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Susan Coll combines the personal and the professional in writing Acceptance, her latest novel that is now out in paperback from Picador. In this interview, Coll discusses how she gathered material from her own experience as mother of children competing for admission to elite colleges and universities.

She also talks about how she came up with the idea of “Yates University,” the fictional institution that acts as her plot’s fulcrum — and how she learned about college admissions offices and officers through touring over 30 schools (whew!). She says at one point she actually knew a kid who could rattle off the famed U.S. News rankings list from memory…it’s all very daunting for those of us who haven’t gone through it, yet. “It just all becomes such a blur,” says Coll of the college admissions process.

Liar! Susan Coll is a liar…because she’s captured that “blur” perfectly in Acceptance.

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If you’re looking for a way to jump-start your summer reading, look no further. Not only do I suggest Susan Coll’s Acceptance as the perfect comic novel for your Memorial Day hammock time; we’ve got ten giveaway copies.

Acceptance is a sweetly serious satire about the college admissions process, set in the metro DC area. The three high-school senior protagonists, Maya, Taylor, and “AP” Harry, are all involved with fictional Yates University and its “interim head” of admissions, Olivia — to the inevitable slapstick scene at the end, which is nevertheless funny and satisfying. Even if you’ve never had a child who has gone through the increasingly complicated and convoluted college-admissions process (Coll has three college-age kids herself), you’ll find Acceptance rings true.

If you’d like to snag one of those copies, please leave a comment telling me about your favorite summer reading spot. Mine? I think I already mentioned hammocks…

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 I’m pleased to be able to present the second part of my interview with Alexander McCall Smith, who in this installment discusses his decision to give up his  position as a professor medical ethics at the University of Edinburgh to pursue writing full time. He also talks about the soon-to-be-released film of his first Mma Ramotswe novel, which was directed by the late, great Anthony Minghella. Was he pleased? Disappointed?

You’ll have to listen to find out…

May your weekends be full of happy reading hours. Thanks to all of you who sent in responses for our Alexander McCall Smith giveaway; I’ll be emailing you next week so I can send your books along!

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