Nita Prose

 

This from Ballantine's Book's excellent description of Nita Prose's brilliant book (you know I only interview brilliant authors) :

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. 

There are scores of rave blurbs for Nita's book, here are just two of my favorites:

“A heroine as loveable and quirky as Eleanor Oliphant, caught up in a crime worthy of Agatha Christie. Loved it!”—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project

“The Maid is a masterful, charming mystery that will touch your heart in ways you could never expect. The endearing, unforgettable Molly reminds us to challenge our assumptions about one another, and shows us how meaningful it is to feel truly seen in the world.”—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

Nita, tell me about where you live and why you love it so much.

I live in midtown Toronto, on a quiet street that’s close to a rambling, forested ravine to the north and a great street filled with neighborhood coffee shops and restaurants to the south. 

I’m able to bike downtown in half an hour with the wind in my hair, though the return journey takes a tad longer because it’s uphill—suffice it to say, that last stretch is good exercise!

Where were you living when you were 7 years old? Are they fond memories?

When I was seven, I lived in a place that has no name on a rural route in the middle of nowhere. It was idyllic in many ways, with lots of acreage for a young girl to run around in, discovering natural wonders and coming home mud-caked, grinning ear to ear with frogs in both pockets. It is entirely possible that I snuck several amphibious creatures into my room over the course of my childhood, and also entirely possible that I got caught by my mother many times, was scolded, but nevertheless continued to sneak in my beloved “pets.”

*

Is there a book that changed the way you look at life?

The Life of Pi, a sacred text in the form of a novel.

Do you have a favorite children’s book and what about it makes it so?

Charlotte’s Web. Given what I said above about my beloved “pets,” it’s not entirely surprising that an impossible relationship between an pig and a spider captured my imagination as a child and continues to do so to this day.

How do you feel about “Independent Bookstores” and their role in your success?

Indies make neighborhoods go round and they enhance any author’s career in myriad ways. There’s a sense of discovery that is synonymous with a good independent bookstore, that feeling that when you enter those doors and peruse the stacks of books inside, you’re going to find some wondrous treasures that will move you, entertain you and, moreover, sustain you.

 What are the funniest or most embarrassing stories your family tells about you?

Frogs in my pockets wasn’t enough?

I once almost made an entire tour bus stop on the side of an L.A. freeway because I was certain Frankenstein was going to kidnap me at Universal Studios.

How are you different now than you were in your teen’s?

One of the defining aspects of my personality is that, for better or for worse (let’s be honest: mostly for worse), I have remained largely unchanged for as long as I remember. I’m an old soul, with an old soul’s proclivities and peculiarities. Makes for fun times as a teen! Things get a lot easier, though, as one ages.

And Nita, in a short essay…………………………

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME

Dear Time Machine and the Wonderful Wizards at Its Mysterious Helm,

I humbly request that you send me back in time to approximately 1599, when a bard by the name of William Shakespeare was writing a play called Hamlet. That being said, can I also request immunity from small pox, bubonic plague, rickets, gonorrhea, syphilis, and the many other illnesses raging during the Elizabethan era? (Many thanks!)

What I’d like to know is how the bard did it, where his inspiration came from, who inspired him. Was his play truly a solo creation, or did he benefit greatly from the many actors, playwrights, royals and commoners who were all mixed in, cheek to jowl, in the streets of London at the time?

I won’t interfere in the past, I promise, because, yes, I have watched Back to the Future and Jurassic Park as you requested and understand not only the tempting consequences of meddling but also the fact that happy endings aren’t nearly as likely IRL as they are in fiction.

Yours with equal parts gratitude and trepidation,

Nita Prose

Thank you Nita, I absolutely loved your book and especially Molly. And congratulations on the movie deal, I think Florence Pugh will be great!

*Young Nita with her frogs compliments of the great Man Martin, creator of Man Overboard.

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