We chat with author Kirsty Greenwood about The Love of My Afterlife, which follows a recently deceased woman who meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…
Hi, Kirsty! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello hello Nerd Daily readers! My name is Kirsty Greenwood and I’m a romantic comedy writer living in West London. My most recent book is called The Love of My Afterlife and it’s a romantic comedy about a dead woman who is offered a deal in the afterlife– she can have ten days back on earth and if – in those ten days – she can find her soulmate and get him to kiss her, then she’ll get to stay alive…
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I was super young! I would write continuations of my favourite book series (Sweet Valley High, Point Horror and Mallory Towers) while waiting for my next trip to the library. That developed into journaling from the age of 11 – a habit I’ve kept up since then. Writing has always been the way I’ve most comfortably been able to make sense of the world.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Naughtiest Girl in The School by Enid Blyton
- The one that made you want to become an author: Talking to Addison by Jenny Colgan
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I’m pretty much always thinking about Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. It’s so beautiful, I often daydream about the world of that novel.
Your latest novel, The Love of My Afterlife, is out July 2nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
- Surprising
- Gleeful
- Sexysexysexy
- Thoughtful
- Audacious
What can readers expect?
With The Love of My Afterlife, readers can expect to have a hella good time. It’s an entertaining and fast-paced romantic read about a real fish out of water who is given a life or death situation in which she has to find her one true love. The stakes are big, the laughs are plenty, the romance is sexy and the ending is a twisty turny ride of delight. Outside of all the sales-y speak, though – I’m really proud of it and if you read it I hope it brings you joy.
Where did the inspiration for The Love of My Afterlife come from?
This novel came out of a mind melt of a few ideas I’d had over the past few years! The most prevalent one being a romance story featuring a protagonist who did not like other people and had never been in an intimate relationship. I loved the idea of writing a love story for someone who was actively avoiding love or connection in any shape of form. It was so rewarding to set Delphie the challenge of finding her soulmate in order to save her own life. Once Delphie appeared in my head – so stubborn and sharp – I knew I had to write her story.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There’s a scene set around a sort of heist, where Delphie and one of the other characters (an award winning crime writer) need to infiltrate a fancy charity gala at a manor house in the countryside. I adored writing that scene – I found it so joyful to put this adventurous sub-plot into the ordinarily quite steady Delphie’s life.
I also really liked writing the starter moments of friendships in this novel – those awkward moments where a connection between two people is just beginning, when you’re figuring each other out and judging whether you’ll become more than strangers. I’m both fascinated and confused by the way people make friends in real life, so it was a lot of fun to consider those types of scenarios in this book.
What’s next for you?
I have a bunch of exciting book events in the US this summer, which I am madly excited about! Getting to meet readers in a country other than my own feels like dream territory.
I’m also drafting my next book – Sexy Spooky Love Story – and having an absolute ball creating trouble for my poor protagonist Gilda!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
This year I have adored Under Your Spell by Laura Wood, Shy by Mary Rodgers, The Good Part by Sophie Cousens and How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang. I’m desperate to get my hands on Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner and All The Colours of The Dark by Chris Whitaker.
