Author Q&A: Houstonian Margo Glynn

Margo Glynn’s debut novel, Anywhere With You, published recently. In Anywhere With You, Honey Singh and Cara Espinoza have two things in common: Their despicable, odious, lying spouses are having an affair, and they need a vacation. They take a road trip, filming their adventures and posting them online to prove to everyone back home that they’re fine – not heartbroken and not staying home grief-eating cartons of ice cream. What better way to make a new friend than late nights and long drives? As their heartbreak takes a back seat to healing, they realize that they want more from each other than just conversation. 

Margo Glynn lives in Houston with her family. She is a librarian and amateur gardener, and she is always up for a road trip.

Margo answers some questions that I posed to her about Anywhere With You:

Houstonian Margo Glynn’s debut novel, Anywhere With You, published recently.

Can you share something with me about your book that is not in the blurb? 
 
I will share my secret, original title. I started off calling the book Love in the Time of TikTok, which I’m sure you’ll agree is an amazing title. Unfortunately, TikTok was all over the news (with its fate up in the air) by then. My editor joked that we should call it Love in the Time of MySpace, but younger readers might not get the reference. Both titles are up for grabs! I’d love to read those stories from another writer.  
 
Do you have any say in what your book cover looks like? 
 
Yes! I told the publisher that I wanted it to look like Annabel Monaghan’s covers. There’s been a trend for bright colors in publishing in the last few years. Look at Martha Waters and Emily Henry. Their covers are eye-catching and beautiful. The artists send me several options, and this one was perfect...but the scene wasn’t in the book! Luckily, my editor let me add a chapter where Honey and Cara stop for popcorn in the desert and sit together and watch the sunset. It wasn’t just a throwaway scene, either. It helped build their relationship and add a touch of whimsy. And you can never have too much whimsy. 
 
What do you hope your readers take away from your book? 
 
My characters spend a lot of time getting to know themselves through travel, friendship, and Mary Oliver’s writings. They get to know each other, of course, but that inner journey of looking at yourself and the world, being amazed, and then choosing what you want your life to be...that’s what I wish for my readers. Even if they’re not able to take a soul-searching road trip with someone they love. 
 
And if that’s too much to ask of a humble novel, I hope it makes you laugh.  
 
What is the most difficult part about writing for you? 
 
Other people keep writing amazing stories that I want to read. I would get twice as much writing done without Alexis Hall, Nevada Barr, and Casey McQuiston to distract me. Also, every time a hummingbird shows up outside my window, I lose all focus.  
 
Actually, this book was so much fun to write that I didn’t struggle. I can’t say the same for my next book, coming out in April! But it’s always worth the effort to get to the end and see this finished novel that I wrote. Just me. There’s no feeling quite like it. 
 
What are you reading now and what have you read recently that you loved? 
 
I’m reading The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths. I adored her Ruth Galloway books, so when I heard that this was a time travel story (my favorite), I immediately put it on hold at my local library. I just finished M. R. Carey’s Pandominion series and The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, both of which were amazing. 

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.