Two Sisters: A Novel (40 page)

“Exquisitely written, heartbreakingly honest,
Two Sisters
is the kind of story that will keep you turning pages into the night. A joy to read.”

—Jill Smolinski,
author of
Objects of My Affection

Author Q&A

How much did the book change during the revision process?

I am one of the few authors I know who loves the editing process. How great to have a fresh eye on the words you’ve been staring at for months! Years, sometimes. In my particular case, both my agent, Laura Langlie, and my editor, Carrie Feron, are smarter than I am. Both gave me insights that I never would have had on my own. In particular, Carrie’s prodding on some of the religious aspects led me down many interesting roads. Without her intelligent notes,
Two Sisters
would be a far shallower book.

What inspired you to become an author?

Honestly, and without equivocation, I can say that the author Anne Tyler made me want to write books. After finding and picking up
Searching for Caleb
in my college dorm’s communal living room, I couldn’t put it down. I was agog that someone could infuse the lives of ordinary people with such depth. Her writing was so delicious I wanted to taste every page. Since then, I have bought and read every word Ms. Tyler has published. To this day, I eagerly await her next book. If you should read this, Anne, know that you changed a life.

Which character is your favorite?

Of course I love Muriel because she loves Guy Fieri and Garrett CaramelCrisp popcorn!

What is your best advice for writers who want to publish a novel?

You know how dieters are always looking for one key to unlock weight loss? For me, it’s the same with publishing. There is no magic formula. But one boring thing
does
work: sticking to it is the writer’s version of “fewer calories, more exercise.” It’s not earth-shattering, but it works. The great thing about writing is that you truly do get better the more you do it. Eventually you
will
get published because you’re experienced enough to write a marketable book. And while you’re at it, you will lose weight if you turn off the TV and stop eating popcorn! Which reminds me . . . it’s time to power walk my dog, Lucy.

Reading Group Discussion Questions

1. In what way does belief in God define and motivate the characters?

2. Why is Muriel such a good keeper of secrets?

3. If Muriel and Pia had been closer in age, how might their relationship have been different?

4. Is Lidia’s behavior forgivable?

5. Is Joanie a good or bad mother figure for Muriel, and why?

6. Should Owen have insisted on a divorce the moment he learned the truth about Pia?

7. What will happen with Muriel and John (the guy she meets at the end of the book)?

8. Will Lidia and Owen grow old together or will they eventually grow apart?

9. Why did Muriel need to confront her brother, Logan, in person?

Credits

Cover design by Emin Mancheril
Cover photograph © by Sporrer/Rupp/plainpicture/Cultura
Author photograph © by Mark Bennington

Young Adult Novels by Mary Hogan

Available from HarperTeen

The Serious Kiss

Perfect Girl

Pretty Face

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

TWO
SISTERS
. Copyright © 2014 by Mary Hogan. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins ebooks.

FIRST
EDITION

ISBN 978-0-06-227993-4

EPub Edition MARCH 2014 ISBN: 9780062279941

14  15  16  17 18    
OV
/
RRD
  10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1