Thursday, Randy Susan Meyers was here to talk about The Comfort of Lies (and to reveal something for book clubs that have chosen The Comfort of Lies! Yes, folks, you heard that news here first!)

Today Randy is back to talk about #literaryconfessions, favorite books and more!

Author Spotlight: Randy Susan Meyers

What are some of your favorite books, Randy?

As reading is close to breathing for me, this is a tough category–but my most memorable book is Before and After by Rosellen Brown asks what if your love of your child collides with your moral code—which side will you fall on? And what if this internal battle is also a battle with your husband—the father of your son. Brown does a brilliant job turning the prism of the family to catch the light bending with each character.

Other favorites include Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, and two recent favorites: The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam and Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. Other well-loved: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, and Knowing Jesse by Marianne Leone (a memoir.)

If you could choose to be a character in a book- who would you choose?

Hmm…I am drawn to extremely dark novels, so it’s hard to imagine who I’d like to be of that lot. A tour of my bookshelves tells me to take a pass on answering that! Perhaps this tells you something about my reading life.

If you were not an author, what would you like to be?

Having worked many jobs, including running a summer camp, a large community center, teaching non-violent ways to be in the world to criminals, and bartending, I’d have to say I am doing my dream job right now. But, if I had to choose another, it would be teaching.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I confess this (and it might get me drummed out of the literary world) — I am not a Jane Austen fan.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I find smart very sexy, which will probably show in my #literary crush: lawyer Alejandro “Sandy” Stern from Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow, another of my favorite books.

What is your favorite song?

I listened to Ayo’s “Down On My Knees” fifty times during one particular revision during the writing of The Comfort of Lies. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the triangulation of love quite so plaintive and naked as in this, now favorite, song.

On the other end of the scale, from the perfect-love-moment songs, nothing beats “Come Rain or Come Shine” sung by the great Ray Charles. It’s ‘our song’ and it’s the one I listened to in a loop of stunned-new-love when I met my husband.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I always have a guilty pleasure or two around. Dancing to “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce is a favorite. My guiltiest of all pleasures is watching Joan River’s “Fashion Police.”

Randy Susan Meyers- are you a hardback, paperback, or e-book kind of reader?

Truthfully, all three. My favorite is hardback. I like the heft, the size, the way it opens. I love the way they look on the shelves. I use e-books for when my husband is asleep and the light will keep him awake or when I am traveling and can’t carry as many books as I need. Paperback is great when you need something portable. Thus, I am often in the middle of three books.

What are some of the books in your TBR (To Be Read) list?

Does a picture really tell a thousand words? Below is a shot of the TBR pile next to my bed. (There is also a living room and office pile.)

On my e-reader I have samples waiting of Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld, The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan, Motherland by Amy Sohn, The Wanting by Michael Lavigne, and The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (all of these to be bought as ‘real’ books as soon as I get to either Newtonville Books or Brookline Booksmith (my two closest Indie bookstores.) And then, when I get there, I will add about a dozen more books to the pile.

 

1 of Randy Susan Meyers TBR stacks ( Gotta love a person who has multiple TBR piles- makes my heart flutter!)

 

 

 

*Special thanks to Randy Susan Meyers for agreeing to this Author Spotlight!

 

If you enjoyed reading about Randy (and seeing her TBR stack!)- check out her website, Facebook, Twitter, HuffPost, Pinterest and Goodreads page.

If you haven’t read The Comfort of Lies– please join Book Lovers Unite online book club as we read it in August. If you do the Twitter thing, look for #bookloversunite- we talk a lot on Twitter (But the discussion always happens on the blogs!)