When I was given an advanced reader copy of The Better Mother, a debut novel by Jennifer van der Kleut, I could not put it down. I finished it in less than 3 days. Knowing it was the author’s first novel made it even more impressive. Throughout, I kept envisioning it as a movie. If the read itself wasn’t enough of a gift, a conversation with the author was surely a treat as well.
Without giving away too much, the book synopsis is as follows.
“Post-devastating-breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has finally gotten her life back together when she discovers that she’s pregnant after a fling with a man named Max. After reaching out to tell him, Max admits he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison. Surprisingly, Madison isn’t upset when she finds out—in fact, she’s excited.
Max insists Madison has good intentions, but Savannah finds her behavior—popping in uninvited and demanding lifestyle changes—an attempt to take over the pregnancy. When Savannah finally stands up for herself, Madison’s treatment of her goes from casually cruel to downright dangerous.
Savannah was open to a friendly co-parenting relationship with the father of her child, but his new girlfriend obviously has much more sinister plans in mind… She has no plans to co-parent at all.”
After reading, I wanted to learn more, and it was a treat to speak with the author, Jennifer van der Kleut. Below is a recap of our conversation.
Theresa: What inspired you to write?
Jennifer van der Kleut: I’ve always been a writer, in different capacities, some professional and some for fun. As a kid, I turned a storage shed in our backyard into my own little publishing house, and my sister and I would write our own “books” (stapled together with hand-drawn illustrations) and “publish” them by giving them to our parents. Writing papers for English class about my favorite books was a big part of my high school years. In college, I wrote song lyrics. After college, I worked for various publications, writing news articles and features. It was my father, Dwight McBride, who kept nagging me to take a stab at writing a novel—and once I tried, I fell in love and have never stopped since. My love of books definitely came from him—I never saw him without a book in his hand, his whole life.
Theresa: As this is your first published book, what advice would you offer aspiring authors?
Jennifer: Read as much as you can in your chosen genre. Stay up-to-date on the latest releases and trends in the genre you want to write in. Find authors whose writing styles pull you in, and study how they structure their books and develop their storylines. I am also a strong advocate of professional workshops led by published authors or publishing professionals, providing up-to-date advice from industry experts. Especially when those workshops offer critiques, such as having your first 10 pages or chapter reviewed by a professional author, agent, or editor. Direct feedback from professionals was invaluable when I started—I wanted the blunt truth from someone who wouldn’t sugarcoat it the way my friends or family might. I highly recommend the Writer’s Day Workshops, the Algonkian Writers Retreats, and the New York Write to Pitch.
Theresa: Are any of the characters influenced by people in your life? If so, how did that impact how you shaped those characters?
Jennifer: I would say that certain parts of the story were inspired by real-life experiences, not necessarily by any specific characters. In the first draft I ever wrote, my Dad read it and said, “Every character in this book is you, in one way or another.” So from that point on, I was careful to diversify my characters and make them all different kinds of people—some I fantasized about being, some I was afraid to be, and some I aspired to be.
As for real events, the very beginning of the book is inspired by how I found out I was pregnant with my first child–I took a test in a grocery store bathroom and freaked out (even though it was a wanted pregnancy)! My sister Kelly and I both worked in restaurants and did some bartending in our college days and early 20s, which inspired the character of Ellie. When Kelly bartended, I used to visit her, sit at the bar, and talk to her a lot between customers, just like Savannah does in the book. After leaving the journalism industry, I worked extensively in content creation and small-business marketing, which inspired Savannah’s role at the agency. So, to answer your question, no single character was directly inspired by a real person—rather, bits and pieces of every character’s story were inspired by real people and events.
Theresa: Your writing is so vivid that I kept picturing it as a movie throughout. Is your hope that this is adapted into a film? Why or why not?
Jennifer: I would LOVE that! It wasn’t a specific goal I had in mind when writing it. But a lot of people have said that about this book, and it’s very flattering. Picturing a movie is actually a big part of the way I write—I picture a movie in my head and write what I “see,” so I guess it’s natural that it comes across that way. I do have a film agent now! She read the finished manuscript and signed me for representation in April 2025, when my book was in edits with my publisher. She and I share high hopes that a production company or an actor/actress will love it as much as we do and want to option it. So fingers crossed!
Theresa: Do you think you’ll write another book?
Jennifer: I have! Let’s hope my publisher loves it as much as THE BETTER MOTHER and wants to release it! It’s about a celebrity journalist who is a real cutthroat bad-ass. She’s not afraid to bend or break the law to track celebrities and expose their darkest secrets. One day, she publishes the biggest secret of one of America’s most beloved actors, and her readers finally turn against her, sending her hate mail, threatening her, and even attacking her. She realizes that her whole philosophy of life and career is unsustainable and has driven everyone she loves away, and she vows to change her ways. But she must first determine how to repair her reputation. Much of it is inspired by my days as a reporter. We’ll be showing it to my publisher soon – fingers crossed!
Theresa: Who is your book’s favorite character and why?
Jennifer: I have a strong affection for our protagonist, Savannah. In many ways, she’s a lot like I was at her age. She wants to believe she is strong and independent and doesn’t need a man to depend on. But she’s never had to put that theory to the test–until her long-time partner leaves her. When the book begins, she’s seeking her inner strength and building a new, independent life. That’s her priority, and she doesn’t want to think about entering a new serious relationship until she’s done that. But, of course, everyone gets lonely sometimes, and the night she meets Max, her future child’s father, is one of those vulnerable nights a lot of us have.
Do you think you’ll check out The Better Mother when it hits shelves this February? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image via Edgar Colomba on Pexels
