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"  How she finds time to write with three kids: &amp;quot;Being a writer is my full time job, the same as someone who&amp;#039;s, say, a doctor or a lawyer (and, actually, more demanding than my prior legal career, truth be told). As such, I approach it the same as anyone else with a full work schedule and kids at home!&amp;quot; Learning to love flaws: &amp;quot;I try to write about real women, real people \u2014 in other words flawed characters. I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect ones and enjoy the challenge of making readers root for them in spite of their unsympathetic path and destructive choices. Life is about the gray areas. Things are seldom black and white, even when we wish they were and think they should be, and I like exploring this nuanced terrain.&amp;quot; On &amp;quot;having it all:&amp;quot; &amp;quot;I try to recognize that there is no such thing as having it all \u2014 and it&amp;#039;s impossible to be perfect. You just have to let certain things go. If there is a baseball game or class party at my child&amp;#039;s school that I can&amp;#039;t attend, I don&amp;#039;t beat myself up over it. Alternatively, there are many days I could give more to work if I didn&amp;#039;t have three children. Bottom line, I do my best and then try not to dwell. Guilt is a supreme waste of time and energy.&amp;quot; Where she finds story inspiration: &amp;quot;My books are all relationship-focused, so much of my inspiration comes from my own relationships and the issues and concerns that arise among my friends and family. It&amp;#039;s amazing how universal certain themes are, such as whether there are deal breakers when it comes to true love (Baby Proof); the idealization of a past relationship and a fixation on the &amp;quot;the one who got away&amp;quot; (Love the One You&amp;#039;re With); or complicated \u2014 if not downright toxic \u2014 female friendships (Something Borrowed).  I&amp;#039;ve always been intrigued by the power of secrets. When is it justifiable to keep them from the ones we love? And does keeping them irrevocably change who we are? Adoption (under the secretive circumstances in Where We Belong) seemed to be a great way to explore some of the broader themes. How she stays so fit: &amp;quot;I aim for four workouts a week. I work out with a trainer once a week. Then, I take a circuit class twice a week. The fourth workout is random, depending on what I&amp;#039;m in the mood for \u2014 either a run, a spin class or yoga. I think exercise is critical to my writing and an essential way to recharge.&amp;quot;  Her go-to afternoon energy boost: &amp;quot;Carrots and hummus or almonds with an espresso.&amp;quot; Emily in her own words (and writing!):  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/life/interviews/a14317/emily-giffin-quotes/>