Bestselling author Clarissa Swire chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about her new book “Atlantic Crossing.”
Swire worked as an equity analyst and portfolio manager in London and New York City. A graduate of Stanford University, she now lives with her family in Northern California. In addition to writing, she is an avid pianist, gardener, cook, and financial advisor to friends and family. “Atlantic Crossing” is her debut novel.
Speaking of the novel, it is a satirical comedy, corporate thriller, and coming-of-age drama, Atlantic Crossing takes place in an era already vanishing into memory. Set in 1990s London and New York, this genre-spanning novel tells the story of Charlotte, an aspiring poet struggling to succeed in advertising.
When her high-flying older brother becomes ensnared in financial fraud, Charlotte is forced to confront new cultures and old family rivalries as she sets out to save him. Charlotte’s efforts to win respect and find her place in the world will charm readers everywhere.
‘Atlantic Crossing ‘ is an amazing read, can you tell our readers what inspired you to write this book?
Most fiction revolves around some version of the romance or coming-of-age drama. While Atlantic Crossing has both of those elements, I thought it would be interesting to place a sibling relationship at the center of a story. I think that people’s family relationships are tremendously influential in how they navigate their lives, and yet it’s a theme that’s oddly absent from most fiction.
I chose to set the story in New York and London because I know and love those cities. Similarly, the choice of finance drew on my own experience – though thankfully, my professional journey was more positive than poor Charlotte’s! You can read this story to learn about derivatives or you can read it because you like Charlotte, the protagonist – either way, I hope you’ll find something to enjoy.
There are so many genres today that authors write in, how did you come about writing in the Thriller genre and why?
I confess I didn’t set out to write a thriller. I just got interested in the story and this is what happened. I chafe against the notion that a thriller can’t also be a coming-of-age story, or a family drama, or a romantic comedy. This book, for better and worse, crosses all these lines. I didn’t mean to confuse readers. I just went where the story seemed to have the most energy.
I think we may have come to the end of enforced genre divisions that force authors to ‘stay in their lane.’ Authors as diverse as Tana French and Stieg Larsson are classified as mystery/thriller, but they have written wonderful novels whose complex protagonists transcend what might once have been seen as genre limitations.
Charlotte, your protagonist, really keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. You are clearly gifted when it comes to character development. What is one of your keys to developing such dynamic characters?
I suppose all writers draw from the people around them. As the youngest child of my family, I spent a lot of time listening to and watching other people! I am a natural and inadvertent mimic and have a good memory. In writing dialogue, I replayed tapes in my head of all the people I’ve known over the years. When I write, I close my eyes and listen to those voices.
While writing ‘Atlantic Crossing ‘did you learn anything new about yourself?
I learned that writing a full-length novel is an immensely complicated endeavor. You’re working on so many levels at once: character development, dialogue, plot, pacing, transitions, scene-setting, etc.
It’s like a three-dimensional puzzle that keeps rotating in your head and usually spinning out of control. I also learned that it’s possible to feel real emotion for the characters you’ve invented, even though you know rationally that they’re fictional. And yet – you care about them.
In your other life you are an equity analyst and portfolio manager. Writing a book is a huge undertaking and not for the faint of heart. What made you decide to write this book?
I have always written. As a child, I was a compulsive diarist and wrote stories for Cricket magazine for children. Since then, I’ve written various stories, memoir pieces, essays, and doggerel.
At some point, I decided to test whether I could write a novel as a sort of personal challenge. It helps that I’m stubborn! I have emerged as a more appreciative and empathic reader, and with tremendous respect for authors who persist.
“Atlantic Crossing” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
