This week we got to chat to the witty, irreverent and tell it like it is poster-child Jennifer Wright. Jennifer has just published the entertaining and insights “It Ended Badly“. A collection of unforgettable, bizarre and insanely entertaining stories from the worst breakups in history. This is the history we wish school were made of! Here’s what she had to say about all things love, dating and of course, breaking up.
What do you do and why do you do it?
I write books, most recently one entitled It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Break-Ups In History. On a personal level I do it because it’s the only job I can legally do in bed in my underwear. That said, I also believe that at their best books can make people feel less alone, and one of the times that I’ve felt the most alone is immediately following a break-up. I hope this book will make people feel like however poorly they’ve behaved during their break-up they’re in great – and occasionally terrible – company, but company either way.
Best gift you ever got?
The best gift I ever got was from my boyfriend. It’s a necklace from Tiffany that depicts a ghost smiling and raising its ghost hands in the air. We both get endless amusement from the fact that there was apparently one meeting where Tiffany executives were like, “what do fancy New York ladies love this season? Definitely ghosts just laughing and waving their arms in the air like they just don’t care. Let’s throw all our resources into that.” So it’s a tiny bit of a joke gift, but also, it’s a really happy ghost! It makes me smile whenever I see it.
Worst gift you ever got?
I honestly don’t believe in bad gifts. If nothing else, I just like tearing wrapping paper off boxes. That said, I have about a million scented candles that I’m probably never going to use. But wait! There was a black-out last year in my building and I used some of them. They were helpful, so I guess they’re an okay gift after all.
Advice for all things love, sex and dating?
Remember that your romantic status has nothing to do with your worth as a person. Queen Elizabeth was single and one of the best rulers in England’s history, Hitler was in a long term relationship and he was a monster. Focus on being a good person and having a great life – if another person is smart enough to want to be part of that, that is cool! That is cool and fantastic. And if they don’t, don’t let that stop your life from being great.
What’s your go-to pick me up?
Gin, Late Night Snack Ice Cream, and episodes of 30 Rock.
Tell us about your first heartbreak…
Ugh. My first heartbreak was in high school. I cried so loudly for so many nights that my mother finally asked if I could not stop crying, but at least make an effort to cry more quietly.
Tell us about a time that you bounced back better than ever…
When I first moved to New York I dated a few male writers. They wrote books, which was what I wanted to do. I figured that being close to them would be as good as writing books myself. It wasn’t! And, while they had a ton of terrific qualities, they were not especially great people to date. After a few years I found out I could write books myself and date people who were really, really nice to me. That’s better.
