Q&A with Amy Blumenfeld

 

 

 

Amy Blumenfeld is the author of the new novel Such Good People. She also has written the novel The Cast. She lives in New York. 

 

Q: You’ve said you were inspired to create your character April in Such Good People by newsletters from a halfway house where a family friend worked as an administrator—can you say more about that?

 

A: In one issue [of the newsletter], they profiled some teachers working for the organization and I was fascinated by their stories. Some had their own personal experience being incarcerated and were inspired to make a difference after prison by becoming educators and helping those newly released transition back into society.

 

Those teacher profiles helped inspire April’s character. I knew she would be a teacher who was deeply motivated to make a difference for formerly incarcerated individuals…but why?

 

And that’s how I created the backstory. She had a best friend from childhood. He was an incredible person who did something questionable only because he was trying to help her. He paid the price. She paid a price too. What could that be? And that’s how I created Rudy. Jillian and the rest of the crew just snowballed from there.

 

Q: You’ve noted that your father’s work as a public defender and a criminal court judge had an impact on the creation of this novel and its title. Can you say more about how the novel’s title was chosen, and what it signified for you?

 

A: I’ve found that when bad things happen to good people a common response from others is some variation of a sigh followed by, “Oh, what a shame. He/She’s such a good person…”

 

For me, the title of my novel signifies the importance of nuance. No one is all bad or all good. Good people can misstep, but it doesn’t make them evil. And those who may appear malicious, might have true benevolence at the heart of their actions.

 

As someone who started her career as a fact checker/journalist and as the daughter of a former criminal defense attorney turned judge, I appreciate nuance and how important it is to get all the facts – to see a person as whole and reserve judgment.

 

Q: The writer Emily Liebert called the book a “poignant story of love, loss, loyalty, and being torn between right and wrong.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love it – it’s exactly what I hoped to accomplish with this story!

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between April and Rudy?

 

A: April and Rudy are an example of true love. They are devoted to one another and feel a soulmate connection. So often in literature and film we are told that soulmates must come in the form of romantic love. But deep love exists in all forms and sometimes it appears in those treasured male-female platonic friendships.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m in the early stages of my next book. I’ve done research and I’m now at what I call the marinating stage where I allow things to sort of marinate and twist in my mind for a bit before I sit down to write. Stay tuned...

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Amy Blumenfeld.