Q & A with Carley Fortune

Photograph by: Jenna Marie Wakani

Carley Fortune is the #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of One Golden Summer, This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake, and Every Summer After, with over two million copies sold across 30 languages. An award-winning journalist and former Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada, she has also worked at The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Toronto Life. Raised in both Australia and rural Ontario, Carley now lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons and is currently working on her fifth book

We’re excited to bring you this Q&A with Carley Fortune!

Comfort is central to what This is J is all about. What does comfort mean to you, both in your writing space and in your personal life?

​​When I’m drafting a novel, I need to be able to tune everything out and immerse myself in the world of the book. I make sure all my essentials are on my desk, close my office door, put on noise cancelling earphones, and dive in. I try to avoid distractions as much as possible, which means I need comfort in my clothing, the way my desk, laptop, and monitor are set up, and a fresh cup of coffee or glass of iced water.

I have two small, energetic boys, and there’s a lot of chaos and noise. I take a lot of comfort in those moments in the evening when everyone is happily occupied while sharing the same space—when we’re cozy and calm, relaxing together.

What does a typical day look like for you when you're in the middle of writing a book? Any rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

The mornings start early with getting the kids out the door. I usually shut myself in my office around 8. Some days, I’ll be at my desk as early as 6 when the administrative and business side of author life is particularly demanding. My husband handles much more of the weekday parenting chores: He does school lunches, dinners, and drop off and pick up.

There’s no real ritual, except making sure I have everything I need close by and moving my phone out of my line of sight. If I find I’m having trouble focusing, I set my visual timer for 45 minutes, and write the entire time without checking email, social media, or whatever other form of procrastination I’m dabbling in. That helps get me into the manuscript, and it’s usually easier to concentrate after that.

I write all day, with a break to go to the gym in the afternoon. I see a trainer three times a week, but I try to go on non-training days as well and do a few kilometres on the treadmill. This is hugely important to coping with stress and self-doubt. I also get a lot of ideas when I move.

I write again after the gym and spend the last 30 minutes to an hour of the day on emails. Most days, I’m able to leave work behind when my kids get home, but other times, I’m back in the office after they’ve had dinner.

How has your experience as an editor and contributor to publications like The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine shaped your work as a novelist?

Journalism taught me that writing is work as much as it is craft and art. The trick with writing a novel is that you have to write a novel. I don’t wait for the muse to strike. I write when I don’t especially feel like writing. I don’t subscribe to writer’s block. I do the work. 

What wellness practices help you stay grounded and inspired, especially during long writing periods?

As I said, I have a trainer. I’ve been working with him for more than a year now. The other day, I set my personal best deadlift: 200 pounds! I was having a crummy week, and it just felt so great to lift something insanely heavy. And, because I have a home office, the gym gives me somewhere else to be and a reason to get out of my head and inhabit my body. I think that’s important for people who spend most of their day knocking about their own mind.

I also see a therapist, a massage therapist, a naturopath, and an osteopath. I’m writing a book a year while also trying to be a decent parent and spouse. I try to take care of my mind and body as much as possible so I can give the best to my work and the people around me. But honestly, it’s still hard. My biggest challenges are the amount of pressure I put on myself and my propensity to never take my foot off the gas.

Carley Fortune's #1 New York Times best selling book paired with her favourite style of This is J Bamboo Jammers.

What is on your bedside table? What book are YOU reading right now?

I just finished and loved Liane Moriarty’s new novel, Here One Moment. This year, I also really enjoyed The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, and The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.

When you need a break from writing, what are some of your favourite ways to unwind and recharge?

Spending time by a body of water, whether that’s the lake or our pool. Having a fun night gabbing with friends. A date with my husband, Marco, at a great restaurant. Wandering through an art gallery. A weekend with our kids and my best friend’s family. Magazines. Water-color painting. A solo trip to the movies.

Your novels beautifully capture the magic of summer and nostalgia. What aspects of writing bring you the most joy?

I love the surprise of writing—the way ideas pop into my mind is a truly delightful kind of magic. And while I write my first drafts in the fall and winter, my books are set in beautiful Canadian locations in warmer weather, so I feel like I spend my workdays steeped in summertime.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, what do you think draws readers to romance novels, and why do love stories resonate so deeply across audiences?

I think it’s different for everyone, and there are so many subsets of romance—it’s such a massive genre that it’s an impossible question to give a single answer to. But I think, at this moment in time, we desperately need reminders of our humanity and in our fundamental ability to connect with and love each other.

Describe your ideal cozy night in. What's the go-to setup that makes you feel completely relaxed?

Kids asleep. Fireplace on. Candles lit. Great book.

Carley Fortune cozy at home in our Henley Harem Set PJs from the Hearts Collection.

At This is J, we believe in the power of comfort through our designs. What do you love most about our pajamas and how do they fit into your personal routine?

On the mornings where I start really early, I roll out of bed, fix a coffee, and go straight to my desk. I don’t get dressed until later in the day. I love that This Is J jammies straddle the right line between pajama and loungewear, so that if I had to answer to the door, it wouldn’t be super obvious that I was still in my PJs. They’re also extraordinarily soft and not too hot!

In what ways do you find storytelling similar to or different from journalism?

Like novels, journalism is a form of storytelling. The fundamentals of good writing are the same. I tend to weave a lot of the subject matter I would have assigned as an editor into my books. I write love stories, but our romances do not exist in isolation. Each of my protagonists is grappling with her identity and place in the world, her familial relationships and friendships, her career, sometimes grief, or mental health struggles…  The books are fiction, but I want them to feel inherently true, to reflect something about the way we live now and the way we relate to one another. 

As a reader, what types of books bring you the most comfort? Do they influence your own storytelling style?

If I need comfort, I turn to romance because I’m guaranteed a happy ending— contemporary stories with excellent writing. But in general, I reach for novels centred around women—stories with complex characters, brilliant premises, and good pacing.

My storytelling style is very me—emotional, nostalgic, immersive settings—but I hope whenever I read writing that makes me jealous—whether that’s a piece of narrative non-fiction or a novel—that a tiny shred of the author’s brilliance is somehow imparted to me.

What's next for you in your journey as an author? Any exciting projects or goals you can share?

My first novel, Every Summer After, is being adapted into a series by Amazon Prime Video as we speak, and my fourth, One Golden Summer, is out in May. I’m currently working on my fifth book, and there’s lots more fun stuff to come.

And finally, we know you are a wearer of our Bamboo Jammers, what is your favourite style and why do you love them so much?

I love the tie-dye set. It’s so drab and grey in Toronto right now. I will take any burst of color that I can.