Q & A with Wendy Wax of Ocean Beach

1. Why did you decide to write about women renovating a house?  Do you have any renovation experience yourself?

No one in my house, including myself is allowed to own or operate tools, because we require medical attention afterward. We are the opposite of handy.  But I do love architecture and interior design and sometimes you come up with a story idea you can’t let go of and then you have to do the research to make it feel real.

I developed a bit of an HGTV addiction while I was researching Ten Beach Road and Ocean Beach. (There’s a short video about this on my website.) And I did hound the handy people I know. (Sometimes they fled when they saw me coming.) But I think I got the details right, because I recently ran into a woman in the construction business who wanted to know where I’d learned the trade… : )

2. Did you base any of your characters on real people?

For the most part when I create characters they’re not based on any real person from my life or from the headlines.  Instead they’re made up of small parts of people I know or know of, mixed with a small part of me… and a large part of my imagination.  They’re often far better than I would be – or far worse.  But there are the occasional exceptions.  In Ocean Beach, Hollywood A-listers Daniel Deranian and Tonja Kaye are not based on anyone specific, but when you read about them you may think about an actual A-list Hollywood couple (who shall remain unnamed) and well… I won’t correct you.  And of course the loveable Max and his Millicent are imaginary, but they are my homage to George Burns and his lovely Gracie. 

3. What are you reading right now?

I just finished David Baldacci’s The Innocent.  Before that I read the Shades of Grey trilogy. Just for research. And to stay current on what’s happening in the industry.  Right now I’m reading a couple of debut authors’ work, both of whom I’ve been asked to give a cover quote for.  I love doing that, as it’s great to be able to help new authors and it’s also fun to get to read the books before they’re out in the world!

4. What is your favorite beach read?

For the beach I like women’s fiction that grabs you right away with a great story and likeable characters and ideally a bit of humor.  Some of my current favorites are Claire Cook’s Wallflower in Bloom, and Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews and Sea Change by Karen White.   I also always enjoy Jane Porter whose next book, The Good Woman, comes out this September.

5. What are some of your favorite beaches?

I’m partial to St. Pete Beach as that’s where I grew up, but as you may have figured out from Ten Beach Road and Ocean Beach, I really am happy on any beach!  Give me some sand, surf, a sunset and some of my girlfriends and I am good to go.

6. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate.  Always. In greater quantities than I would like!

7. Kindle or book?
   Both – and audio books too!

8. What is your favorite animal?
   Hmmmm. Growing up we had dogs, but could never seem to train them properly. A lot of my family members have allergies so I’ve had to settle for enjoying my friends’ animals. If Karen White doesn’t watch out, Quincy may be coming home with me… : )

9. What are some of your must see TV shows?
   House Hunters International, Selling New York, Selling LA, and Kitchen Cousins are some of my favorites. (I did mention that little HGTV habit, right?) And my new addiction?  Downton Abbey.  If you haven’t already watched it, you need to! 

Thanks so much for being here Wendy. Great to learn more about the author behind the book. Be sure to check out Ocean Beach.