Welcome to this week’s Bookstr Trivia where we’re taking a look at couples who are co-writing books. If you’re wondering how they make it work so effortlessly, don’t be fooled. Writing a book is just as hard as being in a relationship. While the results may look perfect on the outside, these four sets of co-authors are telling people exactly how much work is put in on the inside.
A Better Partner = A Better Writer
Anna Leahy and Douglas R. Dechow are co-writers of Generation Space: A Love Story. Both are passionate about space and each other, which works well as they dive into how the writing process works for them. Anna discusses the things that make her a better writer and therefore, a better partner for her husband. Writing a book takes persistence, patience, understanding, and attention to detail. The same can be said about a marriage. Anna says they had to first take time to figure out their individual selves before working on this collaboration. The saying that in order to love someone else, you must love yourself first sort of echoes how Anna describes their work-life balance.
Douglas claims that collaboration requires trust, which, in turn, demands time to build. When co-writing a novel, they are critiquing and revising each other’s work in a way that compliments their writing styles. They have to trust each other to bring out their one vision and that requires trusting each other as life partners as well. If they can’t trust and work with each other in life, how could they possibly finish a book they’re both proud of?
Both Anna and Douglas have their own projects they work on as well, honing in on their personal writing strengths. They simply figured it out as they went along the process of co-writing and respected each other’s opinions and strengths. Douglas believes it’s more important to have a combined passion for the subject matter over just a passion for writing. By being so open to the new dynamic of working together, they were able to create a loving partial memoir about their shared love of space travel.
Two Chairs, One Computer
Ruby Fever is just one of roughly 27 books — as of 2022 — the duo of Gordon Andrews and Ilona Andrews has created. From their first meeting at Western Carolina University to working out together in their Texas home, they’re the definition of a lasting partnership. Though they work like a well-oiled machine, they do disagree on the fates of their book characters. When commenting on their next series, Ilona says they do not agree on the layout of their romance trilogy. All partnerships have their strengths and weaknesses, but the main focus is on the two of them writing in two different chairs but for one common goal.
They’ve been living life together since 1994 and have created several series together, including a trilogy conclusion novel, Ruby Fever. The book features a magical prime heroine who has the fate of her home and the city of Houston in her hands. A Russian prince, an escaped spider, and an attack on her boss are all just snippets of the best-selling romance these two have created.
Together by Choice or Forced Proximity?
Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are high school sweethearts who spent the first few years of their marriage in forced proximity during COVID. During this time, they were inspired to write Do I Know You? based on a couple who knew each other too well and had to learn to break out of that. Emily and Austin have written several novels together and in an interesting way. Some co-writers may take turns writing chapters and giving each other critiques along the way, but this married couple uses a tandem technique. They write in the same room by just talking with each other about each line.
No matter how many fights break out about storylines or characters, the two adore working together and apparently do it quite well. They’re well-versed in writing young adult and romance novels, with a new one fresh off the presses: Book Boyfriend. Catch up on all their written novels and what’s to come from the lovestruck duo on their website.
From the Ground Up
Brianna and Matthew Penfold became husband and wife 13 years ago in Virginia. The “for better or for worse” part of their vows really came into effect when they decided to write a book together. When they’re asked how they work through writing a book together in the throes of marriage, their answer is simple.
They have learned not to take advice from friends, family, or the internet. Instead, they build their own marriage and writing process from the ground up. They find what works and lean into it together. During the writing process, they are forced to work on things in their own marriage that affect their collaboration, like communication and patience. Some days were tougher than others, but they came out stronger than ever with their science fiction fantasy novel: The Intrepid Three: Animus Revealed.
Clearly, it’s not always true that you have to separate your entire professional life from your personal one. It’s all about perfecting that delicate balance in your marriage or partnership while still working hard towards your goals. You can have both!
In the romantic mood and interested in more Bookstr trivia? Check out the history of Cupid here.
Head over to our Bookstr Trivia bookshelf for recommendations for your curious mind.
