Emily Giffin, a graduate of Wake Forest University and The University of Virginia School of Law, did not begin her career writing bestselling novels, but instead as a litigator in Manhattan. When she realized she loathed the actual practice of law, she came up with a plan that would take her one step closer to what she truly wanted to do with her life.
“I discovered that misery could be quite motivating," she says. "So very early on, I devised a plan to pay off my law school loans so that I could write full time,” she says. “Meanwhile, I began writing a young adult novel in my free time… and sometimes at work!”
Four years later, Giffin’s loans were paid off, her novel was finished and she secured an agent. Her career in writing had officially begun, as did the hardships that come with writing a novel. After eight rejection letters on her first novel, she was feeling rejected but not defeated.
“I think there’s something to be said for having faith in yourself, even in the face of failure,” she says. “Plus, fear of future regret has always motivated me.” Giffin took that fear, moved to London and wrote the bestselling novel and feature film, Something Borrowed.
Her latest novel, Where We Belong, focuses on secrets and the consequences suffered from keeping them. To develop this theme, Giffin uses a tale of adoption.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the power of secrets," Giffins says. "When is it justifiable to keep them from the ones we love? Does keeping them irrevocably change who we are? Adoption [under the sensitive circumstances in Where We Belong] seemed a great way to explore some of the broader themes, and the story basically developed from there.”
Giffin explains that one of the biggest challenges of bringing Where We Belong to life was getting inside the head of Kirby, an 18-year-old high school senior and a narrator of the book. Going back to her old high school journals, Giffin tried to get back into the mindset of a teenager, determined to make her characters believable, so readers could relate to them. Like Where We Belong, all of Giffin’s books focus on the different relationships people have with each other. While much of her inspiration comes from her own relationships, none of her novels are autobiographical.
“We have all grappled with the issue of who we are, where we belong and where we are going,” she says. “More specifically, though, I can’t relate to adoption. But it was fascinating to put myself in the shoes of these characters and find empathy for all of them, despite their mistakes and flaws.”
This connection with her characters and readers is one of the reasons she loves to write, and is so successful. “It is always so satisfying," she says, "to write a book and discover how much it resonates with readers of all ages worldwide.”
Emily Giffin will be at Saks Fifth Avenue in Plaza Frontenac on August 3 at 6 p.m. to read from and answer questions regarding her latest novel, Where We Belong. Saks Fifth Avenue will be donating 10% of all sales from the evening to HavenHouse St. Louis, known for providing a comfortable home and support for families traveling to St. Louis for medical care. In addition, Left Bank Books will be donating 10% of book sales from the evening to HavenHouse. For more information, click here.
