wind up with! Did her journey unfold to you as you were writing or did you plot it out ahead of time?
Oh I’m glad to hear that! Of all the things that have changed over seven years writing (and rewriting!) this manuscript, the ending has always been the same. I’m fortunate that with most projects I usually start off knowing the beginning and the ending. It’s only the 60,000 to 70,000 words in the middle that elude me. ☺
What other momcoms or romcoms have you loved lately that you'd want to recommend?
Over the years, there have been so many novels with harried heroines that I’ve adored, including the Bridget Jones series by Helen Fielding, Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, (I love that recipes appear amid the heartbreak and hilarity) and Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette. I recently listened to Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley and narrated by Hillary Huber. Jane’s internal monologue and observations were hilarious and relatable so that’s my current recommendation.
About the Author: Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and two cats. She spends most days repeatedly microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms. Be sure to also check out Liz’s Substack.
Hi Laura! Thank you so much for all your support! I hope you have a summer filled with good books! 💕