Interview: Gina Sorell on The Wise Women

THE WISE WOMEN: A NOVEL
by Gina Sorell
(Harper, 5 April 2022)

After two decades of working as an actor, Gina Sorell returned to her first love—writing.

A graduate with distinction of the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, she is the author of Mothers and Other Strangers, a Great Group Reads selection, and a 2017 best book of Refinery 29, Self Magazine, and now, her second novel, The Wise Women, by Harper Collins.

She talks with Authorlink’s Anna Roins about her latest novel and the challenges of rewriting and polishing a manuscript, writing what you want to write, and finding an agent.

Originally from Johannesburg, Gina has lived in New York and Los Angeles and now lives in Toronto with her husband and son.

Gina balances the solitary hours of fiction writing with work as a creative director and brand storyteller.

The Wise Women is a witty and heartfelt novel about two adult daughters and their meddling advice columnist mother. Set in modern-day NYC, it picks up with the three wise women just as their lives have been upended. About the price of real estate, the cost of professional and personal growth, aging, family, marriage, and love, it’s for anyone who has ever been exasperated with a parent, faced an uncertain future, or searched for a place to call home.

Wendy has alternated between not being present enough as a mother to her daughters and overcompensating by meddling in their lives.

Barb had to act as a mother to Clementine and shoulder a lot of responsibility at a very young age. As a result, she misses out on being mothered herself and has deep-rooted resentment toward Wendy…. and Clementine is very much the baby of her family and a people pleaser. She knows that her mom had to work hard to make a life for herself and her children, and she spent her childhood not wanting to rock the boat.

Gina tells us about her challenges on the road to publication and how The Wise Women was born out of a big year of personal and professional change.

The New York Times Book Review raved about it, and it’s a Good Morning America Buzz Book.

ABOUT GINA SORELL

A graduate with distinction of UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, she is the author of The Wise Women, a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, Good Morning America Buzz Pick, a Washington Post 13 feel-good books to brighten your summer selection, People Magazine Best New Book, Today Show Read With Jenna and Parade Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2022. In addition, she was featured in Toronto Life’s Notable Torontonians. Her debut novel, Mothers and Other Strangers, was a Great Group Reads selection and a 2017 best book of Refinery 29 and Self Magazine.

Originally from Johannesburg, Gina has lived in New York and Los Angeles and now lives in Toronto with her family. Gina balances the solitary hours of fiction writing with work as a creative director and brand storyteller under the banner of her agency; Words Make The Brand.

SELECT PRAISE FOR THE WISE WOMAN

“Very entertaining… this world is funnier and friendlier than our own.”

– New York Times Book Review

“Breezy and fun with just enough heft.”

– Booklist

“Witty and wise.”

– People Magazine

“Fast-paced and charming.”

– Good morning, America, Buzz Pick

“Delightful chaos”

– Editor’s Choice, New York Times Book Review

“The Wise Women is cheerful and full of heart.”