He also drew from his own roots.
All the characters have, to varying degrees, aspects of my mom in them, he says.
She passed away 14 years ago and is the reason Im a writer.
Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage; Pamela Dorman Books
Even after all that, he admits hes notquitethe beer aficionado one might expect (he prefers wine).
If I had my druthers Id probably have a Citra IPA, says Stradal.
I know its a normcore choice, but Ill own it.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did the idea forLager Queenfirst come to you?J.
It made me think, this has happened under my nose.
I dont know that much about beer; Im more of a wine drinker, to be honest.
Its clear where the inspiration for place came from, but what about the characters?
Are they based on real people who you know?Theyre definitely based on real people.
Like my mom she first put a book in my hands and encouraged my writing at a young age.
In some cases Im having a conversation with her.
I think a lot of how Edith looks after her family above all else is inspired by my mom.
Helens ambition comes from my mom.
They all have a point in their lives when their priorities shift in a major way.
I dont know any stereotypical Minnesota women, so its pretty easy not to write that.
Its more difficult to attempt to write complex characters.
I like to see how Midwesterners stand up to conflict, and also how they react to success.
Thats something Ive been intrigued by since I was a kid.
Shes a little proud of herself at times, but its never her idea.
Whats your own personal beer drinking preference?I did a lot of research.
I like beer, dont get me wrong, I have plenty in the fridge.
I just didnt know it as well.
Your last book also took place in Minnesota and had a few inside jokes.
One of the things thats sadly known about restaurants is they often dont stick around for a long time.
Readers bring up a lot of upscale restaurants that dont exist anymore.
