In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I interview the wonderful novelist Amy Poeppel about her latest book, Far and Away, a comedic tale of two families from Dallas and Berlin embarking on a chaotic house swap. Amy shares the inspiration behind her book, drawn from her own experiences living in these cities, and we dive into the complexities of writing a multi-layered story. She discusses the humorous misunderstandings and cultural clashes her characters face and gives insights into her unique writing process, including her preference for using a whiteboard over outlining. We wrap up with a conversation about how Amy's characters discover the true meaning of home and community.

Links to books mentioned:

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Amy Poeppel - Far and Away

Amy’s book recommendations:

The Correspondence

The Road to Tender Hearts

Red Island House

Check out my favorite rolling top 10 books, updated regularly!

Watch Amy’s trailer here

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:39 Meet the Author: Amy Poeppel

02:13 The Inspiration Behind the Novel

05:00 Humorous Miscommunications

11:03 Writing Process and Challenges

15:24 Character Development and Research

25:49 Exploring the Vermeer Scandal

26:12 Writing Process and Research

28:49 Teenage Dialogue and Miscommunication

30:14 Character Development and Themes

32:51 Challenges and Joys of Writing

37:18 The Importance of Community

39:17 Starting a Writing Career Later in Life

45:59 Upcoming Projects and Inspirations

49:43 Book Recommendations

52:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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