WWC Spotlight Series: Lauren Weisberger

Through the Wise Women Collective, we spotlight women whom we admire and who inspire.

Our first spotlight is all about Lauren Weisberger, the best-selling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty, which is the first book within our #BoozyBookClub.

OB: Proudest accomplishment?

LW: This is not where I write “vanquishing my paralyzing fear of spiders,” or “learning how to use one of those automated curling irons without ripping out all my hair,” right? Because both of those would be up there. But all kidding aside, of course it’s my kids! I have a 9-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, and they’re becoming two humans that I not only love but also like—most of the time.

OB: What was a recent challenge you overcame?

LW: Remembering how to take risks again. At a certain age, once life sort of shakes out and settles down, it can sometimes feel easy just to go with the flow of whatever is happening around you. And there’s nothing wrong with that! But COVID kind of imploded that for me—someone who typically plans her days, weeks, and years well in advance—and forced me to get comfortable with not knowing. Actually, “comfortable” is a bit of a stretch, but I’m learning how not to panic when I look ahead and am not exactly sure what will happen, or when.

OB: Your novel is about two sisters who are living very different lives but are faced with similar challenges. Peyton is a television anchor while Skye, her sister, is a suburban mother. Being a good wife, good mother and successful career woman isn’t easy. Women make choices in terms of what they prioritize and often struggle with the delicate balance of ‘having it all’. How have Peyton and Skye been able to manage things?

LW: They haven’t! You describe these two women perfectly, and they’ve both been lucky enough to have determined their own paths, but it doesn’t mean either one feels like they’ve figured it out. Peyton is at the top of her industry, and she’s aware that she has missed large swaths of her daughter’s childhood. Skye is grateful she can stay home with her daughter, but she missed the intellectual challenge of working. I wrote it this way because I truly believe the “having it all” construct is a myth—pure fiction. We all do our best with the circumstances at hand, but I have yet to meet a woman who claims she’s satisfied with her work/life/parenthood balance, myself included! I think the sooner we recognize that it’s not possible, or even desirable, to have some sort of mythical “balance," the happier we’ll all be.

OB: The sister bond is complicated. Do you yourself have a sister? How did this factor into your novel?

LW: I do have a sister. Her name is Dana and she’s pretty great. I’ve wanted to write a book about sisters for a long time now, especially because I was hoping to capture some of what makes that relationship such a special one. Who else is going to tell how it is, straight up, no holds barred, with zero filter? For me at least, that’s only my sister. And although neither Dana nor I resembled Peyton or Skye personality-wise, we do speak to each other in exactly the same way the characters in the book do: rough, direct, and with complete honesty, which I love.

OB: What’s next? Are you working on another novel to follow this one?

LW: I am! Always. I’m not quite ready to reveal what it’s about yet, but let’s just say that there’s plenty of opportunity for characters to behave badly, wink, wink.

OB: Tell us about a woman/women you admire and why:

LW: It’s not a specific woman, although my own mother does fit into this category, but I especially admire single mothers. Seeing how hard it is every step of the way to have a career and raise children—even with the help of my husband—makes me awed by the women who, by choice or necessity, go it alone. Truly, I can’t think of much that’s more difficult, and so many of the women I know who single-handedly raising kids do it with such grace and optimism. They’re heroes, I really believe so.

OB: The Boozy Tea you recommend sipping while reading Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty?!

LW: So, I have to admit I’ve done a bit of experimenting, and I think I’ve hit on something. As a general rule, I love Moscow Mules, and I’ve recently discovered that I can make a delicious Boozy Tea version!

Want to hear more?? Watch our Instagram Live with Lauren!

Lauren's Owl's Brew Boozy Tea Cocktail Recipe

- 3 parts Owl's Brew Boozy Tea White Tea, Raspberry & Watermelon

- 1 part vodka

- 1 part diet ginger beer

- limes

directions:

- Pour half can of Owl's Brew White Tea, Raspberry & Watermelon Boozy Tea over ice

- add vodka & ginger beer

- Squeeze lime wedges

- Stir & enjoy!

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