Interview with Whitney Dineen

Welcome to Comet Babes Books today.

If you had to write a bio for yourself, what would it say? (5 words or less)
Tall, funny, slightly OCD, complicated

Can you tell us about your book?
Thirty-four year old, Mimi Finnegan is the third of four daughters and in her eyes, by far, the most unremarkable. She has no singular accomplishment that can stand up to any of her sisters. And if that isn’t enough, she is the only single sibling in her family.

Mimi’s sisters decide that it’s time she gets serious about husband hunting, so they begin a campaign to find Mr. Right for her. Considering her most recent dating encounters include a night club owner who stuffs bratwurst in his pants and a WASPy trust fund baby, living happily under his mother’s thumb, Mimi is more than ready to meet THE ONE. Enter celebrated British novelist Elliot Fielding.

Sexual tension and anger heat up between the duo and it isn’t until Mimi discovers that Elliot is almost engaged to another that she realizes she is head-over-heels in love with him.

The journey will make you laugh, cry and want to pull your hair out from frustration! Mimi eventually learns that she is quite remarkable in her own right and never needed to worry that she lived in her sister’s shadows.

The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan is the perfect laugh-out-loud, feel good book for any woman who has ever felt that she wasn’t good enough.

Can you tell us about your writing process?
My writing process is a tad schizophrenic. I write when the spirit moves which means I might write 5000 words a day or 50. Just depends if the muse is present.

How old were you when you started writing?
I was in my late thirties when I finally decided to give novel writing a go.

Any tips for writers who are just starting out?
For god sakes don’t sensor yourself. Let it out in the form it wants to come out. Don’t worry who’s going to read your work and judge you accordingly, just write, write, write.

Can you share a sneak peak at what you're working on at the moment?
No peaks but I can tell you this. Mimi winds up in a bit of a love triangle and the guy she doesn’t choose is so fabulously awesome that he’s getting his own story. And it’s juicy.

What's the worst advice you have ever received?
Do what you’re told.

Have you ever heard a strange/different story that you thought would be great in a book?
One day I was lying in a bubble bath and put my feet up the wall. That’s when I saw it; my bunion. I thought I’ve never read a romantic comedy about a woman with a bunion so I wrote it.

Do you like it quiet when you're writing or do you need background noise?(music or TV)
Quiet, quiet, quiet! I have a charming little disorder called misophonia that makes much sound painful for me. I love quiet.

Do you have a process for planning your books? Ie do you talk over an idea with a friend or a partner.
My books write themselves. They just tell me what to type.

Tell us something about yourself that readers won’t know from reading your books or web page?
I was a very quiet and insecure young girl. I grew up with a reading comprehension learning disability and I was extremely tall. The combination made me very self-conscious. When I grew up I became a model and was always very outgoing. My early life is very odds with who I am now.

Thirty-four year old, Mimi Finnegan is the third of four daughters and in her eyes, by far, the most unremarkable. She has no singular accomplishment that can stand up to any of her sisters. And if that isn’t enough, she is the only single sibling in her family. 

Mimi’s sisters decide that it’s time she gets serious about husband hunting, so they begin a campaign to find Mr. Right for her. Considering her most recent dating encounters include a night club owner who stuffs bratwurst in his pants and a WASPy trust fund baby, living happily under his mother’s thumb, Mimi is more than ready to meet THE ONE. Enter celebrated British novelist Elliot Fielding. 

Sexual tension and anger heat up between the duo and it isn’t until Mimi discovers that Elliot is almost engaged to another that she realizes she is head-over-heels in love with him.

The journey will make you laugh, cry and want to pull your hair out from frustration! Mimi eventually learns that she is quite remarkable in her own right and never needed to worry that she lived in her sister’s shadows. 

The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan is the perfect laugh-out-loud, feel good book for any woman who has ever felt that she wasn’t good enough. 

While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband. When she wasn’t modeling, she was in the kitchen, baking delights to share with friends. Soon, her friends began asking her to send baskets of her wonderful candies and cookies to business associates, agents and production studios. Word spread like wildfire, and the rest, as they say, is history. Whitney’s sensational creations are still in great demand by her loyal celebrity clientele (www.WhitneysGoodies.com). During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor. In addition to her love of chick-lit, Whitney has also written a series of adventure books for middle readers The first of which, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory, is nearing completion. Whitney and her husband, Jimmy, have relocated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to raise their children, chickens and organic vegetables.