Bestselling Author Carley Fortune On Her Sophomore Novel "Meet Me At The Lake"
We talk cinematic parallels, writing spicy scenes, and the songs she'd want on a film adaptation's soundtrack.
Carley Fortune is a journalist and editor who “decided to write the damn book” she’d always wanted to write in the summer of 2020.
“I guess I was reclaiming my creativity,” the author explained on her website. Once she’d made up her mind to put pen to paper, she set a daily word count goal and an end-of-the-year deadline to finish the manuscript, like the true editor she is. That manuscript was her debut novel, Every Summer After, which hit shelves on May 10th, 2022.
If I had to guess, Fortune probably never expected that Percy and Sam’s love story would steal the hearts of so many readers (mine included). It’s a hope, of course. Most, if not all writers aspire to write something (or, even better, many things) that will impact readers in some way, and Fortune’s seemingly overnight success is the dream. One she most certainly earned.
Just shy of a year later, Fortune published Meet Me At The Lake on May 2nd, 2023. I had the pleasure of reading Fortune’s sophomore novel ahead of its release, and while reviewers are still rolling in, I think Fortune’s reputation is safe.
To summarize, Fortune says Fern and Will’s story is a “summery, emotional love story,” about two twenty-somethings who are brought together through a chance encounter, and end up spending 24 hours together, exploring the city of Toronto.
“They share their secrets, their hopes for the future, and make a pact to meet one year later at the resort where Fern grew up,” Fortune tells me over email. “Fern shows up; Will does not.
Now 32, Fern’s back home running the resort, following the death of her mother, the place is not in good shape, and her ex-boyfriend is the manager. Then in walks Will, who she hasn’t seen since that day ten years ago, with a very surprising offer to help.”
Last year, I declared Every Summer After “the one book you should read this season.” I still stand by that statement and recommend picking up the title (if you haven’t already). This year, I would also encourage you to crack open Meet Me At The Lake.
I devoured this novel almost as quickly as I did Every Summer After. Fortune’s love stories are as beautiful as her writing. Every sentence feels important because her characters read like real people, people you grow to care about and root for. I loved Sam and Percy, but I also found room in my heart for Fern and Will. I think you can (and should!), too.
On Meet Me At The Lake:
Tell me about your “ah-ha!” moment; the moment you knew you had either your plot or characters for Meet Me At The Lake.
CF: It started with the setting. I was lying in bed awake in the middle of the night and I had this clear image of Brookbanks Resort, a classic lakeside destination like in Dirty Dancing, only this would be in Ontario’s cottage country. As soon as I pictured the resort, I saw Fern, and the rest followed.
The story is reminiscent of Dirty Dancing and I found myself comparing the character of Maggie’s diary entries to Donna’s in Mamma Mia. What were some stories you turned to for inspiration for this book?
CF: Mamma Mia is a fun comparison! I hadn’t thought of that one, but of course, I had Dirty Dancing — the setting, mostly — in my mind. Before Sunrise was a reference point for the day Will and Fern spend together in Toronto in their early twenties. I saw the movie in my early twenties, though I didn’t go back and rewatch it. I should do that now so I can compare!
Fern and Will’s story, as well as Percy and Sam’s in Every Summer After, are second-chance romances. What is it about this trope that you are drawn to? Is there a romance trope you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole?
CF: I love when characters have a history that adds to the drama and tension of the story. I find when I’m brainstorming ideas, what I’m really doing is dreaming up elaborate backstories. I’m not sure if there’s a trope I wouldn’t touch — I think almost anything can be done well with the right care.
Something that I noticed you excel at in your writing is assigning traits specific to each character. For example, Will spins his pinky ring when he’s nervous or concerned. Fern is a bit of a coffee snob. How do you go about choosing these minute details that become major parts of a character’s personality, that so clearly individuate them from one another?
CF: The way these things pop into my brain often feels like magic. Why does Will enjoy lemon-flavored everything? I have no idea where that comes from! But it’s important to me that my characters feel specific and therefore real. I want readers to feel like they are on a journey with two people they know. I’m not a plotter and I don’t outline my characters too much before I start, so I keep a list for each character of details that make them “them” as I write. I also build a list I call “special couple things” where I track little sayings, gestures, and moments that I’ll reference multiple times in the book to give the couple their own language.
Every line in each of your books feels important. I want to know about your process with both writing description and writing dialogue because oftentimes writers will be stronger at one than the other, but I believe you have mastered both. How do you approach these different parts of storytelling?
CF: Thank you! That’s a huge compliment. Description was my favourite kind of writing when I was a kid, especially describing nature. I grew up surrounded by trees and the lake, and I loved writing about how it smelled and sounded and looked. Even now, when I go home and walk through the bush, I’m astounded by how beautiful it all is and how impossible that is to properly convey. In the summer, when walk on a dirt road in the woods after it rains and the sun comes out, there’s this incredible smell. I have no idea how to capture it in words, but I want to! I want to give that experience to my readers.
With dialogue, I try to make it short and snappy and as true to life and the characters as I can. I was a journalist, and there’s a rule in journalism that you only use quotes when absolutely necessary when they say something you as the writer cannot. I think I apply that to my books, too.
