Lexington, KY - Until a roommate essentially "busted" her writing novels in her bedroom in secrecy more than a decade ago, Cynthia Ellingsen had enjoyed a rather extensive history as a "closet novelist," with her external professional focus centered on making it as an actress in Los Angeles. After being outed, she started to give writing a bit more attention -
collaborating on screenplays, completing a handful of novels-in-the-works - and in the spring of 2010, she finally experienced the moment that every burgeoning author dreams of: an editor at a high-profile publishing group called, saying, "I want to publish your book."
Ellingsen had since moved to Lexington with her husband, and she wrote the book, called "The Whole Package," in 2008. After months of waiting, editing, submitting, re-submitting and nearly giving up on the manuscript, that phone call (from an editor at Berkeley Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Penguin) put her an essential step closer to becoming a published author; last month, she celebrated the release of the novel, which centers on three girlfriends who, finding that they are not in the place where they thought they would be in their late 30s, decide to go into the restaurant business together. The catch? The restaurant is essentially a replica of Hooter's geared toward women, with male strippers as waiters, and the project is equipped with its own share of unique disasters.
The book, which Ellingsen says is essentially about "starting over," is now available at local and major bookstores alike, and has been called "delightfully frivolous" and "un-put-down-able." (She was also proud to mention that she was told that a scene she read at a Carnegie Center literary event was the most scandalous thing ever read aloud at the literary center.)
I recently sat down with Ellingsen to discuss the novel, the process and her experience in Lexington.
Describe "The Whole Package" in 10 words or less.
Beach read, friendship novel, "inexplicably hysterical," heartfelt fun.
Who are some of the writers that have inspired you?
Maeve Binchy has a knack for exposing her character's dreams, ripping them away and building them back up.
Recently, I'm back into the "chick lit" - I've been reading Emily Giffin, Julie James, Chelsea Handler. ... I also have Ashley Judd's bio on the shelf, since she's a Kentucky girl.
Tell us about your process for writing a novel.
When I started "The Whole Package," I was on a cross-country marketing tour. The first half was actually written in hotel rooms on the East Coast. I finished it up at Merrick Place, where (my husband) and I briefly lived when we first moved here.
Because I was coming from Los Angeles, where I had been writing spec scripts, my outline for "The Whole Package" was built from Blake Snyder's beat sheet in "Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need." Most scenes were written in order, but continuity can get boring, so sometimes I'd skip ahead and write something fun like the scene where the women audition the male waiters.
As for my writing schedule, it wasn't that rigid - I'd made a deal with myself for something like five pages a day, which led to a rough, rough draft in a few months. When I acquired my fabulous, sassy agent, he went through and gave tons of notes, so we probably edited for at least six months before trying to sell it.
You have lived in a number of different areas in the U.S., including the bustling metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Chicago. How has life in Lexington informed your writing career?
Living in Lexington has been a treat, not just because it's beautiful and relaxing, but because the community supports the arts. For an artist, that is such a critical component when choosing where you want to live and produce.
Tell us a bit about your experience working with local writers groups. What groups have you been involved with, and how has it influenced or helped your work?
I found my writing group, KaPow!, through The Carnegie Center. The group is made up of three other writers: Jennifer Mattox, Stephanie Parkin and Frankie Finley. We meet every week to share and critique one other's work. It's been so valuable to have a group of writers that I can trust will give fair, honest and thoughtful feedback.
Portraits is a new column highlighting the individuals and groups shaping the local arts community: artists, writers, musicians, dancers, actors, organizers and others who make Lexington a more vibrant place to live.