By LB Indy Staff

Following the sold-out success of the Susi Q ’ s inaugural “ Evening with an Author ,” the nonprofit has announced that Janelle Brown , New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things , Watch Me Disappear , All We Ever Wanted Was Everything , and most recently I ’ ll Be You , will headline another fun event at the Susi Q Center on Tuesday , June 6 .

A Los Angeles-based writer of both literary fiction and thrillers , Brown is known for her twisty plots , insights into contemporary life , and willingness to plumb the depths of family dysfunction . In other words , book clubs love to discuss her novels !

In her latest , I ’ ll Be You , two identical twin sisters and former child actors have grown apart — until one disappears , and the other is forced to confront the secrets they ’ ve kept from each other .

Brown will chat with “ Writers on Writing ” podcaster and well-known arts columnist Marrie Stone about her latest book and the writing life – along with offering some delicious

insider information about life in Hollywood .

For just $ 35 , the evening includes refreshments , wine , the pleasant company of fellow book-lovers , and a copy of I ’ ll Be You .

Doors open at 4:30 p . m . with the program beginning at 5:15 p . m . and ending at 7 p . m . with book signings .

Location : The Susi Q Center , 380 Third Street , Laguna Beach . For tickets

call 949-715-8105 or visit www . thesusiq . org .

Susi Q caught up with Janelle to find out more about the book and her life as a writer .

SQ : I ’ ll Be You is a fascinating look at the relationship between identical twins whose dreams are anything but identical . Sam and Elli are great characters and their relationship is very believable . How did you approach the challenge of portraying twins ?

JB : I know a few twins and also have friends who have twin children . To understand twin psychology , I did a lot of reading and research – Entwined Lives by Nancy Segal , also documentaries like Three Identical Strangers .

SQ : You write so authentically about the world of Hollywood . How much research did you do to ensure that your book had the ring of truth ?

JB : I live in Los Angeles and have a husband who directed several independent films , as well as countless friends who work in the industry . So I have a lot of first-hand and second-hand expertise , and have spent plenty of time on sets . When I had

questions about logistics , I would pick up the phone and call friends who are producers or studio executives to ask how things work !

SQ : Is there a message that you ’ d like your readers to pick up on – for example , about the danger of cults – or do you write mostly to entertain ?

JB : I always want my books to be entertaining * and * thought-provoking , and full of ideas that might change the way readers look at the world . This book was less about the danger of cults , per se , than the danger of believing that all the answers to life can be found in an ideology or a person . I wanted the book to be an exploration of belief systems , and how they can go wrong . When does “ wellness ” and “ self-care ” and “ personal growth ” turn into something that ’ s actually dangerous ? How do we use drugs or religion to anaesthetize us to the things we don ’ t want to feel ?

SQ : What single most important tip would you offer new writers ?

JB : Don ’ t be afraid to write badly . Write , and throw away , and write

JANELLE BROWN , PAGE 15