Readers Place

Jessica Brody answers questions about her book The Good Girl’s Guide to Bad Men:

What was the inspiration for The Good Girl’s Guide to Bad Men?

As soon as I finished writing my first novel, _The Fidelity Files_¸ I knew that Jennifer’s journey wasn’t over yet. Although she had seemed to find her happy ending there was so much more fun stuff I had in mind for another book that would continue her story but also stand on its own. Setting Jennifer up with an entire agency of fidelity inspectors (aka “honey traps”) was definitely the first and foremost on my mind for the next instalment. Plus, I really wanted to explore what a fidelity inspector would be like in a committed relationship. After everything she’s seen—all the cheating, dishonesty, and betrayal—would she really be capable of settling down herself? So that’s what I set out to focus on in this book.

Jennifer has a gift of being able to read people—men in particular—in the book, is it a gift you share?

Ha! I wish! I think my life would have been a lot easier if that were the case. Although, I must admit, I do really like observing people and trying to figure them out. Maybe that’s why I became a writer, so I could create characters exactly how I saw them. I do people watch and I tend to notice little things about them that others may not see. People tell me I can be very observant, when I’m not distracted by something more pressing … like food. I’d like to think that when I spot a guy and think, “he’s definitely the cheating type,” or when I see a couple in a restaurant and think, “they’re clearly on the verge of splitting up,” that I’m right, but because I don’t follow these people home, I guess I’ll never know. What was so great about creating Jennifer Hunter/Ashlyn was the ability to be right. I could invent a secondary character, give him a characteristic that I notice in real people, and then have Jennifer “read” him and be spot on about it. It’s almost like I’m living vicariously through her!

What’s your best advice for telling a good guy from the bad?

Well, I always tell women that their instinct is their number one line of defence. Listen to it! If a guy seems too good to be true, he just might be! Bad boys like to disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing. They give off the air of perfection to conceal what’s really underneath. Because they know revealing it might scare you away. Also, a criminal record is a pretty good sign.

Who would be on your top five list of bad boys you can’t resist?

Actually, I tend to prefer the wholesome, clean-cut “good” boys to the bad ones. I guess I’ve seen too much in my life and lived through far too many bad boy heartbreaks, I would hope that I’d know better by now! But I’d be lying if I said these five “bad boys” don’t cause my heart to flutter just a tad faster than it should!

1) Robert Pattinson
2) Jonathan Rhys Meyers
3) Chase Crawford (I’m not sure he’s really that bad, but he sure
is cute!)
4) Cam Gigandet
5) Christian Bale

And the good guys?

Okay, this is a bit easier:
1) Adam Brody
2) Ben Affleck (I think he’s “good” now that he’s settled down
with a kid!) 3) Zach Braff
4) Josh Radnor (from How I Met Your Mother)
5) Prince William (even if he wasn’t heir to the throne, he’d still
make my top 5!)

Which fictional character would you most like to have round for dinner?

Um, Edward Cullen, of course! Although after dinner, I’d probably ask him to stick around for a drink, a movie, coffee, and then who knows where it might lead. I’m not to be held responsible (or accountable) for fictional dinner dates with hot vampires.

If you weren’t a writer, what job would you love to try out?

Ooh, there are tons! So many, in fact, I’m thinking of writing a book about a girl who gets to try all of them! Just so I can live vicariously through her next. To name a few: blackjack dealer in Vegas, doggie day care owner, cupcake chef, pop star, website designer, movie studio exec, grammar school teacher, and spiritual guru.

Which book has made you laugh? Which book has made you cry?

Anything Sophie Kinsella writes is beyond hilarious. She cracks me up every time! And The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz is also laugh-aloud funny. The Time Traveller’s Wife brought me to tears. But in the best possible way. It was truly a beautiful story. I wish I had amnesia so I could read it again for the first time.

Which book would you never have on your bookshelf?

Any form of textbook. I got rid of those first thing out of school!

Is there a particular book or author that inspired you to be a writer?

Yes, definitely. Helen Fielding is the reason I’m writing today. When I read Bridget Jones’ Diary back in college, my life changed. It was the first book I’d read for “pleasure” (rather than for a school assignment) in a long time and I’d forgotten how entertaining and fun books could be. I knew right then and there that I wanted to write to entertain people. Just as Helen Fielding had entertained me.

What is your favourite word?

Hmm … that’s a tough one. I don’t know if I have just one favourite word, I like so very many of them, but I definitely have a least favourite word and that’s “panties.” God, I hate that word! I cringe just writing it here!

Why do you write?

I once heard someone say, “Dancers dance because they have to.” I really loved that and I think it’s the same for writers. I definitely have to write. Like I have to breathe. If I don’t, I get very stir crazy. All of that energy has to come out somehow and for me, it comes out in words. Lots and lots of words. Some of them are actually worth publishing.

Which book are you reading at the moment?

As always, I’m reading many at one time. I’m trying to get through the Harry Potter series before the next movie comes out so I’m in the middle of book 4 now. I know, I know … where have I been? I just finished Blue Moon, the second book in Alyson Noel’s new Immortal series and it was ah-mazing. And I’ve recently started on the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I really want to read the books before I watch the True Blood show … I’m very strict about always reading the books first!

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now, I’ve got some really fun stuff in the works. I’ve been revising a manuscript which is going to be the fi rst book in a new young adult series about time travel. I’m really excited about it! Also, I’m working on another young adult book that will be out in the states on 2011 and hopefully in the UK too! And I’ve been kicking around some ideas for my next adult book. I like to keep very busy. Idleness is my worst enemy!

Read an extract of The Good Girl’s Guide to Bad Men here.