Good Morning and Welcome!
Last month we met Jennifer L Wright when she shared her new book, When it Rains with us on Saturday Spotlight. Today let's get a peek inside the creation of this book.... Take it away Jennifer!
1. This novel is set in the Dust Bowl era. What led you to set this novel during that time period?
My husband is an Air Force pilot, and back in 2014, he transferred to a base in southern New Mexico. It was a completely new experience for someone like me who was born and raised in the Midwest, especially when I witnessed my first dust storm. My background is in journalism, so I am a naturally curious (or nosy, depending on who you ask!) person to begin with, and I was soon down a rabbit hole of dust storm research that eventually led to the writing of If It Rains.
2. What kind of research did you do while writing this story?
Ken Burns’s documentary The Dust Bowl was monumental in getting eyewitness testimony and humanizing the era. Hearing stories from the mouths of those who actually lived during the Dust Bowl was humbling. I also kept Timothy Egan’s book The Worst Hard Time on my desk during all stages of the writing process. His exhaustive account, not only of the lives of everyday people but also of the legislative attempts at diagnosing and “fixing” the problem, was invaluable. I also devoured all the Dust Bowl fiction I could get my hands on, most notably Susie Finkbeiner’s A Cup of Dust, which was so wonderfully rich in atmospheric detail.
3. What inspired the relationship between Melissa and Kathryn in this novel?
I have an older sister with whom I’m very close. Our bond isn’t as complex as Melissa and Kathryn’s, but the basis of their relationship is definitely rooted in my real-life connection with her. Some of the other intricacies and details are taken from friendships I’ve had over the years. Female friendships are such a unique and precious gift, and I attempted to showcase many of the best attributes of them in the relationship, not only between Melissa and Kathryn, but also between Melissa and Annie as well.
4. Kathryn’s favorite book is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Do you have a special connection to that story?
One of the first movies I ever remember watching was The Wizard of Oz. My mother likes to tell the story that I was so terrified of the Wicked Witch, I hid behind a chair every time she came on-screen—but I still insisted on watching it! My love for the movie eventually encouraged me to read the books. They were my first foray into older, more classic literature, a love that only deepened over time and has lasted to this day.
5. How does faith play a role in this story?
Faith is a central theme of both Melissa’s and Kathryn’s stories but in very different ways. For Melissa, it’s about truly coming into your own faith, rather than borrowing or trying to emulate that of your parents’, and the difficulty of doing so when you find out the world isn’t exactly the fairy tale you thought it was going to be. Kathryn’s faith journey comes from a completely different mindset, one in which she feels unfairly put upon or cast aside by God. Hers is not a question of finding faith; it is a question of deciding whether God is worthy of her faith. Is He really good even when life is not?
6. Who is your favorite character in this novel?
What’s funny is the answer to this question changed during the course of writing the book! When I started out, I loved Kathryn. She was a spitfire, she was a bit ornery, and she was quite simply a blast to write. But as I settled into the story and got to know the characters, I found myself drawn to Melissa. She has a quiet strength inside of her to which I really connected, and it was her pivotal scene, rather than Kathryn’s, that had me crying as I wrote. Of course, Kathryn will always have a special place in my heart as well.
7. What do you hope readers learn from Kathryn in this book? What about Melissa?
I hope people read Kathryn’s story and see the goodness of God. He is so much bigger than our emotions and what we perceive as good or bad; His purposes aren’t just achieved in spite of our hard circumstances, but often times through them. As for Melissa, I hope readers learn the importance of living out our faith. Following Jesus is about so much more than quoting Scripture or knowing the words to our Sunday morning hymns. It’s when times get tough that our faith is proved genuine.
8. Can you tell us a little about your writing process?
I typically spend anywhere from four to six months researching and outlining before I actually start writing. Once I’m ready to begin, I force myself to sit and write anywhere from two to three thousand words a day, whether I feel inspired or not—the goal is just to get it out of my head and onto the screen. I don’t self-edit or delete anything during a first draft. All of that comes later when I weed through my “garbage words,” as I call them, and seek to make it readable. I usually go through three or four drafts before I feel confident enough to let my critique partners take a look.
9. This is your debut novel. What has been the most exciting part of your publishing journey?
I wrote for ten years before signing a publishing contract, so there was nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that, after all these years, I was finally going to see my words in print! But I have truly enjoyed engaging with readers and editors and getting to talk to them about these characters I’ve held close to my heart for so long. To have your story in the hands of someone who appreciates it, who connects with it, and who understands what you were trying to convey is such a huge blessing.
10. Are there any other eras of history you’d like to write about?
For my next book, I ventured into the late 1940s and early 1950s, as I went down another rabbit hole, this time about the Trinity test. It was a fascinating time period to research as well as a joy to write . . . and yet I find myself being drawn back into the 1930s for another idea after that! There’s also a story from the late 1800s worming its way forward. I tend to go wherever my curious mind leads me, and there’s no telling what—or when—that may lead me to next!
A born and bred Hoosier, she was plucked from the Heartland after being swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home. She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband, two children, and one rambunctious dachshund.
Find out more about Jennifer by visiting her Website and following her on Twitter @JennWright18 and GoodReads.
Thanks again, Jennifer for sharing If it Rains with us! We look forward to you visiting again.
Until next time, Friends...take care and God bless.
PamT
8 comments:
Hi Jennifer. Your book sounds fantastic. I am in awe of people who lived during the Dust Bowl days. I recently drove through New Mexico and was surprised at the dust storm warning signs and step by step instructions of what to do in a storm.
My father was an Air Force mechanic, and when we moved from Virginia to Las Vegas, we experienced that desert climate shock. My mother hated it, but we kids were fascinated. Congratulations on the book!
Thank you Barbara and Alina! One of my goals for 'If It Rains' was to honor those amazing, steadfast people who lived through the Dust Bowl; their stories inspired me so much, especially coming from such a lush, green part of the country to a dry, windswept desert (as it sounds like both you can attest!) It's such an interesting part of history AND a fascinating part of the country (though I do also know people who hate it, too, Alina!) My family and I have moved around the desert southwest for the past ten years now (Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico) but dust storms have never stopped captivating me. I will admit, though, I'm thankful to live in this day and age with solid home construction and air conditioning though!
The research would have been fascinating.
Excellent interview. I'm sure the reasearch was interesting. Sounds like a great read. Congrats and best wishes!
Thank you, Mary and Alicia! Research is always my favorite part. If you're interested in more about the Dust Bowl, I highly recommend Timothy Egan's "The Worst Hard Time" and Ken Burns' documentary "The Dust Bowl." There is nothing like hearing history straight from a survivor's mouth. Well worth your time!
A fine interview! My mother lived through the Great Depression and told me of those hard times. They deserve remembrance.
Thank you, Jacqueline! What a blessing it was to have your mother share some of her history with you. The tales of resourcefulness and steadfastness coming from the Great Depression leave me in awe. I truly hope 'If It Rains' honors them in some small way.
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