 If you want to read the first chapter of Brandi's novel, Tarnished, leave a comment in the 'comments' section of this blog post. In order for your vote to count, you must have an email subscription to the Underground. If Brandi has ten or more votes by next Friday (May l8th) her first chapter will post on Underground Book Reviews. Welcome, Brandi, to the Underground! When I first met Brandi Megan Granett last December in New York City, I felt an immediate connection. Not only did her novel sound captivating, but she was an intriguing person. Although time was limited at the Algonkian Conference to really delve in and get to know another emerging author, I want to introduce Brandi to the Underground as I feel our readers will find her life not only interesting, but a breath of fresh air! Kimberly: When did you start writing? Can you share with us the first thing you ever wrote? Ms. Granett: I remember writing when I was in the third grade. My first short story was published in the elementary school newspaper. I knew then I wanted to be a writer. Kimberly: Will you give us an overview of what your book is about? Ms. Granett: Tarnished, set in the 1960’s, is the story of eleven year old Willow who always dreamed of discovering new things. But she never imagined discovering a magical gift. When holding treasures or trinkets made of silver, Willow’s mind’s eye explodes with the memories linked to the silver. When her mother’s depression takes them from their home in Allegheny Mountains on a trip to her grandmother’s house in the Everglades, Willow learns that she must balance the knowledge her gift reveals with the delicate constitution of her family. Tarnished is told in the alternating voices of Willow, her mother, Annalise, and her grandmother, Julianna. Kimberly: Is there a message in your novel that you wanted to convey to the reader? How did you come up with the idea? Ms. Granett: I began this novel as part of the National Write a Novel in a Month Contest. A poet friend of mine, Gregg Glory asked me to do the competition with him. I was taking a Stats class at the time, and I said no, I was too busy. Then a musician friend from high school, Eric Squindo emailed that he and his girlfriend were selling everything to go live in the woods and write. This lit a fire under me, and I started writing Tarnished as part of NaNoWriMo. (National Write A Novel In A Month Contest) Finishing this novel felt like winning the NYC Marathon. As this was written in a rush, logging 2000 words a day, I’m not sure where the inspiration came from. I just knew I wanted to tell a story with a homeschooled girl in it as I was homeschooling my daughter, Megan, at the time. Each day I would start off at the end of the last sentence and just see where the story took me. The message I want to convey is about the danger of secrets in your family and the danger of letting our past define out future. While revising this book, I found myself looking at Willow, Annalisa, and Julianna as extensions of myself; prior to this revision I would have never thought I wrote about “myself” but these characters clearly work through my own unfinished business. Kimberly: Tell us about you; writing is a tedious career. Do you do anything to release the tension after sitting at your computer for hours?
 I first came in contact with Patrice Fitzgerald when I reviewed her book, Running. I began to follow this author via Facebook. Author, publisher, lawyer, mezzo soprano, I have met few who are able to match the energy level and creative talents of this up and coming writer and publisher. The first time I interviewed Ms. Fitzgerald was when I reviewed her book. You can find the previous interview here. Today my interview is with Ms. Fitgerald as CEO and founder of eFitzgerald publishing. Once again, I welcome Ms. Fitzgerald to the Underground. Kimberly: You have a varied and unique background. Could you tell us about it? Ms. Fitzgerald: I was a lawyer for fifteen years -- intellectual property law -- but always had a secret creative person inside trying to get out! I did freelance writing for magazines and online, and all the while I was writing novels and trying to get published. Kimberly: How did you get started in the e publishing business? Ms. Fitzgerald: I just finally decided to take my writing career into my own hands. Getting that first novel published, particularly since this is an election year, was critical. I couldn't wait any longer… and I didn't want to wait any longer, so I simply jumped in. And it's been thrilling ever since. Kimberly: Can you take us through the process? If I sent my novel to eFitzgerald publishing, what would happen next? Ms. Fitzgerald: First of all I should say that my publishing company, eFitzgerald, is booked up (ha! pun) for the rest of 2012. But when we get a new manuscript submitted, like any other publisher, we first read it to see if we think we can sell it. If the manuscript is accepted, it goes through at least two rounds of editing -- global, or "big picture" editing, for plot, characterization, conflict, or other issues that may need improvement, and then line-editing. During that process, we create a cover, in consultation with the author. Finally, we format the book for electronic publication, upload it, and voila… a new ebook is born! Kimberly: What are the pitfalls of e-publishing?
