Jen Marie Wiggins
Jen Marie Wiggins's first book, the gifty nonfiction title Married AF: A Funny Guide for the Newlywed or Bride, was published with Sourcebooks in 2022. She has a background in advertising and public relations, and her writing has appeared in Southern Coastal Weddings, Savannah Magazine, Savannah Homes, and elsewhere. The Good Bride draws much of its inspiration from the devastation and rebuilding struggles of Mexico Beach, Florida, a place near and dear to Jen's heart.
Instagram: @JenMarieWiggins
Threads: @JenMarieWiggins
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
Pat Conroy is hands down my favorite writer. I have read the book and watched the movie Price of Tides too many times to count. I love films with a southern setting and it's so interesting to analyze the film adaptation and see what the producer kept, what he left out. Conroy's writing has so many layers and I find something new every time.
Favorite non-reading activity?
I like to exercise and find it clears my mind when I have writer’s block. I try to walk or take an exercise class on most days. Currently, I am obsessed with the ballet-based strength classes at the Pure Barre studio near me.
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
All. The. Time. Lol.
I think every author experiences this. My favorite quote is “the reader knows when you’re not being honest” and I try to come back to that when I feel stuck. There is something beautiful and brave about raw honesty and I think readers appreciate that and can identify with it.
Not all books are for all readers… when you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
I really try never to DNF. I find my “headspace” at the time or perhaps whatever I am going through personally often plays into my emotions about a book. If something is not appealing to me, I will put it down and come back to it weeks or even months later. Sometimes, I find I feel completely different about it or maybe it's really just not a story for me. Either way, the type A in me likes to finish things.
Vacation druthers… City or Rural destination? Why?
Rural. I am a water and beach person and usually want to feel like I am "getting away.” I also grew up on lakes and boats and have three boys and an outdoorsy husband so there is a lot of fishing whether I like it or not.
Fishing is what actually led me to the town that inspired The Good Bride. The story is inspired by Mexico Beach, a quaint little fishing village on the Florida Panhandle, where our family vacationed for many years (and my family swears has the best fishing anywhere.) When Hurricane Michael made a category 4 landfall and destroyed the whole area, it was devastating for so many people. This was around the same time that Megan Markel and Prince Harry were getting married and I imagined what would happen if Mexico Beach could get that same kind of attention. From there, my imagination took over…
