We chat with author Robbie Couch about Bloom, which is a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.
Hi, Robbie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Definitely! Where to begin? I’m originally from a small town in Michigan, but I live in Los Angeles now. I love pasta, autumn, cat naps, and (most) serif fonts. I have three incredible nephews, an irrational fear of birds, and a wanderlust for the Milky Way.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I wrote and illustrated a picture book for an assignment in fourth grade. I vividly remember loving the creative process, getting an A on the project, and basking in Mr. Volk’s praise for a job well done. Something clicked. I discovered something that I loved doing that I apparently wasn’t terrible at either. And I’ve been plotting ever since!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
- The one that made you want to become an author: Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Your new novel, Bloom, is out March 3rd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A refreshing escape from reality.
What can readers expect?
It’s a sweet story about a grieving widower who figures out how to bloom again with a little help from his previously estranged stepdaughter—and a sneaky houseplant working behind the scenes.
Where did the inspiration for Bloom come from?
The idea first came to me when I saw this house with a hundred potted plants on the front porch and in the window, many of which were dying or dead. I imagined someone who kept buying houseplants instead of going to therapy and thought the idea of a character’s poor mental health being reflected in the deteriorating upkeep of their plants could be a fun entry point to explore. Bloom deviates from that premise, but I guess I have that house to thank for planting the seed, so to speak.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Can I say all of the characters and all of the moments? I know that sounds like a cop out from answering! But with this being the first adult fiction novel I’ve written, Bloom truly was such a different experience for me in the best possible way. Even the struggles *glances at next question* felt more like fun challenges than the existential threats to the story that they’ve felt like in my previous books.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Although most of the book is written in third-person following my two main character “Sapiens”—Sloan and Morris—a portion of the book is told through the perspective of Jade, the house plant who’s in desperate need of being watered. I wrestled with how specific to craft her voice in my first draft. I wanted Jade to be a quirky, endearing, not quite human character who readers could root for (plant pun intended). I think I got there. Hopefully, readers will agree!
What’s next for you?
My next young-adult book, Just the Good Parts, comes out in September! I’m excited for that book to be released into the wild, too. But between now and then, I’ll just be plotting and pitching away.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I just finished Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it fascinating. I’m most excited to pick up Truth Is by my friend Hannah Sawyerr. She’s an incredible writer, and her book has been winning all the awards lately!
