Someone's Gotta Give
An Interview with Alisha Fernandez Miranda
In this week’s Q&A, Alisha Fernandez Miranda takes us inside the world of elite philanthropy and her new novel Someone’s Gotta Give, perfect for anyone eagerly awaiting The Devil Wears Prada sequel.
“Imagine Andy from The Devil Wears Prada as a thirty-something Venezuelan mom toiling in the cutthroat world of private philanthropy. A funny and heartfelt look at the cost of ‘having it all’ on working mothers, and a clear-eyed send-up of the do-gooders (and do-badders) who comprise the global elite. I cheered for Lucia the whole time, and am cheering for her still.”
-Sally Franson, author of Big in Sweden
How do you like to introduce Someone’s Gotta Give to readers?
Someone’s Gotta Give is a fun, funny mom-com with a kick: think of it like a spicy margarita on the beach. It tells the story of Lucia, a new mom, new wife and new expat who gets a job at London’s poshest private bank advising the rich and powerful on their philanthropy. As she explores this new world, she has to figure out the difference between meaning well and doing good, before she loses herself.
What real-life experience as an ex-pat did you have the most fun turning into a scene?
I had a blast going back to my early motherhood experiences. Being a new mom is hard enough without having to do it in a different country. Everything from the vocabulary to the clothing to the norms around going to the doctor was different from my own upbringing in Miami, and what all my US based friends were doing. The baby classes in particularly were so fun to write — Singy Songy in the book was heavily influenced by my own experiences at baby music class!
Lucia struggles with ethical dilemmas when it comes to philanthropy and the idea of “meaning well vs. doing well”. Is that something you were also trying to work out through writing this book?
When you work in the world of philanthropy — which I have for 20 years —you are constantly wondering if you’re doing enough. It requires trade-offs and compromises all the time and in the name of long-term impact, which might never come to fruition. It was really fun — and freeing— to explore this through fiction. Unlike Lucia, I work with clients so I have to be measured in what I say and cautious in what I do. I loved being able to see what those conflicts would be like in a totally risk free environment.
What was the biggest challenge transitioning from writing your memoir (My What If Year) to this debut novel? Which parts of this different creative process did you enjoy the most?
When I read for pleasure I mostly read fiction, so the task of writing something similar to the types of books I adore was completely daunting. Translating my own voice from my own head onto the page, like I did for My What If Year, felt very natural; but making up a story, and letting someone else’s voice exist in my head, was much harder than I expected. At every point I questioned my ability to actually do it, even after it was done. But it was fun. My favorite part is writing funny, sassy, dialogue — Belly, Tristan, Sooz— I love a good zinger and making myself laugh after I’ve written something.
I hope that this novel follows The Devil Wears Prada in another way and gives us a sequel! Are there any books you’ve read recently that have you clamoring for a next installment?
I seem to be obsessed with writing about being a woman of a certain age, a mother, a wife and a person with ambition in all its forms, so while I may not visit Lucia’s world again, my next projects follow similar themes that I hope you’ll also love. Personally, I’m a huge romantasy junkie — how long do I have to wait for Rebecca Yarros’ next book? I also nearly peed my pants laughing through Nussaibah Younis’ Fundamentally this summer, so wouldn’t mind a follow up from her! And my friend Emma Grey has a new book out next year, Start at the End. I devour everything she writes
Alisha Fernandez Miranda is an award-winning Cuban-American author. Her first book, the memoir, My What If Year, was a Best New Book in People magazine and The Boston Globe. Her writing has been published in Vogue, Marie Claire, Shondaland, and numerous other publications. Alisha is the current chair at I.G. Advisors, a leading social impact agency that consults the world’s biggest non-profits, including the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation and UN Women. Alisha is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Harvard University, and speaks on women’s empowerment, social impact and sustainability. She currently lives in Scotland with her husband and children. www.alishafmiranda.com