3 to 5 Questions
In Which a Librarian asks a Talented Author a Small Number of Questions:
I noticed Chip Pons' debut novel on Hoopla: You & I, Rewritten, and while listening to the novel, I do what all readers do - I 'Googled' him. Come to find out, he grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan-WHAT!?!?!?! So, I had to send him a message, on the off chance that that small town was close to Traverse City. I also thought why not ask him a few questions for our blog. Having greatly enjoyed his novel, I can assure you, Chip Pons will be a romance author to look up in the future. But for now, please enjoy.
You can read more about Chip on his Website.
If you were a dewey number, what would you consider yourself to be?
I think I would be 915 - it's my wedding anniversary and I'd like to think it would be a beautiful travel or geography book of someplace I'd like to visit.
You mentioned that you grew up in Northern Michigan, what was it like, do you have a favorite memory?
I can't think of a greater childhood than growing up in Suttons Bay. Most of my favorite memories involve being out on the water on my family's boat, looking forward to the Cherry Festival every year or searching for Petoskey stones at the Sleeping Bear Dunes with my sister. I definitely took all of that for granted growing up but looking back, there's something so enchanting about small town life like that - where there's actual community and you know practically everyone.
Was it always your dream to be a writer, if not, what was?
There was definitely a part of me that always loved telling stories. My grandmother and I would sit together and write little chapter books about dude ranches and friends who solved mysteries together. But I never really thought being a writer could be a career or was in the cards for me until I joined the Air Force and became a photojournalist. Getting to travel and tell the stories of the men and women who serve our country has been the greatest honor of my life.
Instead of Desert Island Discs-I like Desert Island Books. If you were stranded on an island and you could only bring 3 books with you, what would they be, and why?
I think every book lover knows just how difficult this question is! The first book I would bring is This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper - I read that book shortly after my father passed away and it helped me in my grief and will always hold a special place in my heart. I'd also bring The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid to relive the magic of that world over and over again. And lastly, I'd bring The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger because it was one of the first "grown up" books I remember reading and physically being unable to put it down.
Do you have another book in the works? If so, can you give us any clues, or is it top secret?
I do! I'm actually in the revision stages of my second book with my agent and starting my third...which feels incredibly chaotic but so exciting. I can't really share too much about book two other than I really wanted to dive into what I love most about romcoms - forced proximity, a lot of charm and banter and an adventure of a lifetime. It involves a lot of travel and spans the globe and it's been so fun to write!
Book three is actually heavily inspired by growing up in Suttons Bay but that's a ways away and a conversation for another time!
BONUS QUESTIONS, cause come on, we cannot get enough!
Do you have an author that seriously influenced you while you were writing You & I, Rewritten?
I am inspired and influenced by so many talented romance authors - Emily Henry, B.K. Borison, Chloe Liese, Sarah Adams, Marley Valentine, Liz Bowery, Tarah DeWitt, Anita Kelly, Alison Cochrun, Kosoko Jackson and Timothy Janovsky. The list could go on and on. This process has connected me with some of the most beautifully talented writers I've ever met and truly, I am blown away by their ability to make you fall head over heels with their characters from the very first page.
Was there a certain playlist that you listened to while writing?
I definitely have Taylor Swift's folklore and evermore on repeat whenever I write. Not only do I just genuinely love her and her sound, but she's such a powerful storyteller and those albums are the perfect backdrop whenever you need some calming inspiration.