Last Bite centers on reinvention at midlife. What drew you to tell a story about starting over at 45, and what do you hope readers take away from Angie’s journey?
I believe that people can reinvent themselves regardless of the crisis they may have suffered. I am aware of some women who hand over complete control to their partner and then when the partner dies, they are totally in the dark and helpless. I hope readers become aware of their own vulnerability if they have chosen to delegate all the responsibilities to their partner.
The idea of a comfort-food-at-funerals catering company is both hilarious and deeply tender. Where did this concept come from, and what surprised you most as you wrote it?
I made up the idea and thought it would be a fun opening of the book. Thankfully, I don’t attend a lot of funerals but the ones I have attended – let’s just say you don’t go for the food. What a missed opportunity – I think we all need some comfort food when we’re experiencing loss. What surprised me most was the evolution of Gina & Kim as they gained their confidence in the kitchen with the help of Angie. And that this gave Angie a sense of purpose during her crisis.
Chicago is practically a character in the book—from Wrigley Field to city hall chaos. Why was it important for you to ground this story so firmly in the city?
I was born and raised in the Chicago area and lived there until I was 31. I loved living in Chicago and playing in Chicago and all that it has to offer. I guess you could say it’s in my DNA. When I was recruited out to San Francisco, I told everyone I’d be back in two years – then I met my husband and we’ve lived in the Bay Area since 1985. My heart belongs to Chicago.
Friendship plays a powerful role in Last Bite. How do fierce female friendships shape our ability to take risks and reinvent ourselves, both in fiction and in real life?
I am fortunate to have several fierce female friendships, and I would not be where I am without their love and support. Several have pushed me to dream big and go for it and I have. They are there for us during good times and bad and when we fail, they are there to help us back up and give it another go. They can be a mirror for us and help us evolve in a way that wouldn’t happen if we didn’t have their perspective and trust.
You balance laugh-out-loud moments with big-hearted emotion. How do you approach writing humor that also honors grief, loss, and second chances?
I was raised in a big Irish Catholic family – 6 kids -by a single mom – no child support. She worked full time as a private duty nurse and all 6 of us had to take care of the homefront. We all became expert teasers – and laughter sustained us during tough times. I worked in a field where death opened the door to life, and I needed to have humor in my life for balance.
You spent 35 years in organ transplantation—an extraordinary, high-stakes field. How has that career shaped the way you write about humanity, resilience, and life’s turning points?
It was an honor to work in the field as I was on the front line speaking to donor families who had just be told their loved one was brain dead. I was the person who was introduced to them to discuss the option of organ donation. It was the most sacred time to be in someone’s space, and I didn’t take that lightly. Then I would get to call in the recipients and that was a high. I’d see these very sick people return to a vibrant life when they and their families weren’t sure they would live another day. Being a witness to that repeatedly gave me a lust for life I have never lost. You just don’t know what tomorrow or the next few minutes will bring.
Your background in improv comedy shines through in the dialogue. How did your time studying improv influence your storytelling and character development?
My time studying Improv allowed me to be silly and lighthearted. It provided me a vehicle to re-discover my imagination and exercise it – like when I was a child. It helped me take risks at being silly and playing with others which I think most people enjoy – they just forgot how to play. When you’re in an improv class you get to pretend to be this person or that in a scene, so as I created my characters I could have them be serious or silly or both. I’ve been told I am a storyteller for a long time, and I think becoming a writer of some of the stories I tell has made me see that.
Many readers know you for your medical mystery novels. How did it feel to step into a more openly comedic, uplifting space with Last Bite?
I had so much fun writing Last Bite – to step out of the medical world and just make things up without worrying about accuracy. I also love food and my editor would trim out some of food from the mystery’s because she said it took the reader off the page. She said I should just write a book about food – thus, Last Bite was born.
The book reminds us that it’s never too late to change direction. Was there a moment in your own life that mirrored this theme of reinvention?
There were many times in my life I reinvented myself – from becoming a nurse to immersing myself in the field of transplantation. All new things to me – then I moved into leadership roles in my profession which I had never done before and learned all about being an effective leader. Moving from my hometown Chicago to San Francisco was a big deal for me – learning a whole new world that was very different than Chicago. Becoming a wife and then a mother was a big reinvention as well. Then moving from a nursing career into the world of writing was another big leap for me.
Angie’s catering business serves people at their most vulnerable moments. What does food represent to you as a connector, healer, or storyteller?
I believe that it’s important to sit down with family and friends and share a meal together. Things happen around the dinner table that open up conversations and stories that can be shared in a leisurely setting. Food is the world’s denominator – we all have our favorite dishes – chefs – restaurants where our souls can be nourished. Sharing recipes from your grandmothers and other family members is a sign of love. Usually, a certain dish will evoke a childhood memory which may come with a fun story or two.
With awards across multiple literary platforms, what keeps you creatively curious and willing to take risks with each new book?
I have a wild imagination, and I start my stories with WHAT IF??? I am a lifelong learner, and I am generally curious most of the time. Most of the time I’m willing to take a risk on a character or story – why not? I’ve learned that not everyone will like my writing and I think I’ve made peace with that – most days.
There’s a delightful Bill Murray cameo and plenty of Cubs energy throughout. How much fun did you have weaving pop culture and hometown love into the story?
I love Bill Murray and he loves the Cubs – so do I. Bringing him into the story was a blast – made me smile I also loved taking a deeper dive into my hometown and showing folks some of the fun spots to eat – most of them are still there.
For readers standing at the edge of a life change—career, relationship, or identity—what do you hope Last Bite whispers to them when they reach the final page.
Never give up – family and friends will be there for you along the way. That you can stand on your own two feet and gain confidence to do the things you want to do with perseverance, love and a sense of humor.
