In Episode 75, Ashley Audrain (author of The Push) joined me to talk about society’s expectations of mothers, how her publishing background influenced an early draft of The Push, and what it’s like to read and write dark stores.

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Highlights

• Generational differences in how society views motherhood and interesting feedback Ashley has gotten from mothers in her parents’ generation.
• What the overwhelming response to The Push has been like for Ashley and whether she expected this type of reaction from readers.
• How (and when) she found out The Push was going to be a GMA Book Club pick.
• How Ashley’s publishing marketing / PR background during The Girl on the Train‘s heyday influenced an early draft of The Push, which she eventually changed.
• How Ashley felt about writing such a dark book about a revered topic.
• What Sarah gets out of reading dark books.
• Some interesting feedback from men that Ashley has heard about The Push.
• Harmful phrases that are thrown around about motherhood all the time and how they can impact mothers’ mental health.
• Ashley’s thought process as she was writing Violet’s character.
• Ashley’s memories of reading We Need to Talk About Kevin.
• How / why Ashley decided to go with a slightly ambiguous ending (and her revision journey to get there).
• A preview of Ashley’s next book (called The Whisperers).

Ashley’s Book Recommendations [33:59]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Mothers by Brit Bennett (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [34:19]
• The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani | Buy from Amazon [37:54]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Harpy by Megan Hunter | Buy from Amazon [40:37]
• Luster by Raven Leilani | Buy from Amazon [43:34]

One Book She DIDN’T LOVE

• Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips | Buy from Amazon [45:52]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker (May 18, 2021) | Buy from Amazon [49:11]

Last 5 Star Book Ashley Read [50:02]

• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam | Buy from Amazon [52:17]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Pushby Ashley Audrain (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [0:51]
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [10:55]
• A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold | Buy from Amazon [27:39]
• We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver | Buy from Amazon [27:49]
• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam | Buy from Amazon [28:44]
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [34:43]
• The End We Start From by Megan Hunter | Buy from Amazon [40:47]

About Ashley

Website | Instagram

Ashley previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada. Prior to Penguin, she worked in public relations. She is a graduate of the Media, Information & Technoculture program at Western University. She lives in Toronto, where she and her partner are raising their two young children.

The Push is her first novel.

Next Episode

There will not be a new episode next week since the podcast is on a bi-weekly schedule.

The following week, there will be a full length episode featuring Laura Tremaine, the author of Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. and the host of the podcast 10 Things to Tell You (airing February 17).