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Margo Candela was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles and then moved to San Francisco, the setting of her first three novels: More Than This (Touchstone, Aug '08), Life Over Easy (Kensington, Oct '07) and Underneath It All (Kensington, Jan '07). More Than This was a Target stores Breakout Book and an American Association of Publishers national book club selection at Borders Books with Las Comadres. Her latest, Good-bye To All That (Touchstone, July '10), is her first set in her native Los Angeles and was the only novel picked by Los Angeles Magazine for its 2010 Best of L.A. list. (www.margocandela.com)
What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
Finding the motivation to write on a regular basis is a skill I’ve had to learn. It’s almost like working out. You have to do the work to see results and if you don’t do it, it’s very easy to just not to. No one is going to tell you to write and since you have to work alone to get it done, it can also be very isolating. But I’ve learned to adapt. I make sure to leave my desk, talk walks, and leave my work in my office. At the same time, I have to set boundaries so family, friends and neighbors understand that just because I work from home, it doesn’t mean I’m not working.
Which of your characters do you most relate to?
Jacqs from Underneath It All (Kensington, Jan. ‘07) hit the closest to home, even though the character is nothing like me. By virtue of it being my first book, I really adhered to the adage of “write what you know.” I can relate to all my characters even though I wouldn’t, in real life, do or say the things they do. The wonderful part of being a fiction writer is that I get to vicariously live through other people. It’s also what I love about reading—all the benefits, but none of the risks.
Describe your writing space.
I have a cushy home office, set up (almost) exactly the way I want. My office is at the front of our house so I feel connected to my neighborhood and has floor to ceiling windows so I can keep an eye out for the mailman (I subscribe to lots of magazines and always look forward to seeing what he’s delivered.)
As far as how it looks, my office is a work in progress. Little by little I’ve added what I need and have found the perfect paint color—a soothing gray with a tinge of blue. What I like most about my office is that it has a door I can lock. I don’t have to use it very often, but it’s nice to know that if there’s a need for me to keep everyone out of my space, I can.
What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?
Humor is a big part of my writing, but at the same time I deal with some very touchy issues like divorce, separating oneself from family and job loss. My default mode is to try to make it funny or at least balance the heavy moments with a dose of humor. I write about regular women who are smart, independent, close to their families and also make mistakes in their private and personal lives. My hope is that readers enjoy themselves and when they put down one of my books, they feel good about the time they’ve invested in reading it.
How are you real, rugged, and/or refined?
I definitely know I’m not rugged. Not in the least. The thought of being without creature comforts just sends me into a panic. And I laugh too loud and at really dumb things to pass off as refined. I’ll go with real. From a young age I knew who I was and what I wanted. While I don’t make excuses for my life choices, I have learned from my mistakes.
Which of your characters would you hate to go to lunch with?
It would be a toss-up between Cricket and Marlene, the sister-in-law and mother in my latest book, Good-bye To All That (Touchstone, July ’10). I have a very low tolerance for machinations and drama, and those two characters bring it in spades. My main character, Raquel, tries her best avoid prolonged contact with both of them and while family is important, it’s so much more tolerable in small doses. There is a scene early in the book where Raquel has to deal with both Cricket and her mother at the same time and I think it’s fairly indicative of how I’d handle the situation.
What in life do you want to do that you haven't done yet?
I haven’t traveled nearly enough. I was focused on school and paying for it so I never had the chance to knock around for a bit when my life was less complicated.
As a writer, do you ever feel that the vibrancy and energy of LA are overwhelming? How do you translate all those visual and cultural opportunities into prose?
I lead a very quiet, if not mundane life. My characters have much more fun and drama than I do or would even want. I was born and grew up in Los Angeles then lived in San Francisco long enough for me to appreciate my hometown.
Los Angeles has a definite vibe. People move fast, but slow at the same time. It’s a very spread out city and every zip code, even from block to block, is unique unto itself. L.A. has its drawbacks and clichés, but this is my city and I’m happy to be living here again and enjoying as many sides of it as possible.
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