I didn’t expect to fall in love with Shark Heart the way that I did. I had just finished attending a bookseller conference, where I’d had dozens upon dozens of yet-to-be-released books pushed into my hands with eager marketing pleas. I don’t remember what the publicist said about Shark Heart, but I do remember grabbing a galley, skimming the first page, and realizing instantly that I was going to like this one.
Shark Heart is my favorite kind of love story: expansive, earnest, philosophical, yet always grounded in real human feelings. It made me grateful to have so many people to love in this big life. (It also made me cry on an airplane, which is extremely embarrassing.) Already it’s gotten praise from Anthony Doerr, Mary Louise Parker, and the ABA Indies Introduce program. My fellow bookseller Mallory called it “a heart-wrenching look at loss and love, motherhood and growth. Featuring gorgeous prose and an intriguing magical realism approach, this novel was captivating and moving.”
We’re so excited to have gotten the chance to interview Emily Habeck for this month’s Trust Fall. Read below to learn about Emily’s writing process, inspiration, and what’s next for the debut author!
– Michelle Zhang, Marketing & Events Manager
Q: One of the most unique and enjoyable things about Shark Heart are the sections written in script form. How much of the book was influenced by your theater background? Did you have experience writing scripts that helped with these parts of the book?
A: From the inclusion of scenes to the play within the book, Our Town, parts of the novel are definitely my love letter to the theater and theater people. When I started writing Shark Heart, I was working in film and TV. I had never tried to write a novel, so I approached the novel writing process like a playwright or screenwriter, thinking about what an actor or director would need from the story and my writing to make interesting choices.
Q: Your novel is set in Texas and Oklahoma, both places that you have lived. How much of your writing was inspired by your experiences in these locations?
A: Shark Heart led me to contemplate my definition of freedom, and I realized I feel most free when I am beneath a big sky. Larry McMurtry once said that he “[felt] sky-deprived when in the forested places” and that “many, many people born to the skies of the plains feel that way.” This is certainly true for me, and writing about these places that feel like home was a way of taking myself there.
Q: The magical realism is seen most prevalently in Lewis slowly turning into a shark due to a genetic mutation, but there are several other characters who also have this mutation for different animals. How did you pick each animal, and what was the research process like to accurately describe these mutations?
A: I chose each animal instinctually and without much deliberation— when something feels right, I am a decisive person! I was particularly interested in predatory animals because they complicate and raise the stakes. The danger and the drama mixed with the circumstantial absurdity made the mutations so gratifying to write.
My research occurred near the end of the writing process because I am such an emotionally driven writer. Getting into technical details too soon disconnects me from the characters’ inner lives. I watched all the relevant animal documentaries I could find and read books and journal articles. My favorite part of the research process was talking to Dr. Greg Skomal, a marine biologist who studies great white sharks.
Q: If you had the mutation, what animal would you want to turn into?
A: Well, first off, ground rules: let’s say that the mutation is short-lived, and I could return to myself afterward. Today, I would choose to be a standard poodle with a great haircut (obviously). My owner would be a writer, and I would enjoy sleeping at their feet while they worked, periodically receiving head scratches as a reward for my basic existence, and later, I would love to bound around a big backyard where I would impress all the humans with my cuteness and tricks. Upon returning to the human state, I would be happy to answer any questions about dog life, including: What are the zoomies like? What do dogs really understand about people? What is that powerful sense of smell like?
Q: Something so beautiful about Shark Heart is how well it balances Lewis & Wren’s love story with the exploration of motherhood and Wren’s past. Were there drafts of the book that had more of one theme than the other?
A: Oh, thank you so much. I wrote Lewis and Wren’s story first, but I always knew Wren’s mother Angela would play a big part in the book. Wren and Lewis came to me loudly, but Angela’s story was always humming and harmonizing with theirs, equally present but softer in the background.
Q: Were there parts of the book that were easier to write than others?
A: Each part had its moments of ease and challenge. Overall, though, the third section was simply a delight to write. Because the setting is open, dark, and undefined, I felt so much creative freedom.
Q: Is there anything about the publishing process that surprised you? What does it feel like to see your finished book, and to hear from people who have read and loved it?
A: I can answer both of those questions at once: the most surprising part of the process has been the kindness from readers and booksellers. Writing can be such an isolated, independent endeavor. It has been really heartening to receive such kind messages from strangers. I want to be friends with all of them now. Maybe we are already. Anyway, I am grateful beyond words.
Q: Were there any books, movies, songs, etc that helped guide you in writing this novel?
A: For mood, I listened to the same few songs by the pianist and composer Dustin O’Halloran. Writing a novel, especially one as wild and different as this one, is such an act of self trust. Mary Oliver and Annie Dillard’s wise voices helped me stay the course.
Q: What are the last five books you read and loved?
A: Out There by Kate Folk, Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess, Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark, The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty, and Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Q: What’s next?
A: Well, I’m working on my next novel, and it’s quite different from Shark Heart. For now, that’s all I can say!
You can learn more about Shark Heart and buy the book here. Thank you for supporting a local independent bookstore!
About Trust Fall
Sign up for the BookPeople Trust Fall and we’ll send you four debut or break-out books throughout the year that we absolutely do not want you to miss. You’ll also receive a couple of extra goodies in your surprise package as a thank you for taking a chance with us. Learn more about Trust Fall and sign up here.
BookPeople 