Virtual Author Event: Taylor Jenkins Reid in conversation with V.E. Schwab

I attempted to attend a Barnes & Noble virtual author event last night to celebrate the release of Taylor Jenkin Reid’s new book Malibu Rising. There were technical difficulties on Eventbrite’s end and most everyone wasn’t able to join until about halfway through the event. Luckily, B&N recorded it and posted it to YouTube this morning. I’m glad I got to watch it all – it was a fantastic conversation.

I haven’t read any of Taylor’s previous books or Malibu Rising. One of my book clubs is reading Malibu Rising for our July meeting so I’ll be reading it soon. After listening to Taylor and V.E. talk about it, I’m looking forward to reading it. I’ll most likely have to buy it since I’m still 174 on my library’s hold list but I think it’ll be worth it. I have so many books that lately I’m trying to be selective about what I actually purchase. I’m running out of room!

Some highlights from the convo:

• V.E. asked Taylor what the ingredients were that she wanted to make sure and use when she was thinking about writing Malibu Rising. She said Malibu, a non-traditional family of surfers, and a party where a bunch of made-up famous people wreaks havoc. Taylor worked in casting in Hollywood before becoming an author so she knows how Hollywood really works. We know I love Hollywood so right off the bat, I’m thinking this is my kind of book.

• There are a few Easter Eggs in Malibu Rising from her previous books. Those should be really fun for superfans to discover!

• Daisy Jones and the Six is being made into a TV series that will be released on Amazon. Taylor said watching the process of her book come to life is like having a 3D printer in her brain, which I thought was a great analogy. She also said that she thinks it will be as good as the book. Sounds promising!
• Taylor revealed that Daisy Jones and the Six (set in the 1970s) and Malibu Rising (set in the 1980s) are the first two books of a quartet, each being set in a different decade. The final two will be set in the 1990s and the 2000s. It sounds like the next one is well underway.

• V.E. and Taylor talked quite a bit about how famous, straight, white men get a pass for almost anything they do but famous women and people of color are held to almost impossible standards. They are expected to be grateful for whatever success they’ve achieved and to not make any waves. It sounds like this is a major theme of Malibu Rising.

That about sums it up. I will report back after I have actually read Malibu Rising and let you know what I thought. If you’ve read it, let me know your thoughts!