Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Rachel Bloom is the coolest girl in the world...plus a book giveaway


Photo by Robyn Von Swank
Introduction by Melissa Amster

I am beyond excited to share my interview with Rachel Bloom today! Ever since I first fell in love with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (read my posts from the bottom up), I have admired Rachel's creative talent. Her love for Broadway also resonates with me. Last year, my husband and I got to see her perform live and she was absolutely hilarious! 

Rachel's memoir, I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are, published today. To celebrate, Grand Central Publishing (who also helped arrange this interview) has FIVE copies for some lucky readers! The title makes me think of a line from "Part of Your World" (The Little Mermaid). However, I'm sure there's more to it than that, and I can't wait to dive into this book and find out!

Rachel Bloom is a comedian, actress, writer, and singer born and raised in Los Angeles. Rachel co-created and starred in the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on The CW Network and earned a Golden Globe and Critics Choice award for her performance, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for the songwriting. In 2019, she toured her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Live show across the US and Europe, selling out at iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall and the London Palladium. Rachel is currently executive producing a new romantic mystery comedy drama television series for The CW Network titled I’m In Love With The Dancer from My Bat Mitzvah, and she is set to write the Untitled *NSYNC Comedy for TriStar pictures. She is also penning the lyrics for an upcoming Broadway musical of The Nanny. Rachel’s first book, I Want To Be Where The Normal People Are, was published by Grand Central Publishing on November 17, 2020. 

Visit Rachel online:


Synopsis:
Rachel Bloom has felt abnormal and out of place her whole life. In this exploration of what she thinks makes her "different," she's come to realize that a lot of people also feel this way; even people who she otherwise thought were "normal."

In a collection of laugh-out-loud funny essays, all told in the unique voice (sometimes singing voice) that made her a star; Rachel writes about everything from her love of Disney, OCD and depression, weirdness, and Spanx to the story of how she didn't poop in the toilet until she was four years old; Rachel's pieces are hilarious, smart, and infinitely relatable (except for the pooping thing).
(Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is one thing you hope people who read your book will learn about you?
That I have a debilitating series of checks and balances in my brain.

What were the easiest and most challenging parts of writing I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are?
The easiest part was the interview with my dog because obviously I just had to interview my dog. The most challenging part was finding a structure for my essay about my mental health in my twenties.

What is your writing environment like? 
My writing varies between my bathtub, a table on my patio that overlooks the street, and my tiny desk in my chaotic office made chaotic because half of my house is unusable due to construction.

What are some of your favorite books of all time?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, The Giver by Lois Lowry

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as a new mother?
Just today, I was putting on my own makeup for a news piece, because the makeup artist I had hired couldn’t get a Covid test in time, while I was pumping with a bra that makes the breast pump stick to your nipples. So I was putting on eyeliner as these pumps were sticking out of my tits and it was just very on the nose.

What was your favorite song to perform on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?

"Heavy Boobs." A couple years ago there was a performance in Austin and it happened to fall on National Women’s Day so I invited all of the women with heavy boobs in the audience to come up on stage with me and do the song. 

Thanks to Rachel for visiting with us and to Grand Central Publishing for facilitating the interview and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends November 22nd at midnight EST.

26 comments:

Padmini Rao said...

I have never seen my Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

traveler said...

I never did see this show.

Madigan said...

The show is definitely my favourite, I felt connected with all the characters and I felt so empty and alone without it..

Pau Sieglinde said...

I really really love her work, she’s definitely my idol ❤️

Anonymous said...

She is my heroine.

Pau Sieglinde said...

I neeeeed to know how to follow the blog

Czarina N said...

My favorite song to dance it is "Sexy Getting Ready Song." My favorite song to cry to is "It was a Shit Show." And my favorite song to sing along to is "I'm a Good Person"

Erin Perez said...

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is an amazing show and I'm so excited to read Rachel's book!

diannekc said...

I've never seen Crazy Ex-girlfriend. Would really like to read the book.

A Soccer Mom's Book Blog said...

I have never watched it but I'd love to start watching it

Anonymous said...

I've never watched it but my Daughter -in-Law is a big fan and wants this book for Christmas. Thanks for your great generosity. Linda May

Mary C said...

Yes, I've watched the show.

FSURia said...

I live Crazy Ex girlfriend and We Tapped That Ass is one of my many favorites!

jodi marinich said...

i have never seen hthe show

Mary Preston said...

I have never even heard of it.

Marissa said...

Watched Crazy Ex Girlfriend from the beginning, such a great show. Loved that it normalized some difficult topics while keeping a wonderful sense of humor.

Adelina T. said...

I absolutely love Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and I just love so many of the songs that it's hard to pick a favorite. I think if I had to pick one, it would have to be Let's Generalize About Men.

bn100 said...

no, never heard of it

Unknown said...
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Diane Markowitz said...

I loved Crazy Ex-girlfriend’s songs, and characters.

Zachary Snyder said...

Love the show, I guess my favorite song is the Sexy Getting Ready Song, but there are too many to choose from.

Kelly Rodriguez said...

I haven’t seen the show yet but would love to watch it.

Briana McKenna said...

Crazy Ex GF is one of my fav shows of all time!! My fav song is probably Feelin Kinda Naughty. Rachel is incredible and I can't wait to read this

Briana McKenna said...

Crazy Ex GF is one of my fav shows of all time!! My fav song is probably Feelin Kinda Naughty. Rachel is incredible and I can't wait to read this

rubynreba said...

I have not watched the show.

Nancy P said...

I haven't seen it but would check it out.