The Art of Storytelling: Lessons from “Happy Wife” Authors

When Storytelling Meets Community

On the most recent episode of the B Student podcast, host Betsy Gardner sat down with Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, the dynamic duo behind the breakout bestselling novel Happy Wife. Set in Winter Park, FL, the novel has earned national attention as one of this year’s must-reads -- Today Show host Jenna Bush Hager selected it as her pick this summer for the Read with Jenna Book Club. Beyond its engaging plot, the story (and the conversation) became a springboard for insights into creativity, collaboration, curiosity and belonging -- a blend that speaks to readers, writers and business leaders alike.

Curiosity as a Creative Superpower

Curiosity is at the heart of both writing and navigating new technologies like AI -- something Betsy underscores when she talks about the importance of asking the right questions, both for art and for AI prompts. Meredith and Kendall share how their curiosity about story, place and character drive their collaboration, with Meredith describing her process of using imagination and research to evoke a sense of place she’s never visited. This hunger to wonder, to dig deeper, and to constantly ask “what if?” is shown as a core practice in their creative and business lives.

Collaboration and Partnership

The genesis of Happy Wife is deeply rooted in friendship and the natural, almost logistical collaborations that happen among “mom friends.” Kendall and Meredith reveal how their partnership started with shared experiences and a sense of trust that grew in school carpool lines and birthday parties. They model a respectful creative process, where passion for specific elements determines decision-making, and mutual support helps each partner shine while navigating challenges and disagreements.

Sense of Place and Authenticity

Winter Park, the setting for their novel, is brought to life by blending Kendall’s lived experience with Meredith’s outsider perspective and diligent research. While Kendall injects intimate local knowledge, Meredith uses her skills as a showrunner to fill in the gaps, illustrating the power of both firsthand memory and creative synthesis. They show that, with careful attention and imagination, it’s possible to authentically evoke a place -- even as an outsider.

Belonging and Exclusion

Belonging, both as a personal struggle and as a societal issue, runs through the book and was a focal point in the conversation. The themes of social gatekeeping and undercurrents of exclusion in an affluent community like Winter Park are explored, with the main character's journey reflecting a universal longing to fit in. Both guests discuss the layers of acceptances, privileges and insecurities present in any community, and how those themes mirror broader crises of loneliness and belonging in culture today.

Resilience and Agency

The conversations touch on how characters, and real people, find their footing amid doubt and adversity. Both Kendall and Meredith open up about personal fears and hesitations (like writing in public or choosing the wrong path), and how they ultimately choose courage and self-advocacy. Their protagonist Nora, too, represents a modern woman who, despite uncertainty, learns to stand on her own and claim her voice and agency.

Art, Business and Risk-Taking

The overlap between art and entrepreneurship is central in the episode. The authors approached their project with a business mindset -- establishing mission statements, prioritizing fun and speed over perfection, and celebrating failure as a path to innovation. Their reflections offer practical advice on navigating risk, collaborating effectively, and accepting criticism as inevitable in both creative and corporate endeavors.

Curiosity: The Essential Ingredient of Creativity (and Business)

A striking theme in the episode was the crisis of curiosity -- especially in a world disrupted by AI. As Betsy highlighted, the number of books people read is declining, and yet, curiosity is now more vital than ever. Creativity and innovation depend on the ability to ask the right questions, whether you’re prompting an AI, crafting a story or steering a business strategy.

Shores and Lavender’s “curiosity hacks” are refreshingly simple and actionable. They advise prioritizing the ask: What do you want, even over other goals or fears? For writing, it meant making sure the process was enjoyable even if commercial success didn’t follow. For business practitioners, their approach is a reminder to set clear intentions, embrace meaningful trial and error, and never stop wondering “what if?”

Takeaways: Practical Wisdom for Readers, Leaders, and Creatives

Whether you’re writing a novel, running a business or building a community, Happy Wife and its creators offer lasting lessons:

Lead with Curiosity: Innovation, storytelling, and problem-solving all start with asking brave, open questions.

Embrace Failure as a Step to Success: Set the intention to have fun, learn, and iterate fast -- don’t wait for perfection.

Build Belonging Intentionally: Small, thoughtful actions -- even as simple as a greeting or a name on a mug -- lay the groundwork for authentic connection.

Honor Authenticity: Whether in character development, community-building or personal choices, authenticity draws people in and sustains lasting impact.

Watch the full episode of the B Student podcast with Meredith and Kendall here: https://youtu.be/uD4ikoEdUjA