This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Meet the Newmans explores family, identity, and the tension between who we appear to be and who we really are. Author Jennifer Niven reflects on the characters who surprised her most, the women at the center of the story, and what she hopes readers take away.
Patty K Rivera: How would you describe Meet the Newmans to someone hearing about it for the first time?
Jennifer Niven: A big-hearted novel about America’s favorite television family. It’s 1964, and for the past 12 years the Newmans have played “perfect” black-and-white versions of themselves on TV but now find themselves woefully out of touch with the changing world. They’re also a complete and utter mess off camera. When dad Del, the creative motor behind the show, is in an accident, mom Dinah has to step in and take charge of the final episode. And in doing so manages to liberate not only the family and all its secrets but herself right out of the kitchen!
What inspired you to write this story? Was there a particular moment or idea that sparked it?
I’ve always been fascinated by what goes on off camera, especially in the classic TV shows I used to watch on Nick at Nite and in the old movies I love from the studio system era of Hollywood. After all, we all have a behind-the-scenes, a version of ourselves we aren’t as comfortable sharing with others. But what happens when that behind-the-scenes is revealed?
Each member of the Newman family is so complex. Which character came first? Did they come to you fully formed, or did they evolve as you wrote?
Dinah came first. She arrived fairly fully formed but with a lot of room to grow and change. At the beginning of the story, she is basically sleepwalking through life. But then two things happen to wake her up—an interview with Juliet Dunne, who challenges Dinah and all she stands for, and Del’s car accident. These two events open Dinah’s eyes and gradually inspire her to come into her own.
Which character surprised you the most during the writing process?
Probably Guy. When I first began writing, he wasn’t as forthcoming as his parents and brother. This was in part because of his role in the family. He is the steady one. The peacemaker. The one to always keep his cool. While the others demand the spotlight, he prefers to avoid it. But as I wrote, he began to demand more of my time and attention. He began to speak up and out, louder and louder, and I completely fell for him and for Kelly, the man he loves.
Juliet and Dinah begin the story as complete opposites, yet over time they become essential forces in each other’s lives. The interview with Juliet is the catalyst pushing Dinah to confront herself and grow in ways she didn’t expect. What drew you to building a relationship like this, and what did you want listeners to understand about the way women can challenge and transform one another?
My mom was my closest friend, and as such the dynamic of these two women from two very different generations felt familiar to me. I love the bond Dinah and Juliet eventually form in spite of themselves and their differences. I want listeners to see two strong, smart women who manage to navigate their disparities and discover common ground.
Marin Ireland and Tim Campbell did such a fantastic job performing Meet the Newmans. I was hooked from that first line! Were there scenes or characters that you feel really came alive in audio in a way the page can’t capture?
I love listening to audiobooks because there’s a magic that happens when the right voice artist is paired with the right material. I feel so fortunate that Marin Ireland and Tim Campbell narrate the book. I love the way Marin captures Dinah’s voice in particular, the way she brings her sparklingly, vibrantly alive. Also there’s a scene in which Dinah and Juliet invite a group of women to the Newman house to discuss what it’s like to be a woman in 1964. It’s narrated by Flora, the Newmans’ longtime housekeeper, and Marin’s narration of this chapter is an absolute delight.
How do you hope readers and listeners feel when they finish Meet the Newmans?
I hope that the book inspires them to tell their parents, siblings, family members how much they love them. And I hope the Newmans will bring them joy in this challenging world.
Are we going to meet the Newmans again—any chance of a sequel?
I never say never. I would love to spend time with the Newmans again.
If Dinah or Juliet could recommend an Audible listen to me, what would it be?
Dinah would recommend The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, while Juliet would recommend Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.
