Years ago, when I was drafting “Between Silk & Wool”, people would ask me why I wanted to write about WWII. Hadn’t everything about the war been excavated already? Was there anything new to say?
The question was posed sincerely, with genuine curiosity. WWII literature is a canon unto itself, and the challenge of telling a familiar story from a different angle wasn’t lost on me. Did I have something different to reveal to the reader? My research had surprised and intrigued me. Would my characters be strong enough to surprise and intrigue readers?
These were my hopes a year ago when “Between Silk and Wool” was released. Since then, what a whirlwind it has been to meet readers and hear their insights about what the story meant to them. I had hoped the novel would touch readers; I never imagined the degree to which I would be on the receiving end of so many letters and personal stories.
Happy 100th Birthday to my friend Elisabeth VanderJagt. WWII survivors remember
As a collector of cherished anecdotes, I thank everyone who reached out to share about their parents, grandparents, lost uncles, reckless aunts, and mysterious cousins. Thank you for showing me that there are thousands of stories yet to be told, and while people share a common history, every human experience is in some way extraordinary—especially where unlikely allies converge, and the truth of the matter is more grey than black and white.
I want to also say thank you to those who continue to ask about “the next novel.” For the past decade, those who have read my manuscripts and encouraged my writing have been a small circle. That this circle has widened exponentially has been a huge encouragement to me, and an impetus to keep returning to my desk.
Of the many Book Club invitations, this book club was interesting for the number of Dutch and German participants. The conversation could have gone on all night!
For now, the first draft of “Untitled Mexican Novel”, is about halfway done. I’m guessing about five more drafts to go. I’m looking forward to six weeks of intense writing this summer in my hometown. With my WWII novel, I began with a short story and then spent a long time researching on the front end before expanding the storyline into a novel. This time, I’m nailing the plot down and will fill in the historical details later. The novel, set in the 1960’s, revolves around a Mexican widow who finds herself defending her ranch from the mafia with the help of a gay cowboy and a renegade journalist. Whereas “Between Silk & Wool” was my grandparents’ story in many ways, this novel is twenty-five years of percolating memories from my experience living in Veracruz, Mexico, as a teenager, and a fascination with the culture wars of the sixties in the West.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to those who came out and supported me in person this year. What a gift. Because you were eager to listen, I tried out new material with you, and my new short fiction will be published in TNQ this fall.
But…I don’t want you to think it’s been all awesome. As every author, singer and artist knows, there are also plenty of moments when it’s just me and the family, an empty room and a sympathetic bookseller/ librarian. That’s the reality that doesn’t make it to social media, and you should know that while I’ve sold thousands of books, some of my closest friends just keep their copies as decorations and doorstops. In a fictional world, they would all love it and roll out the red carpet. In reality, they remind me to bring the salad to Christmas dinner, and I think that’s possibly the way it’s supposed to be.
Thanks for an amazing year. Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep sharing your stories.