Connecticut author Elissa Bass will be at The Playhouse for “Cocktails & Conversation” 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday to talk about her debut novel, “Happy Hour.”
Elissa Bass
The event—free to register here, limited space—will feature a Q&A with Bass (moderated by me), signature cocktails from “Happy Hour” and book sales/signings.
The evening is presented by CinemaLab in partnership with Elm Street Books.
I put some questions to Bass ahead of the cocktail hour (or two).
Here’s our exchange.
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New Canaanite: Your first novel, “Happy Hour,” was published this spring. What has the last six months been like?
Elissa Bass: The last six months have been far beyond what I could have ever possibly imagined. The response I’ve gotten to ‘Happy Hour,’ to KK and Jay’s story, has been incredible, and the support I’ve received from friends – and even total strangers – has been humbling. The novel has really touched a chord for women of a certain age, and I have had the best time at book events, wine and cheese parties and book clubs talking with them about the book, about aging, about surviving menopause, and about who helps them get through every day.
New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice has said that in “Happy Hour” you write “with wit and irony, with an open heart, and with the ability to make this poignant story in a seductive seaside setting read like a thriller.” That’s high praise from a hugely successful writer, and she’s not alone in her estimation of both you and the book. Tell us about the feedback you’ve had. What’s been the most surprising reaction to “Happy Hour” for you? What’s the least surprising?
The support of someone like Luanne Rice – she has written 37 NYT bestsellers!!!! – blew my mind. A mutual friend gave her the book when it first came out and she immediately wrote to me that she loved it, and she has not stopped promoting it since. The author community is a welcoming place and I have met some wonderful writers, all of whom have been so kind and helpful. The most surprising reaction at the start was how deeply KK’s story affected female readers. I’ve had women – who I don’t know – share their most personal stories with me about their heartbreak or their challenges or their menopause experience. Just being able to listen to them, hug them, and let them know that I hear them, has been so rewarding. The least surprising thing is all the people who say “What did your kids think when they read it?” (Spoiler alert – my adult children know that I know about sex.)
You’ll be at The Playhouse on Wednesday night for the 6 to 8 p.m. “Cocktails and Conversation” event where “Happy Hour” will be available for sale from Elm Street Books and we’ll talk about you and “Happy Hour” in a live Q&A (space is limited, free registration here). You’ve done a bunch of these. What’s your favorite part of these live events?
Two things – I love when one of my journalist friends joins me for the Q&A! That is so fun, even though it’s really weird to be on the “A” side of a Q&A instead of on the Q side like I used to be. The other part is just meeting people, connecting with new readers, and when they tell me they are excited to read the book.
We’re going to have so much fun on Wednesday. What would you say to a New Canaanite who is on the fence about going?
Two words: “Signature cocktails.”
What’s next for you as a writer? How has the publication and reception of “Happy Hour” altered your answer to that question, if at all?
Well, I am working on a second book, I think of it as a companion to ‘Happy Hour.’ It’s about KK’s sister, Bitty. I hope to have it finished in early 2025. Lots of people tell me they are excited for the next book, so that’s really cool.