Author Interview: Paula Froelich

Yesterday, I reviewed a great book called MERCURY IN RETROGRADE that many of you will just love. It really is the ideal book to read this summer! I am so excited that the author Paula Froelich agreed to take time from her very busy life to answer a few of my questions.

Booking Mama: Besides writing MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, you also work as the New York Post Page Six gossip columnist. When did you find the time to write a novel and do your “day” job?

Ms. Froelich: I woke up REALLY early! heh. I'd wake up at 6 or 7 and walk my dog Karl then write for a few hours before going to work (I get to work at 10:30). I also wrote for 7 hours every day on the weekends!

Booking Mama: I can only imagine the things you’ve seen as a Page Six columnist! What has been the most interesting thing that has happened to you (or that you have learned) while working in this job?

Ms. Froelich: Girl, if I told you I'd have to kill you! Haha. Just Kidding. But there have been some CRAZY moments! I have been threatened by Puffy, almost beaten up by Kimora Lee Simmons, Had to calm down Tara Reid, dealt with sitting next to Lindsay Lohan on a (VERY LONG) six hour flight, been on vacation with Star Jones, Almost been peed on by Pete Yorn, went on a date with Heavy D (yes, the overweight lover)... and oh, so much more!

Booking Mama: Some of the characters in your novel sound a bit like real-life celebrities. Do you have to be careful when you base characters on actual people? I know your book hasn’t been officially released yet, but have you had any negative reactions about the characters?
Ms. Froelich: Not really. I think Lizzie Grubman was upset that I had a character loosely based on her that had an accident in the Hamptons -- but we're old friends and she loved the book! But, after 9.5 years at Page Six, I know how to write a blind item!

Booking Mama: Besides writing MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, you have also written a non-fiction book called 9 Secrets of the Rich and Famous That’ll Take You to the Top. Did you find it more difficult to write a self-help type book or a novel?

Ms. Froelich: I had the most fun I have ever had writing the novel! The self-help became tedious.

Booking Mama: As I read this novel, I couldn’t help but think it would make a fantastic movie with the entertaining (and very funny) storyline, wonderful characters, and gorgeous fashion. Has there been any talk about bringing your book to the big screen? Do you see any particular actresses or actors as the characters in the novel?

Ms. Froelich: Ha! there has been some talk, but nothing concrete yet. I think it's more of a TV series though... I'd love for Penelope to be played by Anna Faris, Lipstick: not sure and Dana: Ellen Page.

Booking Mama: This is your debut novel and there is a lot of fantastic buzz about MERCURY IN RETROGRADE especially from some big-time women’s fiction authors. What is next for you in your writing career? Are there any plans for another novel?

Ms. Froelich: Thank you! I was so surprised when they all wrote me quotes, I almost cried. Erica Jong took me out to dinner last night and again said how much she liked the book and that she thought I was a great writer and I did cry! As for plans: Am working on several things. I have YA novel called GRITS I'm working on -- about my high school experience in Cincinnati Ohio and Northern Kentucky (I transferred from a huge public school to a convent in KY where I was the only Jew and almost only virgin in my graduating class) -- I'd love to make that a series like Gossip Girl... AND I have two more adult novels I want to publish: a sequel to MERCURY IN RETROGRADE, called MERCURY RISING and another one called THE GATEWAY GIRLFRIEND.

Booking Mama: I am always very interested in this question -- I think I’m just nosy about what others are reading. Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books? What are you reading right now?

Ms. Froelich: I love love love Bridget Jones, Sex and the City, Fear of Flying, Good in Bed, Gossip Girl etc... anything by the authors who gave me plugs for my book! Haha. I also love PJ O'Rourke, Tim O'Brien and George Saunders. I just finished (again) Supreme Courtship, Unaccustomed Earth and am pluggin away on the Helen Gurley Brown bio (Bad Girls go Everywhere) -- she's amazing!!!

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did! Make sure you check out MERCURY IN RETROGRADE -- it's available today, June 2nd!