Hillary Frank on Wedlocked: The Audio Thriller About a “Perfect” Marriage and Smiling Through Pain
SHOW NOTES
In this episode of A Fresh Story: Book Talk, Olivia Howell talks with author and podcaster Hillary Frank about her original audiobook, Wedlocked. It is a thriller about a marriage that looks perfect from the outside, and about what it feels like to be told to smile when you are hurting. This one is for anyone who loves a good audiobook, and for anyone who has ever been told to look on the bright side when they needed to be heard.
About Hillary Frank
Hillary Frank is the creator and host of The Longest Shortest Time, a narrative podcast that tells surprising stories about parenthood and reproductive health. She is a longtime public radio reporter and the author of three young adult novels and Weird Parenting Wins. Olivia has been a listener since her first son was born, and credits the show with some of her closest friendships.
About the book
Wedlocked is an original audiobook from Macmillan Audio. It follows Zara, the top instructor on a fitness app called Uplift, which her husband owns. She is about to turn 40 and wants a baby, and her husband keeps putting it off. As the story unfolds, she begins to realize she feels trapped in her marriage. Hillary wrote and directed the production, which features a full cast including narrator Helen Laser.
Key takeaways
The idea for Wedlocked came from a feeling Hillary describes as familiar to many women: being expected to smile through pain, both physical and emotional.
The story was built for audio. Listeners hear Zara teaching classes and livestreaming with her husband, as if they were members of the app.
Writing for audio means the author does not have to describe how a line is said. The actors get to interpret it.
This was Hillary's first thriller, and learning to write for suspense and pace took time.
Hillary hopes men listen too. Well-meant comments like "at least" can leave the other person feeling worse, and making room for hard feelings matters.
The Longest Shortest Time is still going, with an ongoing series on perimenopause and more stories about parenting teens.
Resources mentioned
Wedlocked by Hillary Frank, available wherever you get audiobooks: [INSERT BOOK LINK]
Weird Parenting Wins by Hillary Frank
Where to listen
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