Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark Endure THIS to Promote Their New Books

Following an extended introduction in which he noted their myriad literary accomplishments, Imus welcomed Mary Higgins Clark, whose latest novel is I’ll Walk Alone, and her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, the author, most recently, of Mobbed, to his program.
 
“It’s so nice to be here with you again,” Carol cooed, though she would later be disabused of that notion.
 
A recent Wall Street Journal article sang Mary’s praises, and revealed that her publisher Simon and Schuster essentially plans its budget around the release of her books each year. “The writer was wonderful,” Mary said, almost in disbelief, adding, “You never know what’s going to happen when someone writes about you.”
 
Imus supposed there would be little ugly material to expose about the demure Mary, but she assured him someone could probably find something “if they really wanted to.” Almost on cue, Imus shot back, “Why don’t you tell us?”
 
Instead, Mary told Imus about I’ll Walk Alone, her new novel that deals with identity theft. “A woman has someone who looks so much like her that even her best friends believe she’s a split personality, that she doesn’t know what she’s done, including kidnapping her own child and maybe killing him,” Mary explained. “She’s indicted for killing her own child. She says to her friends, ‘Don’t be sorry for me. Don’t sympathize with me. Believe me. I am not the woman in those pictures.’”
 
That Mary’s books are bereft of foul language, sex, and grizzly murders sequences and manage to become bestsellers anyway is beyond Imus, who learned that the majority of Mary’s readers are women.
 
“Mine too,” Carol chimed in, obviously eager to participate in a conversation that until this point had been mainly between Imus and her mother. Her “little book,” as Imus called Mobbed, takes place at the Jersey Shore, where Carol has spent a lot of time.
 
“A woman is having a garage sale, selling an actress’s things she left behind, and the actress is missing,” Carol said. Accordingly, Regan Reilly, Carol’s recurring main character, steps in to take the case.
 
Carol set her book at the Jersey Shore in part because of the fond memories she made there growing up. “I won my mother a set of pots and pans on the Seaside Heights boardwalk when I was 14,” she recalled. “So I brought home the pots and pans and you know what she said? ‘Didn’t they have any jewelry?’”
 
Much to Imus’s surprise, Carol revealed that her books are often New York Times Bestsellers, just like Mom’s. “I got to number eight last year,” she said proudly. But Imus’s attention turned back to Mary, whose writing process he was interested in discerning.
 
“When my fingers touch the keys, there’s a sort of magic, in the sense of people start to come to life,” she said, pointing out that she usually spends four months rewriting the first 50 pages of every novel. After that, “suddenly, the characters start to do their own thing, and that’s when I know, okay, I’ve got a story going. They become real people.”

Mary admitted that she sometimes enjoys a drink if she’s writing late in the afternoon, causing Imus to wonder if it is at that point when the fake characters begin to seem real. Finally, he turned to Carol to find out how she writes her books. “The same way,” she said, realizing how it sounded. “Of course—I copy everything!”
 
Before he could cut her off (again), Carol slipped in that she and her mother will soon be going on tour. “Good,” Imus replied, ever the supportive friend. “Get out.”
 
-Julie Kanfer

Comments

[Doug Petapiece]

Comments (1)

CANADA HELD HOSTAGE BY IMUS SHOW
Day 1

Show refuse's to use Canadian emails despite saying "and Fox Business..probably heard all around the world"!

Hey EYE man
When the white Al Sharpton and his angry mob come for Dagen after her "racist hillbilly" Meth-head comments Friday
Will you stand behind her.....or fold like a CHEAP SUIT
Any wonder why she's not allowed near kids????

Doug

Or Two
Please tell Donald Trump.....Oboma has been "rulin" your country for two years
Yeah think...maybe...its a bit late to worry bout his birth certificate
Col Gadaffy Duck seems fine with it

or Three
Larry King replacement Piers Morgan had Jesse-all questions-Ventura ,thinking he had been called a coward
Why...Crazy old Jesse thinks somebody blew up the World Trade Centre
seems like a natural for your show