Authors Interviewing Characters: Mae Bennett

A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist. 

Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett, on sale now from Alcove press, is a fresh spin on a tale as old as time.

Bellamy Price has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. If she meets the owner’s ridiculous timeline, she’ll finally make a name for herself in this male-dominated industry. But when she rolls up her sleeves, slips on her suspenders, and shows up at the crumbling mansion, Bellamy finds the estate very much occupied.

After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, took up residence as the grumpy caretaker of his grandfather’s mansion. None too pleased by the presence of the hammer-wielding woman who’s moved into his house, Oliver tries to block her at every turn.

But when Bellamy discovers Oliver’s facing his own ultimatum from his grandfather, the two form a cautious truce, which leads to flying sparks that are definitely not from faulty wiring. As Bellamy restores the gleam to the Killington Estate, she’ll have to decide if the walls she’s built around herself are worth knocking down to make space for someone else.

Mae Bennett interviews Bellamy Price and Oliver Killington from Barely Even Friends

MB: Thank you for joining me to discuss this very important topic, a discussion about Taylor Swift with characters from my very Swiftie book. Though I’m disappointed Oliver didn’t join us.

BP: [Rolls her eyes and glances to the doorway where Oliver thinks we can’t see him, but we can] He still pretends with other people that he only listens to Taylor Swift because of me. But he’s the one who insisted we stay up until 2 am for the second part of the album to drop for Tortured Poets.  He’s gotten very invested in following the easter eggs.

MB: So it’s safe to say you’re a Swiftie, you both are.

BP: Loud and proud. I’d been counting down the days once she announced The Tortured Poets Department, and then to see what changes she might make to the tour. Though I am bummed The Archer is no longer part of the setlist, but her dress for the TTPD era is breathtaking, the lyrics scrawled over it.

MB: So, I’m very curious what you think about TTPD. Did any of the tracks speak to you more than others?

BP: Well, as a massive fan of the Reputation album, as I count down the days until we get Taylor’s Version, I truly enjoyed it, especially the second half of the album. It’s an album of fighting through and doing what others expect of you even when you’re struggling, and a good bit of feminine rage. You can hear so much the echoes and inspiration points from her earlier albums. It really spoke to me with experiences I had in the past before I met Oliver, about what even brought me to his door.

MB: Agreed, the feminine rage part spoke to me. Seeing all the Easter eggs from other songs has been a lot of fun. 

BP: Yeah, the themes of moving on from a relationship you thought was worth fighting for but isn’t. This might be my favorite album lyrically. 

MB: Do you have a favorite song?

BP: The Bolter really spoke to me.

[Oliver stalks into the room and sits down on the couch next to Bellamy]

OK: You’re not a bolter. Not even a little. 

BP: [smiles softly at him] I said it spoke to me. My job as a historical home restorer typically means a lot of moving around, I could relate to people seeing me that way, as the Bolter, the one who didn’t stay. The one who chooses to leave, because that’s easier. You can’t always help the impression people have of you or the pressure they put on you. 

OK: inaudible grunting

BP: But it’s even better when someone loves you for the things that other people think are a negative. And maybe just see you for you. Honestly, it’s a bit rude, when someone sees you for exactly who you are and loves you for it. It’s why I love Taylor’s music so much. She has songs that perfectly describe the feeling when you fall in love with your person, and also songs for the absolute heartbreak you feel as you go through the cycle.

OK: tugs on her suspender, pressing a kiss to her hair.

MB: Did you have a favorite song, Oliver?

[Oliver crosses his arms over his chest as Bellamy scoots closer to him on the couch.]

BP: He’s a big fan of The Alchemy.

MB: Ah yes, since you’re a former football player I can see it. Probably So High School too?

BP: Enough about us, what do you think of The Tortured Poet’s Department?

MB: I don’t think it unseated my top 3 albums, but I’ve enjoyed it. I can see a lot of fairytale inspiration, though I may just be hearing what I want to hear, with a fairytale-inspired book coming out soon.

BP: Oh Peter alone, I can see it. Probably going to inspire a lot of Peter Pan retellings.

MB: But I’m just clowning daily waiting for her to announce Reputation. I really thought she would’ve by now.

BP: That’s Oliver’s favorite album too. Luckily we watched the concert movie before it got taken off Netflix.

MB: It is very coded to your relationship [pretends she didn’t write the book about them while listening to the album on repeat].

OK: I like that it’s about finding love again when you think you ever would.

BP: Entirely too relatable. Something that looks like it’s in ruins and building it back up, restoring it, not because there was anything wrong with it, it just needed someone to care for it.

OK: I guess if you’re the one doing the rebuilding it’s not so bad.

MB: Can you talk about what your favorite album or songs were before you two met?

OK: I didn’t listen to Taylor Swift before Bellamy. I didn’t really listen to much music once I stopped playing football.

BP: Or watch movies, we’re still working through that. He’s still a work in progress, but no one is perfect. [pats Oliver’s hand affectionately and then loops their fingers together] I’ve clearly changed is life for the better.

MB: Obviously.

BP: Red was my favorite album before we met, and probably still is. But I do think it was one of the things that helped us fall in love…

MB: No more spoilers people still have to read the book.

OK: I didn’t fall in love with you because you like Taylor Swift.

BP: [nudges his shoulder] Yeah, but it was one of the things that helped. Remember….

MB: Alright, any parting thoughts?

OK: I thought she would have released Reputation (Taylor’s Version) by now, or at least by June 4.

MB: [nods in agreement] There are a few days left for her to announce.

BP: Okay, without giving spoilers I’ll say that whether or not you’re a Swiftie, I think the autobiography you wrote of us will appeal to people who love a romance story of opposites who bond over trying out the other’s interests. 

MB: Pretty positive you two are only real in my head and now in text but autobiography sure. Thanks for letting me hang out with you both again, it’s been a while.

BUY HERE

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Mae Bennett is a hopeless romantic who enjoys imagining and writing happily ever afters in her free time. A voracious reader and reviewer of romance books while her cat, King Louis, rules from his throne. She bookstagrams her love of romance novels as @twiceuponabook.

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing