Interview with Kristan Higgins, Author of If You Only Knew

This is the story of two sisters, both at a crossroads. Jenny is a wedding dress designer trying to get over her rather perfect ex-husband. She’s in love with love, a true believer, and she can’t quite figure out what went wrong. Her penchant to fall in love hard and fast isn’t helping her; she’s a little fixated on her downstairs neighbor, Leo, who tells her flat-out he’s not for her. Jenny’s older sister, Rachel, seems to have the secret to a happy life nailed; Rach is a stay-at-home mom to triplet daughters and absolutely loves her life…until she finds out her husband is sexting with a coworker.

IWho are your literary heroes? Why do they inspire you?

Like every other human, I love Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (haven’t read Go Set a Watchman, and I probably won’t because…well, I like Atticus perfect). Atticus unfailingly does what’s right, even at the cost of his own friendships and place in the community. His loneliness hits me right in the heart, and yet he’s never ruled by it. I also love Scarlett O’Hara because, despite (and because of) her flaws, she’s always able to do what no one else can. Her courage never fails her. Sure, she’s emotionally stunted, but she gets the job done, even when the job is impossible.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t use your teeth as tools. Oh, did you mean writing advice? Or moral advice? Writing advice would be from Cindy Gerard: Keep your head down and do your thing. In other words, don’t be influenced too much by the sound and fury around you. Listen to your own heart and mind instead. And moral advice…well, moral example would be more accurate. My grandfather was a brilliant, thoughtful, quiet man. In all my life, I never heard him say something unkind about another person.

Who is your favorite fictional couple from literature?

Oh, that’s a tough one! I have so many…today, I’ll go with Emma and Mr. Knightly from Jane Austen’s Emma. They know each other so well, they’re friends, and when Emma is unkind, Mr. Knightly calls her on it, and boy, she feels it! (Also, I have a crush on Jeremy Northam, who played him in the movie, so that doesn’t hurt.)

Say you’re hosting a dinner party and can invite anyone in the world, alive or dead, fictional or real. Who’s coming to dinner?

Abraham Lincoln, Tina Fey, Bridget Jones, Teddy Roosevelt, Mindy Kaling, David Sedaris and my husband, because he would be so mad if I had all these great people over and he didn’t get to come.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My family. Sorry to be so predictable, but it’s true! My kids are everything to me, and my husband is my absolute best friend in the world.

What’s your favorite quote from IF YOU ONLY KNEW?

“You okay, Charlie Sheen?” It’s when the hero meets the heroine when she’s having a rather bad day.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I never really thought of it until this question…we don’t have family crest or anything other than “Eat dessert.” But in thinking about it, I’d say this: Hope for the best. Work hard. Smile. Life is pretty great if you can do those things.

Kristan Higgins is the author of the new book If You Only Knew.

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