I started writing The Good Bride around the time when Prince Harry and Meghan Markel were getting married and I wondered what would happen if that kind of attention came to Mexico Beach or some other struggling area. From there, my imagination took over…

Jen Marie Wiggins – 10 December 2024

The Back Flap

One year after a devastating hurricane, bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying her perfect groom in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast. The weekend is carefully curated, with the displays of pomp and social media magic meant to promote an area still struggling to rebuild, as well as bring Ruth’s estranged family back together.

Yet as good intentions often go, this road to wed is hell and paved in complications. With tensions rising between the family and the bridal party, long-buried secrets come to light and accusations start flying. Things officially spiral out of control when the oceanfront rehearsal dinner is rocked by a series of gunshots, and a high-profile guest goes missing. As the investigation gets under way, it turns out that everyone has something to hide.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started the book in 2019 after Hurricane Michael hit Mexico Beach, Florida and famously decimated the small coastal town.

How long did it take you to write it?

About three years. I would pick it up and put it down, but there was something about the story I couldn’t let go of until it was complete.

Where did you get the idea from?

I started writing The Good Bride around the time when Prince Harry and Meghan Markel were getting married and I wondered what would happen if that kind of attention came to Mexico Beach or some other struggling area.  From there, my imagination took over…

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled? 

Yes! The ending went through many rewrites. I knew where I wanted to go . . . but without ruining anything, the final twist(s) took a lot of finesse.

What came easily?

Since a real place inspires the town, those details were there for the taking. Mexico Beach is a special little place with a distinct personality; it was important to me to get that right.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?  

Most are completely fictitious. In real life, I have two sisters, but that is where the similarities end. Most of my characters are a mishmash of people I’ve met or know. It’s so fun to play with those defining characteristics and combine them in interesting ways.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Pat Conroy is hands down my favorite writer. I have read the Price of Tides too many times to count, and it inspired me to want to write. When I was younger, Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone also had a big effect on me.  My favorite quote is “the reader knows when you’re not being honest” and there is something beautiful and brutally brave in both these writers’ work.

Do you have a target reader? 

The Good Bride would appeal to romance, suspense or thriller readers. It is definitely domestic suspense.  Someone called it a “cerebral beach read” which I like that

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it? 

I write whenever I can sneak it in. When my kids are in school, I try to do at least three hours. I also take my laptop everywhere and have written in the car, in between my kid’s basketball games—anywhere.  For some reason, I often get ideas when I’m driving alone and transcribe them into a phone app which I imagine makes me look like a crazy person talking to myself!

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences? 

I did not outline The Good Bride until I was halfway through writing the second draft and kept finding new plot holes.

For my current work in progress, I started with a rough outline and knew where I wanted to go. I also wrote the flap copy first and found that was extremely helpful to focus me. Live and Learn!

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit a few chapters at a time. Especially if I need a break from writing. Then I do another larger edit after a draft is finished.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I need total quiet. I can’t even write in a coffee shop without noise canceling headphones.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents? 

Yes. I had written a funny non-fiction gift book called Married AF: A Funny Marriage Guide for the Newlywed or Bride, and queried it to find my first agent.  When I decided to make the switch over to fiction a few years later, I was blessed enough to have that agent introduce me to my current agent.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process? 

My agent went out on submission and when the chance to work with Tara Gavin at Crooked Lane presented itself, I jumped. I liked that Crooked Lane Books was a really established press for thrillers and Tara has been in the business a long time. Her editing expertise lined up with The Good Bride’s seamlessly. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Crooked Lane has a team that designs their covers. They are amazing.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with both Crooked Lane’s marketing team and the people at Booksparks Publicity.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors? 

Seek out lots of feedback and don’t give up!  Everyone’s journey to publication is different. Don’t judge yourself by other people’s experiences. Social media is often misleading and only the best 10% of someone’s story. If you don’t give up and keep honing your craft, the right road will eventually present itself.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in midwest Ohio.

Where do you live now? 

Savannah, Georgia. I am your typical transplant. I fell in love with the people and weather and never went back.

What are you working on now?

I am working on another domestic thriller.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Good Bride from Amazon US or Amazon UK.