 Title: The Expats Author: Chris Pavone Publisher: Crown Publishers Pages: 326 Genre: Thriller Summary: When Dexter Moore tells his wife of an opportunity to redesign a bank’s electronic security system in Luxemburg, Kate has mixed emotions on moving to a foreign country. After all, she's been a CIA agent in Washington DC for the past 15 years and her life has been exciting and totally unpredictable. Besides that, her computer geek husband doesn't have a clue what Kate does for a living. Dexter's new position will be lucrative enough that Kate can now be the stay-at-home mom she has often dreamed about. The Moore's pack up their belongings, their 4 and 5 year old sons, and begin their new lives as expats. It isn’t long before Kate becomes bored with the role of housewife and mother. She tries to play the part, even joins the Luxemburg Women’s Club, but living life on the edge and is much different than the hum-drum luncheons and spending time with other expat wives. It's just not enough for Kate Moore. The real plot begins when Kate becomes obsessed with her husband. Why is he gone so much? Why is he so elusive about what it is he does? And who is this expat couple Bill and Julia Maclean that seem to ‘show up’ wherever Kate and Dexter are? Something is wrong. Dexter is lying about what he does and Kate is bound and determined to use her CIA experience to find out the truth; no matter the risk or how the Maclean’s try to deter her. Opinion: There is little doubt that Mr. Pavone is a writer. A master of description, Pavone’s plot becomes lost in translation with vivid, long-winded descriptions of people, places and things that camouflage what I would describe as an ‘okay’ plot. The Expats cannot be regarded as espionage fiction as there are no related international consequences to Kate’s discoveries. It’s all about Kate and Dexter Moore with the Maclean’s playing the mysterious side-kicks. I found the characters to have no real connection to each other which makes it difficult for readers to connect to them. Who is Kate? I kept hoping I’d find out. Does she like flowers – does she like sex – does she enjoy murdering people? All I know is that Kate is afraid the past will catch up to her. I want thrills when I read a thriller. Somebody has to die, maybe a bloody massacre, someone looking over a shoulder waiting to catch another character off guard . The Expats is a predictable cat-and-mouse game that never quite spreads its wings. Recommendation: I would not recommend The Expats for your next read, however I would definitely stay tuned for Pavone’s second book. Rating: 3 stars The Expats on Amazon
 If you want to read a sample of Amy's writing, vote in the 'comments' section of this blog post. In order for your vote to count, you must have an email subscription to the Underground. If Amy gets ten votes by next Friday (March 16th) we will post her first chapter on Underground Book Reviews.
While Amy Guertin Reichert delivered her overview at the Algonkian Pitch Conference, I thought Meg Ryan . . . no . . . Cameron Diaz could play Lou with Matthew Mcconaughey cast as Al when the movie rights to The Cake Effectare sold. Who doesn’t appreciate a modern day fairytale where boy meets girl, they fall in love and then the trouble begins? With her contagious smile, Amy is the epitome of someone who just plain enjoys life; whether deep into writing the next chapter of her book or just sitting around ‘shooting the breeze.’ It is with pleasure to introduce this fresh, new author to the Underground. Welcome Amy! Kimberly: Tell us what your book is about. Ms. Reichert: The Cake Effect is about Lou, a talented chef in Milwaukee, struggling to keep her small French restaurant in the black. After one disastrous day in which she loses her fiancé, almost poisons a customer, and destroys a perfectly good coconut cake, she pulls it back together, focusing on her restaurant until it receives a deadly review by a local food critic. Said local food critic, Al, hates Milwaukee. His only goals are to earn enough success to get a column in a "real" city, survive food poisoning from the French restaurant he just reviewed, and escape Milwaukee's erratic weather. To celebrate his brilliantly snarky critique, Al goes to a local pub where he meets the charming and very drunk Lou, the chef he unknowingly just skewered. Not knowing Al's secret identity and needing an escape from her crumbling life, Lou accepts Al's challenge to show him what makes Milwaukee so great, with the agreement they NEVER discuss work. During their non-dates exploring the city's treasures, their friendship and attraction grows along with Al's affection for Milwaukee's unique personality. When Al discovers his review destroyed Lou's restaurant, he scrambles to hide