Interview with Rachel Van Dyken + Sneak Peek at The Matchmaker’s Playbook Movie

• Interview with Rachel Van Dyken

  Vilma: How did the idea for the Wingmen series spark?

  Rachel: I actually was talking about the concept with one of my editors and immediately she was like you need to go watch Hitch, it has a similar feel where the guy is the matchmaker, but I wanted the first book to be only in the guys point of view and I wanted it to be not because he was scorned or because he learned how to have confidence, I wanted it to be spurned on from his family dynamic and his love for women in general and wanting them to win instead of the universe.

  Vilma: For those who’ve not read the books yet, tell us about The Matchmaker’s Playbook and The Matchmakers Replacement.

  Rachel: Both books are based on two best friends, the science nerd (Lex Luthor) and the jock Ian Hunter (who also refers to himself as the hero to Lex’s villain), they come up with a computer program that if followed correctly not only finds your perfect match but tells you the success rate of that match, so they offer their services to women around campus for a fee and help them gain the confidence and or style needed to approach their crush. They’re basically glorified love coaches, ie; you can’t text back until the third time, don’t answer on the first ring, you’re always busy, and using jealousy and other ways to get the guys to finally start paying attention. It was supposed to be just a really fun romantic comedy and I hope that comes across in the writing. No angst up in here 😉

  

  Vilma: What did you feel when the deal was signed with PassionFlix? Were you excited? Nervous? Apprehensive?

  Rachel: I was…in a bit of disbelief. I mean as authors we get offers for really cool things a lot but most of the time things fall through so you really don’t want to get your hopes up. I didn’t’ quite believe it until I was finally on the plane and headed down to set, then I was ready to puke and wondering what I was going to do with my hands because I was suddenly only awkward with no cool factor at all.

  Vilma: You were on set quite a bit. What was that experience like? It must be so surreal to see your story come to life in that way?

  Rachel: It was incredible. All I can say is this: those people work their butts off. My respect for the movie industry in general grew just sitting there watching the constant work the actors go through, the set directors, makeup—it takes a village to make one movie and every single person has an important job. I’m honored they let me watch and it made me giddy seeing my words come to life in that way.

  Vilma: Tell us about Ian and Lex, and the women they fall in love with.

  Rachel: They’re complete man whores, they never date their clients, but the women they do date are more like women they pick up at the bar, leave in a state of complete ecstasy and never call again, so when the mighty fall, they really fall.

  Ian falls for his client, a hopeless romantic who literally hasn’t even been kissed before, which just makes him feel even worse, and Lex falls for his greatest enemy but secretly the girl he’s always been in love with, Gabi. Their book is all about the balance between love and hate and is a lot more sexier than Playbook. I’m sure Tyler Johnson will have a lot of fun with that though 😉

  

  Vilma: You have some great actors on board. Have they changed how you think about the characters at all?

  Rachel: YES! You picture it in your head so when a line comes out different you want to be like no no no, say it like this, but I’m not an actor, right, so I just let the director (Tosca) do her thing. They did such an incredible job and stepped into their roles beautifully. Caitlin was a dream, you’d think she was best friends with everyone the way she just came into the room and owned her character. And Nick was so incredibly sensitive to the story and how I wanted it to come across. I remember on day two he came over and was like, is this okay? And I probably blinked way too slow and stuttered a bit because I didn’t expect that sort of attitude, but he was hyper sensitive to it and I’m so thankful. Tyler approached that same day and was like is this what you wanted? Is this good? I mean, could I have asked for any better humans? That was when I was like okay these guys are working super hard to make sure that not only will I be happy, but the readers too. Tyler would spend hours getting into his Lex character and brought so much humor (that wasn’t really in the first book, but the second) into the forefront which just made him and Nick’s bromance that much more believable and funny. I was so thrilled.

  Vilma: It seemed like it was a lot of fun on set too!

  Rachel: It was a blast! Haha, It was a sad day when I had to go home just because there was a lot of laughter, and nudity. I’m not gonna lie… during one of the closed set days (and a semi-nude scene) I’m sitting there stuffing my face with my lunch when all of a sudden I look up and there it is. Just…Nick Bateman’s butt cheek, on screen. I was trapped by a bed on one side in a cramped room and then he’s like how’s it look? Insert me choking on crackers and gasping for water! I think my response was, “spray tan?” He nodded. And then we watched half his butt for another five takes. Good times.

  

  Vilma: When will we be able to see the movie on PassionFlix?

  Rachel: It starts streaming March 15, I know people are going to be THRILLED. It’s a fun romantic comedy that will leave people smiling even after the credits roll.

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• Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

  She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!