Erin McKean, author of one of my favourite novels, The Secret Lives of Dresses was kind enough to entertain my blog readers with an interview. If you haven’t read The Secret Lives of Dresses yet—do it! It is a beautiful story exploring the relationship between a Grandchild and her Grandmother, it is beautifully written & is just amazing! You won’t be disappointed. 

Lisa: As a child, what were your career dreams?

Erin: I really wanted to be a lexicographer

(http://www.wordnik.com/words/lexicographer) from the time I was about

eight years old. Seriously! I even have the article in the paper that

inspired me — I put a scan of it up here:

http://lexicogging.tumblr.com/post/658978508/what-every-eight-year-old-reads

Lisa: Are there any literary influences from your childhood

that particularly played a role in shaping you into a writer?

 Erin: Oh, that’s a tough one. It would probably be easier to say what writers

DIDN’T influence me! I read voraciously and insatiably (and still do). I

would say that my favorite romance writer is Kathleen Norris — her

descriptions of clothes and food are wonderful, even if her plots are a

little creaky. I’m also a devotee of Trollope, I love Kipling, and O.

Henry, and Noel Streatfeild, and E. Nesbit, and Donald Westlake, and …

too many other to list!

Lisa: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Erin: I’m still not sure I consider myself a writer-with-a-capital-W. I’m not

very literary!

Lisa: If you won the lottery, what would be your first big purchase?

Erin: I suppose I should be sensible and say something like “two hours of a

financial planner’s time” but then again, it’s not very sensible to play

the lottery. I think I would buy my husband a very fancy chair that he’s

always wanted. 

Lisa: How did you make the leap from writing about the world of words, to the world of dresses?

 Erin: It wasn’t so much a leap as a juggling — I still do write occasionally

about words, and for a very very long time I did quite a lot of both,

simultaneously. Writing about sewing and dresses sort of grew out of

becoming more serious about sewing; I was doing all that sewing (which

is very good for thinking) and didn’t really have anyone to talk about

it with, so of course I thought: “I’ll start a blog!”

Lisa: Which do you prefer writing: fiction or non-fiction?

Erin: Oh — they’re so different to me, it’s like asking whether you prefer

dancing or the moon! I like fiction because you can create a world; I

like non-fiction because the world that already exists is so fascinating!

Lisa: In your novel, The Secret Lives of Dresses, a beautiful relationship

between a grandchild and granddaughter is explored.

What inspired the relationship between Mimi and Dora?

Erin:  I really have no idea! I know it seems odd, but one day I just thought

about what it would be like to raise a grandchild after losing a child,

about doing things “the second time around,” and then about what it

would be like to be that grandchild. And then it was “Mimi and Dora.”

Mimi is named after a close friend of my family, whose own grandchildren

are like my cousins. She always had a kind word for everyone, too — but

that’s where the resemblance ends.

Lisa: The Secret Lives of Dresses is one of the most amazing pieces of

literary art I have ever read. While writing this novel, what message

did you want to send to readers?

 Erin: Oh, how kind of you! I’m afraid I’m not a very message-y writer. I just

wanted people to have an enjoyable few hours with fun people and pretty

dresses. 🙂

Lisa: What drives your love for vintage?

Erin: I love the silhouettes — vintage is really just FUN to wear. Not like a

costume is fun to wear, but the feel of a vintage dress, full skirts and

big collars and interesting prints. That’s what I like best.

Lisa: What are some of your favorite places to shop for dresses?

Erin: Right now, my sewing room! I have so many patterns and fabrics waiting

for me to make them, I haven’t bought a ready-made dress from a store in

a long time! When I do look for dresses I tend to look for vintage on

Etsy or Ebay (and I think Lands End has some nice shirtdresses right

now, too). My favorite “store” right now is probably Betabrands

(Betabrands.com), mostly because their copywriting is so hilarious (and

their mens’ corduroys are very nice).

Lisa: Any style icons?

Erin: I think Diana Vreeland was the most stlish woman that ever lived. She was amazing.

I can’t wait for the new movie about her to come out (The Eye Has To Travel)!

Lisa: There is so much hype surrounding the undead in both the worlds of

cinema and literature. Are you team Zombie, or team Robot?

Erin: I love to read about zombies — I’m a huge fan of World War Z and

Walking Dead (the comic — can’t deal with the tv show) but I really

prefer robots, aesthetically.

Lisa: Any inspiring words for hopeful fashionista’s and writers?

Erin: Just find something that makes you really, really enthusiastic. If your

friends can’t get you to shut up about it, that’s what you should be

writing about.

Lisa: You are a woman who knows your words!

What is your favourite word in the English language?

Least favourite?

Erin: I don’t really have an unfavorite word (me not like a word? That’s

unpossible!) but I do admit to having a big list of “loved” words on

Wordnik — it’s here: http://www.wordnik.com/users/erinmckean/favorites

 Be sure to check out The Secret Lives of Dresses!

http://www.erinmckean.com/

Follow Erin on twitter @emckean