Eli McCann on Writing ”Stitched”: Quilting, Comedy, and the Drama of a Sewing Circle

Eli McCann on Writing "Stitched": Quilting, Comedy, and the Drama of a Sewing Circle

What happens when a group of older women who quilt together also happen to be full of secrets, rivalries, and sharp opinions? Author Eli McCann joins the podcast to talk about his debut novel, Stitched, a comedic look at a fictional quilting group and all the drama that unfolds within it.

Eli is a lawyer by profession and writes a humor column for the Salt Lake Tribune. Stitched is his first novel, and the idea came straight from his own family. His mom has quilted for years and been part of the same quilting group for most of that time. Eli grew up playing under the quilts she and her friends made together, long before he had any idea how much material was sitting right there in that sewing room.

The book took shape after one dinner conversation, when his mom told him, "You won't believe all the drama in the quilting world," and spent the next few hours proving it. His husband was the one who suggested he turn it into a novel.

In this episode, Eli talks about:

• The real conversation that sparked the idea for Stitched
• Why he pushed back when publishers wanted a younger main character and a romance subplot
• Writing older women as complex, funny, and entertaining without needing a love story to carry the book
• What it's been like watching quilters respond to a book that hasn't even released yet

Stitched isn't out yet, but it's already generating buzz in the quilting community. Tune in to hear how a lifetime spent around quilters became the foundation for Eli's first novel.

LINKS: 
Order the book: https://www.torreyhouse.org/stitched-mccann

Eli's website: https://www.itjustgetsstranger.com/