[ PORTRAIT ]
Author / USA
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Meet with Susan Wiggs
"I like to think of my readers relaxing with a glass of wine in one hand and one of my books in the other."
Susan Wiggs is the author of over fifty novels, including recent New York Times bestsellers such as The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages and featured in the U.S. media, including NPR, PRI and USA Today.
Susan has given programs for the US Embassies in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and is a popular speaker locally, nationally, internationally and on the high seas. She resides with her husband on a picturesque island in Washington State’s Puget Sound, where the serene surroundings continually inspire her storytelling.
You told me that you love wine. When did this passion begin?
SUSAN WIGGS
It’s definitely a grown-up passion. And like any good romance, it took its time to develop into a full-blown love affair. When I was a kid, I attended school in Brussels and Paris, and my secondary school lunchroom featured single-serve bottles of wine, and I actually found the flavor off-putting, so I was never really drawn to it. Later, as a young mother, full-time teacher, and working author, I had no time for anything, but my once-a-month book club meeting featured wine and books, curated by a woman whose name I forgot, but who had amazing taste in wine. I didn’t have much of a palate, but I always loved the warm associations of wine, conversation, and reading. Eventually, I discovered my own taste and preferences and became enamored of viticulture, and it’s been a happy relationship ever since.
Do any of your characters have a connection to the wine world?
SUSAN WIGGS
Oh, lots of them know and love wine, most notably, Isabelle in The Beekeeper’s Ball, who has turned the family estate in Sonoma into a destination wedding venue and cooking school. Margot (Sugar and Salt) started her business with a food truck, and it evolved into the acclaimed restaurant “Salt,” known for its surprising barbecue-and-wine pairings. And then there is Camille in Map of the Heart who travels to Provence to discover her family’s secret history…and ends up in love with a hot guy and delicious wine
Settings figure strongly in your novels. Do you have a favorite wine region to visit?
SUSAN WIGGS
I do love Sonoma in the U.S., but hands down I cannot resist the gorgeous wine country of Southern France. While writing Map of the Heart, I made a romantic three-week driving tour of Provence, the Dordorgne and Perigord regions—Aix-en-Provence, Lourmarin, Cassis, Rocamadour, St. Cirque Lapopie, St. Emilion, Laguiole, Bel Castel, Cordes, Bordeaux…A magical region that fed my imagination. We had many adventures, but one that stands out was at a Relais Routiers called the Cantine Clesud near Les Ruches. It was a family-owned truckstop and they made the most incredible food, serving it generously with a local table wine. I hope I get to return one day!
Do many of your readers also enjoy wine?
SUSAN WIGGS
I hope so! I like to think of my readers relaxing with a glass of wine in one hand and one of my books in the other. Both wine and books are associated with pleasure and relaxation, and the world would be a better place if we treated ourselves to this regularly!
You’ve written about wine regions such as California and Provence. Do you ever visit wineries during your research trips?
SUSAN WIGGS
Sure! That’s one of the most delightful things about being a writer—finding the perfect milieu for the story to take place. My most recent visit was to the gorgeous Abeja Winery here in my home state of Washington. I gave the guy in the tasting room a copy of The Beekeeper’s Ball. (Abeja is Spanish for bee.) Chateau Ste Michelle here in Washington has summer outdoor concerts, and I’ve gone to see Bonnie Raitt and Roxy Music there. The most memorable trip was to St. Emilion in October when the harvest was going on. We made a glorious hike through the vineyards and visited several of the Grand Cru wineries there.
A well-crafted book is like a well-crafted wine-subtle yet irresistible.
Winemakers understand that each vintage is unique. How is this reflection similar to the writing of each book?
SUSAN WIGGS
I really like that analogy. Every novel is made up of the same basic elements—character, conflict, setting, etc.—but beyond that, each one is unique in both obvious and subtle ways. With every book I write, I strive to focus on the most special and dramatic elements that will give the reader a five-star experience. A well-crafted book is like a well-crafted wine—subtle yet irresistible. The technique has to be so seamless that the reader doesn’t notice it.
Do you have a winemaker or wine region that is particularly special to you?
SUSAN WIGGS
My sentimental favorite is Châteauneuf du Pape. The region itself is beautiful, and the wine was the favorite of my late, great dad. I have so many memories of sitting with him, enjoying a glass of Domaine Chante Cigale. He used to call me “grasshopper” (cigale) when I was a kid.One of my peak wine moments was in Provence when we came upon a little village where they chill the rosé wine in the town square fountain and serve it with a bit of socca—perfect for a warm evening. The babbling fountain, the murmur and laughter of the people, the crisp cool wine, my lovely husband Jerry across the table, made for a perfect moment. My most dramatic wine moment was when I “accidentally” bought a Balthazar of 1990 Barbera at a charity auction. There were no bids on it, so I entered the minimum bid just to get things started, but no one else bid against me! A Balthazar = 16 bottles. So I had to have a giant house party just to drink it. A somm named Shane Bjornholm came to open and decant it for us!
Food figures prominently in some of your novels. What is your wine pairing style?
SUSAN WIGGS
I wish I was better at this, but it’s almost always a quick text to my family’s official sommelier, Joelle Cousins—my niece who is like a daughter to me. She was voted best somm in Texas one year, and she is brilliant at pairings. She’s taught me so much about the how and why of fine wines. I also learned a lot from the Balthazar experience mentioned above. The caterer designed the menu around foods produced in the specific region where the wine originated, which makes perfect sense, historically and gastronomically.
What can readers expect next from you ?
SUSAN WIGGS
Reissues of fan favorites every month this year! Next year, you’ll see something completely different, so brace yourself. You might need extra wine while reading Wayward Girls, coming in June 2025. It takes place in Buffalo in 1968, about girls incarcerated in a type of reform school known as a Magdalene Laundry run by strict nuns. It highlights a dark and little-known corner of history and is a cautionary tale for today.
I think books, wine, and women all improve with age, don’t you?
Is there anything else you'd like to mention about your love of wine?
SUSAN WIGGS
I think books, wine, and women all improve with age, don’t you?
Article - Jill Barth
Jill Barth is an award-winning wine, food, and travel journalist. Her work appears in international publications such as Forbes, USA Today, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, VinePair, SevenFifty Daily, Tasting Table, and more. Jill earned a fellowship at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2018. She's also been a speaker and panelist at the Wine Media Conference and a judge for the Illinois Wine Competition. She's a Provence Wine Master and travels North America, Europe, and South America to cover both well-known and still-secret wine and food experiences. Jill has a bachelor of arts in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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