I found myself wanting more of Maggie’s journal entries. How many entries did you write vs. how many made it into the story, and how did you decide what you wanted the reader to get from them?
I wrote journal entries for the entire summer of 1990. I wanted to fully understand Maggie’s story
before I figured out what should go into the book. I wanted the diary entries to seem like they were telling Maggie’s own summer love story but that they would ultimately be about a mother’s love for her daughter. What ended up going in the book was just enough for the reader to see that arc. I didn’t want the journals to annoy people since they pull you out of Fern and Will’s story.
The sex scenes in Meet Me At The Lake are very different from those in Every Summer After. I found Percy and Sam’s interactions to be sweet and romantic. Will and Fern’s were very hot. How do you approach writing these moments?
CF: I dim the lights, get the candles going, and pour myself a glass of wine… just kidding! It’s kind of like anything else, in that the sex scenes need to be there for a reason, they need to fit the characters and where they are in their relationship, and they need to be specific. Sometimes they’re fun to write and other times, I’m not in the mood and I make a note myself to go back later to make sure I haven’t written the world’s dullest sex scene.
In a lot of contemporary romances, the main characters are involved in editorial, especially when the author of said book was involved in editorial. I love that these characters are outside of that bubble. Was that a conscious decision? Was there any research that went into the professional backgrounds of Fern and Will?
CF: At the beginning, I was thinking that maybe Will could be a writer, but it seemed like there were a lot of books coming out with characters who were authors, worked in publishing, or had jobs somehow adjacent to the book world. I didn’t have to do much research for either Fern or Will, since I’m so familiar with tourism and hospitality.
What do you hope readers take from this novel?
I hope it gives them an escape! The book tackles some big subjects — grief, mental health — but I want readers to come away with full hearts and feeling good.
Normally, I would ask who you would cast in a film adaptation of Meet Me At The Lake, but because music is so near and dear to Fern, I want to know: What songs would be on the soundtrack to the film adaptation?
CF: So many of the songs and artists mentioned in the book: “Insensitive” by Jann Arden, “I Think I’m In Love” by Spiritualized, “Lovesong” by The Cure, and “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. It’s not in the book, but Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” feels very Meet Me at the Lake.
What’s next for you? Are you working on Book Three (I hope so!)?
CF: I am! For now, all I can say is that it’s another romance, and that I’m wildly excited to share more about it in the coming months.
On Writing:
Paint us a picture of what a day in the writing life of Carley Fortune looks like.
CF: I don’t think it looks exciting! I treat writing like a day job, so I get my kids out the door and then I sit at my desk and work until they come home. I usually take a break to exercise and do chores around the house, but mostly I’m butt-in-chair.
You mentioned in your newsletter that you are a pantser. So, given that fact, how do you go about starting a project?
CF: My editor and I agree on a concept for the book — this is worked out over several conversations, and then I write up a paragraph or two to capture the idea. At the same time, I’m making notes on anything that pops into my mind: character thoughts, scenes, setting, even bits of dialogue. For the book I’m currently working on, I spent a day sitting and thinking about structure, the story’s big moments, and where I thought I should begin. Then I just jump in.
What is your editing process like?
CF: I edit my manuscripts before I submit to my editors. I usually revise on-screen, but if I’m trying to do a closer, line-by-line edit, then I might print it out. Sometimes I use colour-coded tabs to track character arcs and storylines. As I’m writing, I keep a to-do list of things I want to examine when I’m in the self-editing stage, so I go through those items one by one. I also do a read near the end of this process where I just look at the writing and see if there are any sentences or sections that I can make more sparkly. Then I get a big editorial note back from my editors and I spend a couple days thinking about it before we discuss, and I start in on my next draft.
Oftentimes, writers create characters they see themselves in. How do you go about creating your characters? Are they inspired by people in your real life? Do they represent parts of yourself?
CF: I think there’s a little bit of me in all my characters — whether they are traits I’m pulling from inside myself or things I’ve noticed in others. I don’t usually write characters inspired by people in my life; Mr. and Mrs. Rose are a rare exception.
What are 3 of your must-haves to set the tone for a writing session?
CF: A tidy workspace, a visual timer for when I’m struggling with distractions and a Pentel EnerGel pen with purple ink.
What is the best advice you can give writers battling a bout of writer’s block?
CF: When I’m stuck, I find that moving my body really helps. I go for a run or a walk and shake out the cobwebs.
Lastly, if you could pull an Alice in Wonderland, but instead of stepping through a looking glass, you can step into a book, which would it be, and what role would you play in the plot?
CF: I’d be Sally in Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy. She’s a tremendously talented comedy writer on a late-night SNL-style show and lands a super hot, super lovely heartthrob actor. That sounds great to me.
Meet Me At The Lake is available now! Links to purchase: Amazon, Target, Barnes and Noble, Audible, Thrift Books
Be sure to follow Carley Fortune on social media! Links to her platforms: Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
You can also subscribe to Carley’s newsletter, here.
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I can’t wait to read this one!!