2021 Mentee Interviews

Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, what do you write, and what are you working on right now?

I am a former teacher, full time mom, and married for ten years to someone who does math better than I could ever dream. I write historical, contemporary, commercial and literary fiction. I am currently only working on my commercial fiction novel The Geography of Us that my amazing mentor is helping me polish!

What kind of stories are you interested in exploring in your career as an author?

Anything that examines human relationships within families that resemble my own. Children of immigrants and how being that effects them and their children.

What's the best thing about you as an author?

My ability to take the heat. You can tell me my book is trash as long as you come with the goods on what steps I can take to make it better. This revision was HARD work for me but as long as I had my mentor guiding me through I was able to do it. I can handle being told something doesn't work and being given suggestions. My book is a whole new story now and I am happy about it. I adapt and adjust easily.

How have you developed as an author during this mentorship period? Is there anything that you didn't think before about the craft that you think now?

That outlining and plotting will be a very very good thing for me. It didn't hinder my creativity in any way. Reverse outlining a pantsed story is HARD. I think revisions are hard anyway but they definitely were made worse by the fact that I did not plot my story.

Revising is also a lot more enjoyable than I thought.

If every book is a book baby, then it takes a village to raise a book. Are there any people who stand out to you as people who helped you in your writing journey?

Other than my mentor, it helped a lot to have my writing friends. There are many to list but chief among them is Emily Beach (Amelia Rivers on Twitter!) because she consistently sends the rest of us minions a zoom link and sprints with us on a regularly sprints with us. I don't think I would have independently sat in my chair every night for weeks on end if it hadn't been for her and the rest of our group pushing me along.

What do you think is the biggest necessity for a group of writing friends?

Twitter chat. That's it for me. A safe twitter chat that doesn't surpass a certain number of people. I was lucky enough to join one in 2020 and that group is my people.

Any parting words for young writers looking for guidance, or a community?

This might sound cliché but slow down, learn, listen and grow. It is not a race. You are not too late. There are many of us who are in our 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond who are just beginning our journey. You can always grow as a writer no matter what age or how long you have been doing it. Be open to critique but also know who you are and why you write.

What about your own craft, interests, and abilities drew you to your mentee and their work?

My craft has nothing to do with Mire’s inspiring talent or her simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming story. It’s an absolute privilege to mentor her, and I’ve learned a lot by reading her work and guiding her through the revision process.

Do you have a message for anyone interested in your mentee's work?

I have no doubt you will be reading this manuscript in book form one day, so my message would be to watch out – and have tissues ready.