More of Me to Love: We’re lucky enough to have with us, Charlie Lovett, author of The Program, a novel published by Pearlsong Press. For those of you who haven’t been fortunate enough to read The Program yet, we’ll give you a little context by paraphrasing the back of the book jacket: A new weight-loss clinic in New York has an offer for you - give them $5000 and they’ll make you as thin as a supermodel. You can eat whatever you want and you’ll never gain an ounce. Tempted? Fledgling journalist Karen Sumner is ... if only she had $5000. When Karen finally walks through the blue and gold doors of The Program, however, she’s onto the most scandalous story of her career. If she and her friends are right, The Program is doing something far worse than creating an army of unnaturally thin women.

So, Charlie, what gave you the idea to write about a shady weight loss program?

Charlie Lovett: The idea evolved over time, but the main impetus was the belief that not enough was being said in our society about the unhealthy and unrealistic “ideal” female figure being promoted by the popular media. Writing about a weight-loss program, and one with a clearly evil underpinning, seemed a good way to tackle this issue head-on.

MMTL: Is “The Program” - the weight loss program in the book, not the book itself - inspired by any particular weight loss program or do you just see the underlying attitude of weight loss programs to be generally embodied by The Program?

CL: “The Program” wasn’t inspired by any particular weight loss program, but there are many aspects of it that were inspired by issues I see in the weight-loss industry. One of these, of course, is the false promise of “perfection,” or even the notion that one body shape is somehow inherently better than another.  Also the “too good to be true” nature of many weight-loss programs’ promises played a big role in the creation of “The Program.” But I suppose the biggest similarity between the fictional Program and real-life weight-loss programs is the way it plays on people’s (and in this case especially women’s) insecurities and how these programs are a part of a cycle in which a false image of the “perfect” figure is created by the media, women’s self-esteem is eroded because they do not fit that false “ideal,” and the weight-loss industry steps in with promises to “solve” the “problem.”

MMTL: In what ways did having daughters influence the way you wrote this book?

CL: I have two daughters, and in a way the book was written for them. When my older daughter was in elementary school she went through the D.A.R.E. program, which is a good program, but when I looked at the socio-economic make-up of our neighborhood and the issues in the lives of her classmates, eating disorders and body-image issues seemed as big a threat to the health of these children as drugs or alcohol. Yet no one was coming to the school to counsel children on eating issues or “health at every size.” That dichotomy was really the genesis of The Program. Though it was several years later that I began to write the novel, I was always bothered by the lack of education on body-image issues for young girls. Of course The Program is really a novel for adults, but I hope the message will resonate with parents and they will educate their girls that they can be healthy, happy, and “perfect” in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Right now, I’m working on a “fat-friendly” young adult novel that I hope will send the same message.

MMTL: When you are in line at the grocery store with your daughters, do they ever look at the fashion magazines? If so, what do you tell them about these magazines and the ways they portray women?

CL: It’s been a long time since my daughters have been young enough to be at the grocery store with me, but I have certainly commented on excessively thin models and actresses when we have seen them on TV or in the media. I realize that some people are naturally thin, just as some people are naturally blonde or naturally voluptuous, but I do try to help my daughters understand the difference between natural variations in body shape and what I see as unhealthy and unattractive manipulation of the body shape by extreme dieting, plastic surgery, etc. I think they both have fairly healthy body images, but I know it’s an issue that will be present throughout their lives—there is no escaping the constant media barrage of unrealistic “ideals” put in front of both men and women.

MMTL: Did you find it difficult, as a man, to write a woman with body-image issues as the main character? Why or why not?

CL: I didn’t find it difficult to write about Karen Sumner, for several reasons. First and foremost, writing fiction is about using your imagination, and putting yourself in the shoes of a character. I enjoy doing that, and I loved “being” Karen while I was working on The Program. Secondly, though I feel pretty good about my own body, I, like any human being, have insecurities. To write about Karen’s insecurities, I only had to tap into my own. Finally, I am a listener and an observer, skills I think any fiction writer must develop. The voice of Karen is the voice of hundreds of women I have seen and heard both in person and in the media. Sadly, it’s not hard to find a woman who is unhappy about her body, and I listened to what those women had to say when developing Karen’s character.

