My Interview with Author, Meredith Cagen

  

Kiki: What is your favorite genre to read in, and what is it about that genre that attracts you to it? If you like a specific mix of genres, please state that particular combination.

I love thrillers when the author mixes actual/historical and fictitious events. The mix enables me to read about mysteries with a compelling storyline.  If done correctly, like The Da Vinci Code, I learn a lot about history.  It will open my eyes to the past, and I will follow up by reading more about those events and time period.

Kiki: What is your favorite author to read in that genre, and why? Also, please tell me a little about the best book by that author you have read.

Dan Brown is a genius with “Angels and Demons” and “The Da Vinci Code”  Phillipa Gregory amazes me with her books, my favorite is “The Queen’s Fool.”

Since everyone on this planet has read Dan Brown’s books, Philippa Gregory’s books takes a minor or imaginary historical character, who is witnessing great  historical events such as the comings and goings of King Henry VIII’s wives, power plays in the Tudor kingdoms.

Kiki: Do you have a Favorite Book of All Time? Of course, please tell us what about that book makes it your favorite.

Lost Horizon by James Hilton, the romance, the idealism, the dream, the sadness of loss and the quest to regain what you lost.  The idea of a utopian society, a panacea… appeals to my soul and sense of fairness.  “…the meek shall inherit the earth.”

It moves me.

Kiki: What is the best book you read last month, and would you recommend it to a friend?

I read the “Detectives Don’t Wear Seatbelts” by Cici McNair, a fascinating autobiography….love it!

Kiki: What are your reading habits like? For example, how many books do you read on average in a week, what format do you prefer to read in, what time of day do you read, and what setting is ideal for you to get lost in that book?

I read in bunches.  If I am lucky enough to read a book I really like, then I will be propelled to read everything that author has written.  I run to buy the latest Sookie Stackhouse book, I devoured the Twilight books, Karen Quinn writes great Chick-lit/NYC-lit books. 

A good book makes me read more.  A bad book, has me turn on the television, and I stop my reading adventures for a while. 

I just bought an iPad, but I haven’t read any books on it.  I love the intimacy between a paperback book and myself.  Sometimes, my husband gets jealous, especially when I read in bed!

Kiki: How do you become inspired to write?

I returned to school to obtain a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, years after completing my MBA.   It was daunting.  The first time I sat down to study for an exam, I had funny ideas racing through my head.  I had a difficult time focusing and actively started daydreaming.  I couldn’t concentrate, so I went with the flow and wrote down all those funny, random thoughts.  And the writing didn’t stop until Size Eight in a Size Zero World was completed.

When I get stressed, I get creative, my imagination is sparked. I’m not sure if that qualifies as inspiration, but that is my story.

Kiki: What part of the story do you think is your strength to write?

My narrative voice is strong as I write in the first people.  I think what would I do, what would my friends do, what would my readers do?  The POV (point of view), is from the heart and reality based. My protagonist, Lindsay in “Size Eight in a Size Zero World”  leads an identifiable, ordinary every woman life.

I want my readers to relate to her challenges and feel her turmoil.

Kiki: Please share with ABA readers something I did not think to ask you about.

My main character, Lindsay is one of them (us).  She is a typical woman for this new millennium, working a job, taking care of her family, running her household, overworked, unappreciated, no time for herself, a super multi-tasker, while her husband watches TV and plays on the internet.

She struggles to keep a sense of herself.  And then one day she meets someone who causes her to re-evaluate how she lives her life, turning her world upside down. She is a good girl trying to do the right thing and the wrong thing simultaneously, while remaining true to herself, whoever that is. It’s a very realistic journey filled with humor and heart!

An adventure into New York City society and relationships.

Read the book, Size Eight in a Size Zero World, and share with me your thoughts, mcagen@gmail.com, www.sizezeroworld,com, www.meredithcagen.com

Meredith Cagen

What happens when happily ever after takes an unexpected detour?

You Gotta Read Reviews
"I enjoyed every minute of it."
With all the serious books that I read, Size 0 in a Size 8 world was one that I was ready for. Lindsey, the main character, was so much like me it was pitiful. In this day we are told that being smaller is better and because of that, we find that we are constantly dieting and are not quite good enough. After reading this book I say, nonsense! I enjoyed watching Lindsey become a person who flourished into the woman that she was meant to be, a vibrant woman with curves and a backbone. Lindsey was a woman who took care of everyone else but herself. When she finally does start to take care of herself, her self confidence soars. "The man upstairs" was an excellent character to learn something from, which Lindsey finally did. Sometimes I wanted to say "Lindsey dahling, forget all of those who think you should be one way, you're perfect just the way you are!" I really enjoyed the ending which wrapped everything up rather quickly. I'd love to read a sequel to this book and find out how Lindsey is doing today. I recommend this book to all who love a little bit of chick lit and a whole lot of laughs.

Ms. Cagen writes with a dramatic yet humorous flair on problems that we face every day. This book really did have a Sex in the City feel to it and I enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Cagen in the very near future. You did an excellent job with this book Ms. Cagen and please know that I'll be looking out for the next book
Best Sellers World 
"I just love it."   Reviewed by Julie Moderson 
Meredith Cagen lives in Manhattan in the Upper East Side. She lives with her husband and two children. She is not a size zero and is a very pretty brunette. I believe this is her first novel and I just love it.
Lindsey Chandler is a 32-year-old New York working wife and mother. She thinks that she has old-fashioned values but I think she doesn’t. She is married to Grant, who is a man who considers his wife to be his personal property and servant. Grant is a mean hateful person who seems to take pride in hurting Lindsey. She has two wonderful children who deserve to have a father in their life. Grant has never gone to any events at his children’s school or their classes.
From the beginning of the book you see that Lindsay has friends who are very wealthy and she has a great lifestyle but she feels that something is missing. Lindsay forms an unexpected friendship with a man who lives upstairs. She has never slept with anyone other than Grant and the man upstairs changes that. He talks to Lindsey about getting in better shape, so she loses weight, and she changes her clothes to appeal to him. He is always out with models that wear a size zero and Lindsay wears a size eight. She tries to change to make him love her. She wants the happily ever after life but does she end up with it?
This is a great book about women and our feelings about who we are and what we are worth.