Lee Upton is just right...plus a book giveaway

Today we are pleased to welcome Lee Upton, to talk about her latest novel, Wrongful. We enjoyed getting to know her and we hope you will too. Thanks to Lee we have SIX copies of Wrongful for some lucky readers!

Lee Upton’s poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The New Republic, Poetry, and in many other journals as well as three editions of Best American Poetry. She is the author of books of poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. Visit Lee at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:
When the famous novelist Mira Wallacz goes missing at the festival devoted to celebrating her work, the attendees assume the worst—and some hope for the worst. Ten years after the festival, Geneva Finch, an ideal reader, sets out to discover the truth about what happened to Mira Wallacz. A twisty literary mystery dealing with duplicity, envy, betrayal, and love between an entertainment agent and a self-deprecating former priest, Wrongful explores the many ways we can get everything wrong, time and again, even after we’re certain we discovered the truth.

"Nimble, funny, playful, versatile Lee Upton has long been one of my favorite writers, and what a multilayered treat Wrongful is. Here we have all the usual joys of Upton's prose—clever dialogue; great tonal range; psychological subtlety; a wit that's razor-sharp without ever feeling mean-spirited—in service of a well-made and engrossing murder mystery. Is there any genre she can't master, anything she can't do?"
—Michael Griffith, author of Trophy and Bibliophilia

"This book is addictive. Lee Upton has created a world of characters you won't want to say goodbye to. Her writing is sharp, surprising, and entertaining. I love Wrongful for its humor and wisdom, but also for the characters that keep you guessing."
— Olivia Clare Friedman, author of Here Lies

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing?
I was told that two people laughed so long and hard during a reading from one of my books that they were afraid they would be kicked out of the auditorium.

What is something you learned from writing your previous novels that you applied to Wrongful?
I discovered new ways to describe landscapes and to heighten suspense.

If Wrongful were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
For the role of the former priest I would cast Keanu Reeves. Even when he’s destroying enemies with a pencil in the John Wick movies, Reeves conveys emotional vulnerability. For my primary character, Geneva Finch, I would cast a woman who has auditioned frequently but never got a call-back and is now working in a restaurant between auditions. (A well-known actress wouldn’t be quite right for the part. The role should go to an unfamiliar face. And it would be an honor to give someone her first big break.)

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Jenny Slate—she’s such a greatly gifted writer and actor. It would be wonderful to hear her narrate my life. She might be able to make it sound interesting.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
Possibly some of our local hiking trails and art galleries here in Easton, Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the Lehigh Valley. There’s also the shad ladder.

What is your favorite springtime activity?
Reading with all the windows open as a breeze circulates throughout the house and near my elbow rests a tray of fine chocolates. With the windows open I inadvertently hear a lot of delicious gossip—which I won’t spread, and thus I can feel virtuous too. 

Thanks to Lee for chatting with us and for 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 May 13th at midnight EST. 

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