1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
It’s a friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance mashup that takes place in a high-end restaurant. Think” The Bear, but cozier, and featuring the cutest darn Maine-raised MMC you’ve ever met.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I’m a New England gal through and through (I live in Vermont), and lately, I have been feeling so inspired by the beauty of my region. I’ve been wanting to “save” a Vermont setting for a farm-centered story, and Maine felt like a natural fit for a restaurant romance.
4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
TBH, I’d be pretty intimidated by her! Effie is a real-deal chef, who’s been in the restaurant industry for years. I’ve been in the food journalism for most of my career. I don’t know if I could hang tough with Ms. Olsen.
5–What are three words that describe your hero?
Willing to grow.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned SO much about writing a three-dimensional MMC/love interest. I was so focused on giving Effie depth of character, that my first couple of drafts really left Ernie without a lot of backstory. My amazing editors, Kerry Donovan and Mary Baker, helped me create a storyline and character arc for Ernie that (I hope) makes the book much more satisfying.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
In this instance, I finished the first draft before making any edits. I ended up deviating from my outline a bit, and I wanted to see where things landed before trying to tweak the details!
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’m a scone lover (and, depending on the company, sometimes apologist). Luckily, my boyfriend owns a bakery and keeps me stocked in sweet treats!
9–Describe your writing space/office!
I love writing at my boyfriend’s bakery (see above re: scones), but when I’m deep in drafting mode, I like to book a getaway at an Airbnb or cozy inn. That gives me space to get creative outside of the distractions of daily life. I wrote much of EFFIE OLSEN at a rented farmhouse in Southern Vermont.
10–Who is an author you admire?
I will go to the ends of the earth for a Jessica Joyce book. Not only is she an incredible storyteller, she’s a genuinely kind person, and a has been a great support to me.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
Denise Williams’ HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING was the first romance I ever read. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked. (Thanks, Denise!)
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
EFFIE OLSEN is the second book in my deal, so this story has been on my mind since November 2021, when I sold my first work of fiction, RUBY SPENCER’S WHISKY YEAR. I was so amped up about the offer that as soon as my agent and I ended our call, I laced up my sneakers and went for a run. Effie and I have that in common—running helps us get out our pent-up energy!
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Historical fiction, with a touch of magic and a wee bit of spice. My favorite read (so far!) this year has been After the Forest by Kell Woods.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
I’m not really a movie person, but (at the risk of ridicule) I did recently watch the new Top Gun and kinda loved it?
15–What is your favorite season?
Summer, baby! After months of gray Vermont winter and muddy Vermont spring, I want aaaaall the blue skies, sweaty afternoons, and magical evenings under the stars.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Give me good weather, a long run, and a slice of carrot cake, and I’m a happy woman.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this TV show, but Gilmore Girls is really good! (lol.) Joking aside: I just finished watching the series for the first time, and I cannot stop thinking about the characters. #TeamLogan
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Veggie-forward (I’m not a vegetarian, but I sure do love greens) with lots of fresh herbs and a bright pop of acidity (like lemon juice and a nice vinegar). Andy Baraghani, my previous colleague at Bon Appétit wrote a cookbook called THE COOK YOU WANT TO BE, and I’ve put many of his recipes on repeat.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
I’m currently training for a 50k trail race, so you can find me running, foam rolling, scrubbing mud out of my crew socks, or eating copious amounts of carbs.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I sure would love to introduce readers to a perfect Vermont fall.
EFFIE OLSEN’S SUMMER SPECIAL by Rochelle Bilow
These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But a surprise summer reunion changes everything when it gives them the chance to turn up the heat.
Effie Olsen thought she’d never live on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie’s eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past.
Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline.
But their restaurant has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. Her salty seaside hometown might be the key to Effie’s sweet ending…if she can learn to let her heart lead the way in time.
Romance Comedy | Women’s Fiction [Berkley, On Sale: April 30, 2024, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593547908 / eISBN: 9780593547915]
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About Rochelle Bilow
Rochelle Bilow is a food and romance writer who previously worked as the social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. A graduate of The French Culinary Institute, she has held just about every job in the food industry. Her first book, The Call of the Farm, a swoony farming memoir, was published in 2014. Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year (2023) was her debut romance.
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