They wrote two of the buzziest debuts of the past decade.
Now the authors return for their second acts.
EMMA CLINE: Im just gonna wait and see what Brit says.
Credit: Emma Trim; Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
[Laughs]No, I guess its maybe that the stakes feel so much lower?
BRIT BENNETT:I totally agree.
Whats special about a second project versus a debut?
Riverhead Books; Penguin Random House
Because generally, people think of debuts as being autobiographical, or at least based on something personal.
Emma, yours is maybe harder to pinpoint since its a collection.
CLINE:Yeah, the stories all take place in such different worlds.
But I think generally as a writer Im interested in power dynamics and gender performance, all of that.
Lets talk about the title,Daddy.
I wondered if it was a reference tothe famous Sylvia Plath poem?
CLINE:I like that!
I think thats what I look for in titles, something with a little torque.
You also tell several stories from a mans point of view.
What are some of the challenges of that?
So in a way its sort of freeing to really jump into it.
How important is research for you, or not?
I mean, I dont want to have glaring inaccuracies!
As human beings, I dont think we tag our experiences to The president is Donald Trump!
I am experiencing all these particularities of this moment!
No, youre like, Im hating this person, Im loving that person.
Have you guys felt compelled to participate, or do you lean out from that?
BENNETT:Its a conversation Ive been having with my students, which has been really interesting.
But all of these things are so much bigger than any one book.
BENNETT:I had so many people talk to me about their abortions!
CLINE:I also didnt know to expect that at all.
That made me laugh every time.
[Laughs]This is actually all making a lot of sense."
You both had your first novels optioned by Hollywood Brit, yours by Kerry Washington.
Whats the status of those projects?
CLINE:The Girlsis now at Hulu, and theyre developing a limited series.
BENNETT:Ahh, thats the best form!
[Laughs]Well see.
People talk a lot now about quarantine brain.
Where is yours at?
CLINE:My brain is just a bowl of chili.
I am not writing at all.
Maybe passive entertainment feels better than trying to create in this moment?
Especially when you’ve just come off such an intensive period of it.
BENNETT:I rewatchedSpeedthe other night, I watchedMoonstruck, those are perfect.
Things that are light and easy and just fun.
I always hated pandemic movies, so Im definitely not one of these people watchingContagionright now.
BENNETT:I agree with Emma, I do feel like my attention span is shot.
I think whats difficult is not checking your phone every five minutes because everything is changing so quickly.
CLINE:Me too!
So Im just losing my mind.
[Laughs]
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