House Swaps and Culture Shocks
An Interview with Amy Poeppel
In this week’s Q&A, Amy Poeppel shares the experiences that led to writing her new novel, Far and Away. Travel from Texas to Berlin and back again in this story about two women who impulsively agree to a house swap — and get a bit more than they bargain for.
"What do you get when two disparate (and desperate) families from Dallas, Texas and Berlin, Germany swap houses for the summer? A culture clash and comedy of errors so side-splittingly funny and heart-warmingly wise, it could only have been written by the incomparable Amy Poeppel.” – Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise
We've been able to speak in the past about Musical Chairs and The Sweet Spot. I know that many of your readers (like me!) have been counting down to this next book's release. How would you describe Far and Away?
Far And Away is a love letter to two of my favorite places: Texas, where I was born and raised, and Germany, where I’ve lived off and on for the past twenty years. In my novel, two strangers—Greta and Lucy—are in a big rush to leave town and agree to swap homes with each other without asking enough questions … or any questions at all. They get a lot more than a change of scenery as their lives become completely entangled. I hope readers will enjoy the ride without having to endure any jet lag or culture shock!
I remembered that you spend some of your time in Germany and so I wondered as I was reading how much of this book's origin story had to do with wanting to explore your own experiences (and the humor!) of going between cultures?
So much of this book is based on my experiences of living in a place where I don’t speak the language well and don’t always grasp the cultural expectations. When I moved to Berlin in 2003 with my husband and three children, I never could have imagined how important and impactful the experience would be for me. From parent-teacher night at the local school, to grocery shopping (and bagging), to making friends, I was often caught off guard and regularly said or did exactly the wrong thing at the wrong moment. My German is pretty terrible, so communication has gone off the rails more than once. Being out of my comfort zone has been very humbling and, yes, funny at times. I wanted Lucy and Greta, two women who are quite competent and responsible, to get knocked off balance by the experience of leaving home, and I wanted them to be changed in interesting ways.
One of the things I love most about your books is the way you create these warm, funny, complicated, and very relatable multigenerational families. Do you have any favorite characters in Far and Away? (I for one have a real soft spot for all the grandparents).
When I’m writing a book, I’m initially focused on a main character to center the story around. But then I start asking myself: who is important to that person? Who raised her? Who are her friends? Does she like animals? And the next thing I know, I’ve populated the novel with parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors, and pets. It happens every time. In this book, I really came to love Emmi, Greta’s daughter, and Jack, Lucy’s son. (I taught high school for years, so I really adore the work-in-progress nature of kids that age.) I have a soft spot for Sylvie, the recently divorced woman who moves in next door to Lucy and her family. And I have great respect for Greta’s sister Bettina. All of these characters play important roles in the story, even the pool boy.
I saw you share on social media some very exciting news about The Sweet Spot. Can you tell us anything about this adaptation project?
The Sweet Spot is being adapted by Amazon Studios/MGM, thanks to Rebelle Media and writer and actress Jennifer Westfeldt. I couldn’t be happier, and my book could not be in better hands. It was a dream come true to see the announcement in Deadline!!
What books are you recommending to everyone this summer?
If you like books like Far And Away that involve the messiness of travel, I highly recommend The Road To Tender Hearts. It is a wild ride! I loved the characters, despite their many flaws, and I was so happy that their chaotic road trip comes to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.
I’m a fan of epistolary novels, so I couldn’t wait to read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. What a marvelous book! It will make you laugh and cry as you read the letters of Sybil to her brother in France, her kind neighbor, her daughter, and to one person who remains a mystery until the end. It is a beautifully told story.
About the Author: Amy Poeppel is the award-winning author of the novels Far and Away, The Sweet Spot, Musical Chairs, Limelight, and Small Admissions. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Rumpus, Literary Hub, and Working Mother. She and her husband have three sons and split their time between New York City, Germany, and Connecticut. She would love to hear from you on Twitter or Instagram: @AmyPoeppel or at AmyPoeppel.com.