his identity knowing Lou would never forgive him and he'd lose her forever. Kimberly: Did the premise of your book stem from a personal experience? I know you love to cook. Ms. Reichert: It started several years ago while listening to the weather for the Milwaukee area. A common phrase in our area is “Cooler Near the Lake”. I thought that would make a great title for a book (even though I have an even better one now). From there, I started thinking about the type of story (something with a happy ending and love), the characters, etc… I wanted it to be a love story about Milwaukee too. After reading a great book about restaurant criticism called Dining Out, I decided I wanted one of my characters to be a critic. The rest snowballed from there. Kimberly: Since we first met at the conference last December, have you been searching for an agent to represent your work? Ms. Reichert: Absolutely. I’ve revised my manuscript a few times since the conference, the first chapter especially. I’ve queried several agents, and have a list of many more to try. Kimberly: Have you always wanted to be a writer? Ms. Reichert: No, but I’ve always read voraciously and told myself stories. It wasn’t until a few years ago I tried to write them down. Since then, I can’t stop the ideas. I really enjoy the entire process, from sketching out the plot to revising. Kimberly: Do you have a set schedule where you sit down and write ‘x’ amount of time every day? Ms. Reichert: In theory, yes, but in practice I’m not nearly as consistent. I’m researching for Book 2 right now, so I haven’t found that balance between writing and research. I do blog weekly, so that forces me to write something each week. When I was in the midst of writing The Cake Effect, I was very good at working a few hours during the day, then several hours after the kids went to bed. I hope to get back to that schedule soon. Kimberly: Tell us about Amy. Ms. Reichert: I’m a bit of a cliché. I used to work as a technical writer, but quit to stay home with the kids. Now that they are both in school, I’m looking for my next career. I’m fortunate I don’t have to make money at writing and I can focus on becoming better.
 When I ask an author if he would like to do an interview, we usually communicate via e-mails. This is when I have the opportunity to get to know the person, not just the writer. When I located Mr. Mixter on Facebook I was able to observe pictures of his ‘real life’ storybook. As I introduce Mr. Mixter to the Underground, there are two words that come to mind: loyal and humble. Mr. Mixter is humble, yet knows he has something important to share, has a deep understanding for what is right for himself, but allows others the same privilege, and is totally dedicated to his wife, family and friends. Welcome Randy Mixter.
Kimberly: Will you tell us a bit about your background?
Mr Mixter: I have been writing since I was a teenager. I have had my poetry and other writings published locally. I have also written articles for a local paper and have won an award for creative writing. My first published book consisted of short stories about growing up in Baltimore City in the 1960s, titled The Boys of Northwood. My second novel, Sarah Of The Moon, is a fictional love story, with a touch of mystery, that takes place in San Francisco during the 1967 Summer of Love. I recently completed and published Letters From Long Binh: Memoirs of a Military Policeman in Vietnam. That book is based on the letters I wrote home to my wife during a 1967 tour of duty in Vietnam. My short story, Eternal, will be published this spring by Sleeping Cat Books in the book anthology, The Storm Is Coming.
Since my retirement from a security position with local government, I have been able to devote more time to my wife, five cats and, of course, my writing.
Kimberly: How did your novel Sarah Of The Moon happen to evolve? Was it inspired by a true story? There are a lot of factual details, so if your novel is not based on what you personally experienced, how did you do your research?
Mr. Mixter: Several years ago I wrote a prologue and a epilogue to a book I called Sarah Of The Moon. The handwritten papers went into a desk drawer. In the autumn of 2010 I was recovering from heart surgery. I had just published my first book, The Boys Of Northwood, and thought this to be the perfect time to revisit Sarah. I began to write without any plot outline. I knew the beginning and the ending, but that was all. Luckily as I developed my characters the story came to me, a chapter at a time. Many readers have asked me if I've ever been to San Francisco. I have not. During the 1967 summer of love, I was military policeman in Vietnam. I researched the time and the place, then allowed my imagination to fill in the blanks.