MMTL: Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and been disappointed with what you’ve seen? If so, do you think that feeling helps you better understand fat women in our society or do you think that’s just part of the human experience of the last few thousand years (a part that’s become particularly poignant in the last 50 years)?

CL: As I said above, I’m not too chuffed about my own body size and shape. Some people would say that I am “lucky” because I am naturally fairly thin. I do my best to think of myself as just me. But we all have insecurities—if it’s not about our body size or shape it’s about something else. How about, “Am I wasting my time trying to be a novelist?” That’s a pretty good insecurity. I could list a lot of others, as I’m sure we all could. Though body image is the particular insecurity dealt with in The Program, I hope the novel taps into the insidiousness of insecurity in general, and that it might make the reader understand the power of feeling good about ourselves. When we feel positive about our own lives, we can have such a positive influence on the lives of others.

MMTL: Have you ever dieted, tried to lose weight, or at least eaten and exercised primarily for your appearance? If so, what was your experience doing that and if not, why do you think that you’ve been able to resist the pressure in our society for even men to obsess about their bodies?

CL: Usually when I’ve tried to go on a diet or exercise regimen, it’s been more for my general health than anything else. I really believe that if I live a reasonably healthy lifestyle, my body will be the size and shape it wants to be (ditto for everyone else). So I try to eat reasonably healthy food, though I am certainly not a fanatic about it. I try to exercise on a regular basis, though I’m not always successful. Exercise for me is often walking. I try to avoid anything high impact because I battered my knees during high school when I was a serious long-distance runner. So, I’m happy if I don’t sit on the couch ALL day and if I get a couple of vegetables into the menu, but not because of how I end up looking, just because I feel healthier. Would that we, as a society, could separate the issues of body-image and exercise/diet.

MMTL: Your work seems to focus on Lewis Carroll. Can you tell us about your interest in the renowned author?

CL: I began collecting the works of Lewis Carroll when I was a teenager, and only years later discovered what an interesting person he was. I have written several books on different aspects of Carroll and continue to be fascinated by his life and times, particularly the world of Victorian writers, artists, and actors he lived in. My greatest reward in studying and collecting Carroll, however, has been the many friendships I have made with people around the world who share that interest. It’s why I’m a passionate believer in having a passion. I don’t think it much matters what that passion is, but having one can enrich your life in so many ways.

MMTL: How has Carroll’s writing and life influenced your work, particularly The Program?

CL: I’d say that, for the most part, my non-fiction work and The Program are separate in terms of style and influence. Of course Karen and David do meet at the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park—I couldn’t resist a little tribute. My next novel, Marginalia, is set in the world of rare books, and was heavily influenced by my life as a book collector. Marginalia tells the story of a widowed American seller of rare books living in an English village. He comes across what may be the most important artifact in all of English literature, but when he is framed for murder, he is in race to find out if the book is real or a forgery before the killers or the police catch him. The book also follows the history of the artifact from 1592 to the present day, and includes appearances by many colorful historical figures, including William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and others. Though it is not primarily concerned with Carroll, a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland is mentioned. I think book lovers will get a kick out of Marginalia if I can find a publisher!

MMTL: It sounds great, and we wish you lots of luck with it! Do you ever think you’ll write another book about diets, weight-loss, body image or the like?

CL: Currently, I’m working on a “fat-friendly” young adult novel, but that is in the early stages.

MMTL: If you could send regular-bodied American women everywhere a direct message about themselves from the mouth of Charlie Lovett, unfiltered by well-written and compelling prose, what would that be?

CL: Love yourself!

MMTL: Is there anything else you’d like to share or tell us about yourself or The Program?

CL: The Program is published by Pearlsong Press in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a company committed to books that promote positive body image, and a company so small that every sale makes a difference. If you believe in the message of The Program, that woman are beautiful as they are, please buy a copy to support Pearlsong Press.