COLUMBUS — Kerry Winfrey is something of an expert on romantic comedies.
She has to be, in the name of research for her fourth novel, “Not Like the Movies,” a sequel to her previous romantic comedy “Waiting for Tom Hanks.”
“Not Like The Movies” was officially introduced to the world on July 7, published from Berkley/Penguin Random House. It tells the tale of Chloe Sanderson, an optimist who has no time – or interest – in getting swept up in some dazzling romance.
Winfrey’s novel received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, which said, “humor and love abound in Winfrey’s delightfully meta rom-com.” Kirkus called it “a quirky novel perfect for rom-com fans and readers looking for a little sweet escapism.”
The former Bellville resident and 2004 Clear Fork graduate recently caught up with Knox Pages to chat about her latest novel and her life as an author:
KP: Tell us about your life growing up in Bellville. Were you involved in any extracurriculars in high school? What are some of your fondest memories of your hometown?
KW: When I was in high school, I was in the marching band and I loved it (I played the flute!). I have so many fond memories of growing up in Bellville. I had wonderful teachers at Bellville Elementary and Clear Fork High School who encouraged me. I loved all of the fun celebrations Bellville has, and especially the Bellville Street Fair. Most of my fondest memories involve getting ice cream at the Dairy Belle, which is still something I do when I’m in town!
I now live in Columbus, so I haven’t gone far! My parents still live in Bellville, so I definitely come back often with my husband and son.
KP: Have you always been interested in writing? Where do you think that passion comes from?
KW: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, even before I knew how to write! I think the passion comes from my love of books. I was a big reader as a kid (and I still am!), and I would go to the library and read any book I could get my hands on. I read my way through all the classic kid series (the Baby-Sitters Club, the American Girl books, the Boxcar Children) before I moved on to “grown up” books.
KP: What led to your big break in the industry?
KW: I would say there probably wasn’t any one big break…it was more like taking every opportunity I could to build a career, and continuing to write even when someone told me no. There’s a lot of rejection in writing, and you have to be prepared to keep going whenever you fail.
KP: What was the inspiration for this particular series? Are any of the characters inspired by your real life?
KW: My inspiration for “Waiting for Tom Hanks” and “Not Like the Movies” comes from my love of romantic comedies! I’ve loved watching them since I was a kid, but in 2015, I started a project called A Year of Rom-Coms, where I watched a romantic comedy movie every week and then blogged about it. I learned so much about what makes a romantic comedy good (or bad!), and it made me wonder: what if a person was obsessed with romantic comedies, but in a way where it was ruining their life? What if they were waiting for their life to be like a movie instead of living the life they had?
And that’s when I came up with the title “Waiting for Tom Hanks.” It’s not that the main character of the book, Annie, is waiting for the real Tom Hanks…she’s waiting for a man like the characters he plays in “Sleepless in Seattle” or “You’ve Got Mail” to come and whisk her away from her life that doesn’t seem anything like a movie.
All of my characters are completely made up, but I do put parts of myself in all of them!
KP: Has the series been as successful as you hoped? What comes next for your career?
KW: I’ve been lucky that my books have been so much more successful than I hoped! When I write a book, my goal is always to connect with at least one reader. With “Waiting for Tom Hanks” and “Not Like the Movies,” I’ve been lucky to connect with so many more.
My next book is called “Very Sincerely Yours,” and it’s another romantic comedy set in Columbus.
KP: Do you have any advice for any aspiring authors who may come from Richland County in the future?
KW: My first piece of advice is to read as much as you possibly can! Books are your best writing teachers. And secondly, if you want to write a book, don’t put it off until you have more time. You’ll never have time to write a book. I wrote my first book while working full time and my next three books while being a stay at home mom with little to no childcare. If you can only write fifteen minutes a day, remember that you can write a book in fifteen-minute increments! It might take longer than you want, but it’s possible.
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