Kimberly: As I read your novel, the one thing that kept coming back to me was how uninformed people were about the “Hippy” movement. Yes, there were those who were a part of it because they were into drugs more than cause, however the premise of the movement was heartfelt. Do you feel the movement had an impact on the future? How?
Mr. Mixter: I have always been fascinated with the so-called 'Hippie' culture and the music that came from it. I believe that shows throughout the book. I wanted to write a story that focused on their lifestyle and would hopefully depict these free spirits as more than druggies. I personally feel the majority of those young people believed in the tenants of peace and love and were trying to change the world for the better. It was also important to me that my three main characters, Sarah, Alex, and Matt were drug free throughout most of the novel. Although drugs played a significant role in the culture, I wanted my main characters to be enlightened without the use of drugs. In my book, I separated the true hippie from his weekend counterpart. It's significant to note the difference between the two factions in that the first group wanted to make change and the second just wanted to get high.
I would like to think the peace protests of the 1970's, which in some ways helped to end the war in Vietnam, and the protests of today can be traced back to the hippies of the '60s, and, of course, the summer of love. I also believe the movement was instrumental in passing anti-racism laws in the late 1960s and 1970s and undoubtedly was responsible for generating an interest in environmental concerns such as clean air and water, organic farming, and recycling.
 Title: Sarah Of The Moon Author: Randy Mixter Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 232 Summary: In the aftermath of the war with Afghanistan, we are taken back in time to the longest war in US history. It is a time when Paul McCartney’s Yesterday played in juke boxes and two fingers held up in a ‘V’ formation became the official peace sign. Author Randy Mixter paints a vivid picture of the Hippies in the summer of l967 San Francisco. After graduating from high school, Alex Conley waits for his draft notice while working as a part-time reporter at the Baltimore Sunpapers. Alex’s father sermonizes that his son will, by God, serve his country like he did in World War II. He also needs little prompting to give his less than admirable opinion of the lazy, druggies who call themselves Hippies. Against his father’s wishes, Alex accepts a temporary assignment in San Francisco to write a weekly column about the Hippies. Alex’s boss hooks him up with his nephew, Chick, who lives in the infamous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Men, women and children occupy the small home, their sleeping quarters divided only by sheets draped from the ceiling. When Alex meets Sarah, the beautiful girl who dresses in white and dances under the moonlight, he knows he has seen her in past dreams. As they begin to fall in love, Sarah tells Alex that her parents speak to her from beyond the grave and tells her of the future. And when Sarah encourages Alex to wear tennis shoes instead of sandals that become key to saving a child’s life, he becomes a believer. Alex’s columns give insight into the thoughts of those committed to world peace. Alex and Sarah’s love affair is not the fickle flirtatious love of youth, but the kind of deep emotional love, laced with respect and acceptance, that lasts a lifetime. Quote: “ Someone said something to Sarah and she laughed. It was a beautiful sound. He knew then, in that moment, he had found a place where beauty truly existed. A place where a child of the moon danced on a summer hill in a sun washed breeze. A place where the laughter of a girl dressed in white and a windswept song not only shared the same moment, but also had the exact same sound. “ Opinion: Sarah Of The Moon is a beautiful, well-written story that offers much more than just a love story. It is also a fresh, insightful view as to the reasoning of those opposed to the Vietnam War. Randy Mixter gently peels back the layers of the emotional and psychological trauma surrounding the era. Mr. Mixter not only tells the story of those dedicated to saving their own generation, but of those committed to fighting for their country. With over l9 years of US involvement in the War, and statistics stating that 58,148 American soldiers were killed in Vietnam, 61% younger than 21, even if opposed, the counter-movement is not difficult to understand. Sarah Of The Moonis a heartfelt premise of those present day Baby Boomers once referred to in their youth as ‘Hippies.’ Recommendation: Mr. Mixter’s ability to communicate in a thought provoking way is a rare find. Not just a novel for Baby Boomer’s, but for anyone who would enjoy an ‘up close and personal’ novel about the hopes and dreams of youth. Rating: 5 Stars You can find Randy Mixter on Facebook and Sarah of the Moon here.
