What if the ghost of Marilyn Monroe became a fairy godmother to a shy, plus-size high school senior?
On the latest episode of Big Blend Radio’s Books and Authors show, host Lisa D. Smith sat down with award-winning author Mima Tipper to celebrate the release of her highly anticipated sophomore YA novel, Channeling Marilyn (She Writes Press). Dropping just in time for the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, the book is a heartwarming, speculative coming-of-age story that is already earning praise as a "delightfully inventive" read.
From an unexpected moment with her daughter to a deeply personal journey through family grief, Mima shares how a physical copy of Teen Vogue sparked a decade-long writing journey.
Watch the episode below or listen/download the audio version on Podbean.
What is Channeling Marilyn?
Before diving into the interview, here is the delightful premise of Mima's new book:
Seventeen-year-old Lexa Donovan is a self-conscious, plus-size high school senior who unexpectedly lands the lead role in her school's production of Bus Stop. Panic sets in because she feels like the exact opposite of the role's original star, Marilyn Monroe. But everything changes when the literal spirit of Marilyn appears to become her personal, backstage acting coach.
Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray in Bus Stop from September 3, 1956 issue of Film Bulletin
The Kitchen Counter Spark
Mima isn't a lifelong Monroe superfan, but a bonding moment with her preteen daughter changed everything. While flipping through a physical copy of Teen Vogue, they noticed a striking pattern: young, contemporary pop stars and models completely done up as Marilyn Monroe.
"The woman’s been dead for 50 years... if her spirit was up there watching, what would she think of how she is still so prevalent in our culture?" Mima reflected. This sparked the ultimate "what if" that formed the bones of the novel.
Rewriting the Narrative for "All Those Gone Too Soon"
While Channeling Marilyn is packed with humorous high school drama, Mima revealed a deeply moving undercurrent to the book: it served as her personal grief narrative. A year before she started the book, she lost her young, 22-year-old niece, followed later by the loss of her nephew. During a grief workshop, she was prompted to "write a different story for your lost loved one." Mima realized that by giving Marilyn Monroe a healing, maternal afterlife as a mentor, she was channeling her own processing of loss.
Body Image, Noah Kahan, and Becoming Yourself
The book’s protagonist, Lexa, is a tall, plus-size senior who lands the lead role of Cherie in the school play Bus Stop—the very role Marilyn made famous. Mima noted that she didn't want to write a book lecturing about weight issues, but rather capture the universal feeling of not being comfortable in your own skin. She pointed to the recent documentary about musician Noah Kahan openly weeping over body dysmorphia as proof that these self-image struggles remain deeply relevant to youth today, regardless of gender.
The Ultimate Critic: Writing for Teens
Transitioning into writing YA fiction taught Mima just how brutal teen readers can be. Lisa and Mima noted that while adult readers will usually give a book 50 to 70 pages to get good, kids have zero patience for being lectured. As Lisa put it, if a book feels "preachy" or like a "wagging finger in their face," teens are out—a sentiment Mima backed up completely: "They're not interested."
Buy the Books: Pick up Channeling Marilyn and Mima’s award-winning debut Kat's Greek Summer at MimaTipper.com.
This podcast is presented in partnership with Books Forward: https://booksforward.com/