Q&A: Adrienne Gunn, Author of ‘Fan Favorite’

We chat with debut author Adrienne Gunn about Fan Favorite, which follows decidedly unhappy Edie Pepper who DMs her way onto a reality TV dating show, only to realise love isn’t so easily won.

Hi, Adrienne! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m a writer who takes pop culture way too seriously! I love romcoms and everything Hollywood, reality TV, and celebrity, so my special sauce is mashing them all together. My comfort movies are 1) When Harry Met Sally 2) Bridget Jones Diary and 3) The Cutting Edge and any night of the week I can be reliably found watching old episodes of Survivor, Drag Race, and Veep. I live in Chicago and would like the whole world to know that Chicago pizza is not deep dish (gross) it’s actually thin crust, tavern cut.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Probably when I started writing Nancy Drew fan fiction on my mom’s typewriter when I was about seven or eight?

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Ever??? This is so hard! Probably Shel Silverstein! I loved Shel Silverstein.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Hands down, the entire Sweet Valley High oeuvre, lol
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I have a few favorite books, but I’m going to recommend my favorite summer reading experience in recent memory which is THE THORNBIRDS. Just ignore the weird opening with the doll and keep going, it’s an amazing ride and I wish I could do it all over again for the first time!

Your debut novel, Fan Favorite, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Please buy it, pretty please.

JKJK! How about: Loveable mess conquers reality TV!

What can readers expect?

Readers should expect a messy, regular gal looking for love in all the wrong places until she finally stumbles into the right one. And a ton of laughs along the way.

Where did the inspiration for Fan Favorite come from?

The inspo for Fan Favorite is – what if Bridget Jones went on The Bachelor? A million years ago when I was getting divorced, I started watching The Bachelor and every week I would think, the funniest thing in the world would be if a normal girl went on this show and had to sit in a hot tub with a bunch of Instagram models in her tankini. Voila!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love all the characters in this book so much, but I really love Edie’s best friend, Lauren. She’s inspired by one of my own best friends and I love the way she brings the real talk, but always with love. She’s also cool as hell.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Oh god, writing is a nightmare! Every time I write anything I face challenges. The best advice I have is to keep lowering expectations until you can start again. And to go for a walk when you’re stuck. And to always stop when you know what’s going to happen next and leave yourself some breadcrumbs to start again.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Super difficult! I’ve been working towards this goal for about twenty years! It took me a long time to find an agent and sometimes I’d get two or three rejections a day and then I’d take to my bed. I remember being at an outdoor concert with my friends sobbing because I just didn’t understand how I could’ve worked this hard and no one wanted to rep me. Finally someone did (shout out Marcy!) and then it seemed like the book wasn’t going to sell at all and I was devastated all over again. But then it did—I love you Grand Central Publishing! Once it sold there was a two year production process, so it feels like a long, crazy trip to get here now.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently writing my second rom com about a washed up pop star who is forced to go on a Y2K reunion tour. She’s got a boy bander love interest / enemy and there’s a lot of Juicy Couture. And GLITTER.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

So far this year I have loved The Favorites, The Paradise Problem, Hamnet, It’s Getting Hot in Here, Up Close & Personal, and Dream State. My TBR pile is literally like 150 strong, so I’m looking forward to a lot. Currently I’m saving both the new Claire Lombardo (Same as it Ever Was) and the new Taylor Jenkins Reid (Atmosphere) for my summer vacation in Wisconsin when I can read next to a lake all day long < < < heaven > > >.

Will you be picking up Fan Favorite? Tell us in the comments below!