We welcome Marianne Cronin, to discuss her debut novel, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, which tells the story of seventeen-year-old Lenni who lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined. Though the end is near, life isn’t quite done with these unforgettable women just yet.** We start by discussing Lenni, her complicated heroine, who arrived as a fully formed voice in her head one night in January 2014. (04:04)** Marianne shares how the development of feisty, rebel-hearted, eighty-three-year-old Margot did not come quite as easily, but somehow watching old episodes of Madmen helped her crack the life and voice of an octogenarian! (06:25)** Lenni and Margot are an unlikely match in so many ways, but their bond stems from their similarities. We discuss why Marianne wanted to explore the importance of female friendship and how two friends can be soulmates. (08:17)** Lenni and Margot are surrounded by a rich, endearing group of supporting characters that remind us that family and friends can come from the most unexpected places. Listen to hear how a friendship from her own school days helped her develop Father Arthur, the hospital chaplain character who endearingly spars with Lenni, while also fully accepting exactly who she is. He may not be the #hotpriest from Fleabag, but he’s one of our favorites! (10:10)** This book will make readers think about what their legacy will be, how we  will each leave our mark on the world and live on through the people we’ve met. Marianne shares how these big life questions come from a very personal experience in her own life. (14:40)** This book is a heartfelt and tender story of friendship and celebrating a life well lived, but it is also very very funny, which is no surprise given Marianne’s comedy improv background. Listen to hear how improv has opened her up to live and write in the moment. (18:09)** Lenni may have visited Marianne one night in her head, but from that moment to today was a long seven-year road. Marianne candidly tells us about her path to publication and the rejections, revisions, and excitement that got her to this moment. (22:05).** Of course we discuss astrology with Marianne, a Gemini who it turns out comes from a family of astrology lovers! Our kind of people, for sure! (27:05)** The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is being adapted into a feature film by Sony/Columbia Pictures and Marianne can’t wait to let go and see where the film creators take her story! (29:53)** Marianne shares what she is loving in terms of books, podcasts, movies and TV shows. (32:35)Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com. Stay Complicated!We’ve launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.