Author Lauren Weisberger Dishes on "Last Night at Chateau Marmont"

Writer Talks Cheating BF's, Jon Bon Jovi, and Hitting It Big in NYC

At the most Manhattan'ish spot in Toronto, The Counter Diner at the Thompson Hotel, I wait for Miss Manhattan herself. The author extraordinaire who has perfectly painted New York through text, one book after the other. The one who dressed the devil in Prada, chased Harry Winston, and who knows Everyone Worth Knowing in NYC. The very talented, now very pregnant, Lauren Weisberger. Today, she sits down with WOMAN.ca to discuss her crush on Jon Bon Jovi, her faith in US Weekly, and her latest book, Last Night At Chateau Marmont.

It's a story about a couple. Simple enough. They are Brooke and Julian, and they are very much in love. She's a nutritionist and he's a struggling musician. However, once his career takes off, it appears that Brooke is the only one who is left to struggle. With fame comes attention, and Brooke is, at first, more than happy to bask in her husband's success. Drinks with Bon Jovi, red carpet invitations, opportunities to travel - she's living the life. That is, until a widely read tabloid magazine - called Last Night - reports that Julian has cheated on Brooke at the world famous Chateau Marmont hotel.

It's a story we've heard a million times. Brad and Jen. Sandra and Jesse. Jude and Sienna. But it's a story that's never been told from the inside. A killer plot, rife with serious laughs and a few stinging tears, it's completely impossible to put down. And the ending? WHOA! You'll just have to read it for yourself.

For a woman who can rattle off designer's names like the alphabet, Lauren is dressed simply, white shirt and black cardigan. She's come fresh from a Porter flight from New York. A flight so short it could have been a cab ride, we joke. She orders a black tea with milk, rubbing her rounded stomach and asking her PR lady, Amy, if it's really "that bad" to have tea with caffeine while pregnant. Minutes later, her order arrives, and she stirs in her milk eagerly. A little caffeine won't hurt, she's obviously decided.

We are forewarned that we don't have much time together, this is the beginning of her book tour, and she has interviews lined up for hours in that very booth, followed by a widely advertised book signing at the Manulife Centre Indigo Store. Despite her hectic schedule, she appears calm, friendly, excited to talk. Watching the clock will be Amy's job, and she does it with skill from the booth next to ours.

With time slipping by, introductions are brief and complimentary, and then we jump right in.

W: So, the first thing I wanted to address was the topic of infidelity. Cheating is a tough subject, and you do it in such a very real way. How did you come up with this plot line, and was it difficult to know how you were going to address it?
LW: Yes, it was tough. At first I didn't want to do that [storyline], but I needed something to challenge Brooke and Julian in their relationship. When you think about an international rock star and his girlfriend, whats the most likely thing to happen? I mean, we've heard the story so many times. But I wanted to take a shot at it in my own way, you know, to see how Brooke would deal with it. I wanted her to be a woman that a lot of us can relate to, because we'd like to think that in that situation our decision would be easy, that it would be very black and white. But in Brooke's case, there was a lot of grey.

W: Can you relate at all to the way Brooke chose to deal with Julian's actions?
LW: I've often asked myself how I would deal with that. I'm curious to see what the reception will be from women who read this. Like, will they wonder why Brooke doesn't lash out, why she sort of waits, and waits and waits. Maybe they might wonder why she kind of just holds back. And in that way, I'm not like Brooke at all. I can't NOT tell someone close to me what I'm thinking. I can't keep that kind of thing to myself like Brooke did. But maybe some people can... My New York friends, the outspoken, loud ones would probably be more like What!? Blah blah blah, why didn't she say this was bullshit and unacceptable?' and so on. Though, I do think a lot of other women will be able to relate to Brooke and the way she chooses to handle it, just not me personally. In that way, I'm not at all like Brooke.

