How Elizabeth Gilbert Inspired Jenn Bouchard's Debut Novel

One decision changed everything for Jenn Bouchard. Sitting on Crane Beach on the North Shore of Massachusetts, the longtime social studies teacher turned to her husband and said, "I think I want to see if I can write a novel." That moment sparked a two-and-a-half-year journey that would become First Course—a debut novel centered on food, second acts, and the delicious messiness of starting over. A 22-year teaching veteran and mother of two, Jenn shares how she carved out writing time during summers, found her community through the Women's Fiction Writers Association, and ultimately landed a traditional publishing deal with Touchpoint Press after coming heartbreakingly close with ten agents.

From the inspiration she drew from Elizabeth Gilbert and Lisa Genova to the friendship that became her secret weapon (her best friend Stephanie, an English teacher who reads everything she writes), Jenn's story is a testament to the power of showing up for your creative dreams—even when you're already juggling a full life. Grab a glass of wine (we recommend the Winderly Pinot Noir from Oregon!) and settle in for a conversation about food, fiction, and finding your second act.
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0:00 - Intro and holiday happy hour
1:19 - Wine talk: Pinot Noir and Brunello
3:35 - Teaching for 22 years and finding writing
5:14 - Inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert
6:48 - Writing while teaching full time
7:42 - Finding a writing community
9:57 - The importance of reader feedback
11:16 - The path to traditional publishing
12:42 - Getting "the email" from Touchpoint Press
14:07 - What traditional publishing looks like
16:53 - Writing the second book is easier
18:01 - Food, cooking, and favorite recipes
23:52 - Food as connection and memory
27:13 - Writing about second acts
30:19 - Final cheers and holiday wishes

• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
• Website: daralevan.com3
https://Jennbouchard.com/

QUOTES:

"I have gotten a lot out of getting to spend time sort of immersed in the settings that I'm writing about."
– Jenn Bouchard

"Why not write what feels organic and true to us? You can really feel at a visceral level something you've lived, something you've smelled, something you've seen."
– Dara Levan