I am thrilled to have gotten the chance to chat with one of my favourite authors, Rachael Lippincott, about her solo debut novel The Lucky List! Emily’s luck has officially run out; her mother died of cancer, she totally wrecked her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, her best friend is away at camp, and her father is selling Emily’s childhood home. But things get interesting when Emily’s childhood partner in crime, a beautiful and adventurous girl named Blake, moves back into town. The pair discover Emily’s mother’s senior year summer bucket list while cleaning out a closet and Emily decides to complete the bucket list, with Blake’s help, in the hopes of feeling closer to her mother.
We chat with Rachael about luck, inspiration, bucket lists, writing, and all things The Lucky List.
Hi, Rachael! Congratulations on your solo debut novel – I am a huge fan of your books! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Thanks so much! I am a young adult author, originally from outside of Philly, and currently based in Pittsburgh, where I live with my wife, and our pup, Hank.
What inspired you to write The Lucky List?
The main character, Emily. I really wanted to have this girl, who is struggling with so many things the summer before senior year, find the courage to shed all of it to truly become the person she so desperately wants to be
There’s nothing like the magic and possibility of summer when you’re in high school. And when Emily finds the list, and Blake comes to town, this incredible adventure follows, where every item brings her closer to her late mother, and closer to herself.
If you could describe The Lucky List in five words, what would they be?
Greatest adventure is being yourself.
How did you come up with the 12 items on Emily’s mother’s senior year summer bucket list?
I had a blast putting the list together! It was a combo of whatever fun stuff I could find on a “summer bucket list” Google search, fun stuff I would’ve wanted to do during summer break back in high school, and stuff that was really particular to Huckabee, the small town the book is set in. I mixed it all together, and 12 items came out!
Do you have a bucket list? If so, what are some of the items on your list?
I don’t, but this book has definitely made me want to put one together! I feel like a lot of my life goals are overarching and vague. Be a good parent. Lead with empathy. Always replace the toilet paper roll. But it would be cool to go to Paris and see the Grand Canyon and try to ride a unicycle.
Maybe a summer bucket list is a good place to start!
Emily and her mother have a lucky number. Do you have a lucky number or a lucky charm?
I played sports growing up, and my lucky number was always changing. Definite result of older classmates snagging the number I wanted on uniform handout day. I was born on the 5th, and my first book was Five Feet Apart, so maybe 5 is my lucky number, too!
What challenges did you face while writing The Lucky List and how did you overcome them?
The global pandemic. I started the drafting and revising process in March of 2020, so this book was written and edited during the events of last year. It was hard at first! Like Stella in Five Feet Apart I am a real list-maker and planner. To suddenly have days where I was just completely burnt out and unable to work was tough for me. I had to really learn to be forgiving of myself when the schedule had to be revised, and when I just couldn’t check those to-do list items off the way I wanted to.
Thankfully, escaping into the sun-soaked pages of The Lucky List was a real breath of fresh air!
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are looking to get published?
If the book is written, DO SOME RESEARCH! Find out how to write a good query letter. Find agents to query that are the right fit for you and your book. Search #MSWL on Twitter. Don’t just jump right into querying…come up with a plan and figure out how to market yourself and your book the best way possible.
Do you have plans to write another solo novel in the future? If so, when can we expect it?
I definitely do! Nothing set in stone yet.
Maybe I’ll co-write another one first. We’ll see!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, what is one thing that your and your family have been doing to stay positive?
Going on walks! We spent the first half of the pandemic in a studio apartment, with a large-ish dog, so when things were feeling a little more than cramped, walks were really our saving grace. Nothing like a quick stroll around the block or a hike in one of Pittsburgh’s parks to lift the spirits.
My mom, who still lives on the other side of the state, got REALLY into walking, too. Pretty sure she can walk a 5K faster than I can run one!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Definitely! Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins. A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour.