W: In all of your books, Last Night at Chateau Marmont and The Devil Wears Prada specifically, you make tons of references to well known people, places, and clothing labels. Chapters and chapters of advertising, it seems. How do you decide who and what makes the cut, and who and what doesn't?
LW: Well, a lot of the people and designers I write about are already so big that I doubt a mention in one of my books would count as advertising (laughing). I just like to write about places and people that I would be excited to read about. In the part with Bon Jovi, I was going through of a bunch of people who could have been sitting with Julian in that scene at The Chateau Marmont. But I just thought, Hey, how cool would that be to go outside and see your boyfriend sitting with Jon Bon Jovi?' Like, I love Bon Jovi! But then there were other characters, like Leila Lawson [a pop star who gets on stage with Julian during a show, irritating Brooke]. She's a made-up name, even though I could have thought of at least ten female celebrities who fit that role perfectly. Legal [department] didn't think it was a great idea to use a real person (laughing). I guess I can use whoever I want as long as it's not in a negative way.

W: To this day, I still think Anne Hathaway's most memorable role was as Andrea in The Devil Wears Prada. If you could cast two leads to play Brooke and Julian for a film, who would it be?
LW: Wow, good question. Can we come back to it? Hmm... that's a really good question.

W: Sure, let's come back to it. Ok, lets try something a bit more open-ended. What do you like most about writing?
LW: The hours (laughs). Can I say that?
W: Sure, you can say whatever you want!
LW: No, no, let's see... If I had to say something, I know it sounds silly, but it's the ability to be creative everyday.

W: You talk about a publication called Last Night' a lot in the book. That's where Brooke sees the photo evidence of the affair. We're you trying to create an Us Weekly type thing?
LW: Yeah I was definitely trying to create an US Weekly or People magazine thing. I'm of the belief that everything you read in US Weekly is totally true (laughs).
W: The gospel truth?
LW: Yes, 100%!
W: Do you think these magazines hold as much weight with real celebs as they do with Brooke and Julian in the book?
LW: Well, in the book, Julian and Brooke were relatively new to that lifestyle. I'd like to think that other celebrities ignore the tabloids because if they didn't it would be impossible for them to live their lives.

W: Julian is just a normal musician until he hits it big one day. Then, his life is completely changed. With all of your success, do you feel like you have anything in common with his character? Any similar conflicts?
LW: Well, I've definitely never had to deal with some of the things that he does like paparazzi, swarming fans, and stuff. I mean, he's a huge rock star. But I guess you could say my life did change a bit, but it's been mostly for the better.

W: Here's an interesting one; Do you identify first as a woman, or as a writer.
LW: Wow, ok. That's another good question. I don't know? What would you say?
W: Oh, wow, I don't know. I guess, off the cuff and probably because I'm sitting here recording you, I'd say writer, maybe? I don't know...
LW: Really? Cause I'd say woman. Is that bad?
W: No! Not bad at all. Is that bad that I said writer?
LW: No, no! It's tough. I mean I write, I am a writer, but being a woman is more than what I do, or just my identity, you know? It's so much bigger than that.

W: What do you see coming up in the future?
LW: Well, baby (points to her stomach). Obviously. To be honest, it's actually hard to think any further beyond that right now, you know? But no, I actually just started the outline for another book, but it's so, so new I can't really talk about it yet.

W: Well it looks like that's our time for today, but just quickly before we wrap up, think you could come back to that casting question?
LW: Oh my gosh, it's really so tough.
W: Well, you said you like Bon Jovi. Maybe he could play Julian?
LW: No, I think he's too old to be Julian. Like, I think I could imagine someone like Gavin Degraw playing Julian, even though he's a singer and not an actor. But as for Brooke... hmm... I don't know? I really just don't know! I guess casting just isn't my thing. I'll stick to writing.

Carli Mia
		About the author:
		Carli Mia, also known as Carli Rothman, also known as Carli Stephens, also known as Carli Mia Stephens Rothman, is a prairie-girl to the core, and a graduate of the Ryerson School of Journalism. She currently lives in downtown Toronto, and acts as the Director of Content for WOMAN.ca!
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