Georgia Clark: This Was My Most Intellectually Engaging Book to Date

Georgia Clark (she/they) is an award-winning, six-time published novelist and performer. The author of Island Time, It Had To Be You, The Regulars, The Bucket List, and other titles, Georgia’s next novel, Most Wonderful, is out October 15, 2024 (The Dial Press/Penguin Random House). As the founder and host of the popular storytelling night Generation Women, Georgia performs monthly at New York’s iconic Joe’s Pub. In addition to teaching the Romance Workshop, Georgia mentors a Writers Group and Storyteller Groups, hosts Writers’ Retreats, and creates the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. A native Australian, Georgia lives in Brooklyn with their hot wife and sweet toddler. Follow them on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

Georgia Clark

In this interview, Georgia discusses how she wanting to see herself in her favorite kind of Christmas story with her new holiday romance, Most Wonderful, her hope for readers, and more.

Name: Georgia Clark
Literary agent: Allison Hunter
Book title: Most Wonderful
Publisher: The Dial Press
Release date: October 15, 2024
Genre/category: Queer Christmas Romantic Comedy
Previous titles: Island Time, It Had to Be You, The Regulars, The Bucket List
Elevator pitch: Three adult siblings—Liz, Birdie, and Rafi—gather at their mom’s Catskills manor for Christmas, each reeling from heartbreak or singledom. Over one snowy December, they discover that love, and a little holiday magic, can find them when they least expect it.

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What prompted you to write this book?

When I was growing up in Sydney, Australia, Christmas was a hot, low-key affair. It’s high summer in December Down Under, so Christmas lunch was often grilled prawns and a big salad served with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. My mum, a diehard environmentalist, refused to buy (i.e. kill) a tree, instead draping a ratty piece of tinsel around a potted palm, to my teen mortification.

After moving to America in 2009, I grew to love a very different sort of Christmas. A holiday filled with the festive decadence of hot cocoa in front of a crackling fire and fir trees tall enough to tickle the ceiling and drifting snow dusting everything white. And then, after I met my wife, a kiss under the mistletoe.

I love this sort of Christmas, and this sort of Christmas story—but I rarely saw myself in them. The story where the girl gets the girl, and the boy gets the boy. A holiday romance that’s both cozy and clever, sexy and smart. Modern and, well, marvelous. Most Wonderful, my first book with The Dial Press, is the novel I’d want to curl up with when I’m home for the holidays.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The process of writing Most Wonderful was a journey that spanned over two years, starting with notes, scene sketches, and key plot decisions from June to July 2021. In late July, I officially began drafting and completed the first 40,000 words (Part One) in just four weeks, mostly during a self-organized residency. I shared that early draft with my agent, Allison, and her assistant, Nat, in September, and their feedback helped me refine it further as I moved toward completing Draft One by the end of October.

Throughout late 2021 and early 2022, I shared rewrites with Allison and Nat, sent the first draft to a group of about 10 beta readers, and worked with a freelance editor. By April 2022, Draft Two was shared with more readers and Allison and Nat, and I incorporated their feedback into Draft Three, which I completed in May. After more revisions over the summer, Draft Four was finished in September 2022, which was when the novel was sold to Dial Press!

From October 2022, I worked closely with my new editors, Emma and Katy, for the following year, who provided detailed feedback through several rounds of revisions. At the end of 2023, the manuscript was finally ready for production. All such a fulfilling and collaborative process!

The idea refined over time, especially related to characters’ histories and career trajectories, the orchestration of events, and the timing of reveals. Several minor characters were cut or combined. But the basic setting, timeline, tone, characters, and romances didn’t change too much.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

This was my first book with The Dial Press, and I’ve been so impressed by their commitment to excellence. I received more feedback than I was used to, but that was what I was seeking. This was my most intellectually engaging book to date because of that: I thought so deeply about every line, every moment. Like a soufflé, the lightness has been carefully constructed, that effort invisible in the final product.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

It’s always interesting what early readers do and don’t respond to—things I think are working well are questioned, and vice versa. Birdie was the funniest character I’ve ever written, so I was always surprised by the things that fell out of her mouth!

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope Most Wonderful leaves readers feeling uplifted, wrapped in a cozy celebration of queer romantic love. The story is feel-good, pleasurable, and hopeful, offering moments of deep romance and heartwarming connection, as well as lots of laughs. I hope readers feel fully immersed in the festive, Christmassy vibes—everything from trimming a tree to indulging in decadent holiday food, festive parties, and beloved traditions. At its core, I hope readers feel inspired by the characters who, through their journeys, learn to center their own desires and ambitions, especially as they navigate the challenges of creative professions like stand-up comedy and screenwriting.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Write the book you’d like to read. It’s deceptively simple but oh, so wise. Early in my career, I didn’t truly understand the power of listening to and reflecting on my own taste, passions and weird obsessions. Now, whenever I wonder whether or not to include something or go down a path, I think about how I’d feel as a reader seeing it in fiction. If I feel excited or amused by my idea, I know I’m on the right path. It does take years to develop the skill set to write the book you’d like to read—many hard years. But it’s a heady thrill to feel you might be getting there—that you are an artist with a paintbrush capable of creating your dream artwork. Be bold, and paint!

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