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 A couple of weeks ago, I sent my baby to the doctor. Okay, not a human baby . . . but still an embryo that grew inside my imagination and came out a novel. I knew it was time to let go, to see what I needed to give my ‘baby’ wings. Where do you go for a professional diagnosis of your novel or short story? Ann Garvin, author of On Maggie’s Watch, had the answer and recommended Catherine Adams, a well-known and successful developmental editor. After researching Ms. Adam’s background, I gathered my courage, drew in a deep breath and pushed the ‘send’ button, letting my ‘baby’ travel into the professional hands of Ms. Catherine Adams. It was a very wise decision. Today, I have the privilege of introducing Ms. Adam’s to the Underground. Kimberly: Catherine, you are a developmental editor and book mentor. What does that mean? Ms. Adams: “Developmental editor” isn’t used much in writers’ lingo anymore. The term is a carry-over from the old days of publishing when an editor could see a writer’s potential and devote time and resources to develop that writer’s work and style, whether it took hours or weeks or years. We’ve all heard those stories—they have a mythic quality anymore—and all writers understandably hope a publishing house editor will discover them in the mountains of submissions and nurture their work until success hits. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen now. In publishing houses, the “developmental editor” has morphed largely into the “acquisition editor” because that’s the focus anymore—acquisitions. And when acquisition editors are expected to shepherd the equivalent of 50+ book-length projects through each year, from acquisition to production, it’s little wonder they don’t have time to develop work sent their way. It’s either ready or it’s not. Agents face the same dilemma. There’s just too much to do to nurture a writer whose work isn’t yet ready to submit. On occasion, an agent will spend precious time to give suggestions to work they find promising—but that is by no means the rule. That’s the very rare exception, and it should be taken as a test of a writer’s ability to buckle down and rewrite, even if rewriting means gutting. In the main, however, writers get no feedback, just polite (or not so polite) rejections. Into this vacuum, I step in. Independent developmental editors are well known in the industry—everyone from individual writers to agencies to publishers use their services. We’re one of the many sets of people operating behind the scenes. I am the person who reads the manuscript—plus agent or publisher comments, if available—and works with the writer to devise a revision strategy. First comes the identification of problematic areas—whether in specific sections or in how craft/argument techniques are used—and then suggestions for how to address these concerns—and there are always several options to consider. Each project is different, which keeps the work exciting and fresh. One project might need threads condensed or the structure reworked for balance and unity; another project might need its prose examined for weaker spots, while still another needs to reconsider how place or context is used in the story or argument. Presenting these problems and their possible solutions in a clear, professional, and supportive way is the most important aspect of my job. And with this support, writers wind up with a manuscript ready to submit or resubmit to agents or publishers. Kimberly: How did you happen to get into this business? Does it take talent or intuition to become a successful developmental editor?
 Name: Losing the HateAuthor: Simon Palmer Genre: Non-fiction; Autobiography Pages: 67 Summary: Not until Simon Palmer is 41 years old does he decide to tell the world of the dark secrets that molded his life. When he was 10, a trusted and respected teacher asked Simon’s parents if he could photograph their son for pictures that would be displayed at a upcoming parent-teacher’s night. The private photo shoot, however, turns dark when Simon obeys the male teacher and removes his clothing. Simon tells no one of his shameful secret that continues not only with the teacher, but leads to other inappropriate sexual encounters. The abuse is carried forward when Mr. Palmer physically and mentally abuses his wife and anyone else who tries to care about him. A life of self-loathing, fear to trust anyone, hatred for those who abused him, Simon Palmer’s life continues to catapult until he finds himself inside the dark isolated world of hardcore drugs and alcohol. Reaction: A small book written with a heavy heart, Losing the Hate suffers from the same grammatical pitfalls of many e-published books. I chose, however, to review the gut-level, emotional trauma that made Simon Palmer’s book haunt me. If only to read the poignant meaningful poetry that weaves in and out of Losing the Hate, the book is well worth the experience. Simon Palmer’s words will ‘rock’ every parent’s world as they begin to question if their own children have secrets too dark, too shameful to share. There were times I questioned why Mr. Palmer’s parents didn’t realize something evil was happening to their son as they watched Simon’s personality quickly change from compliant to hateful; content to angry. In all fairness, however, as parents we are told that our children will go through stages and they will eventually grow out of it. For Simon Palmer, however, it took 30 years to confront his demons. Through prose and memoire, Mr. Palmer relays that sometimes there are ‘secrets’ so dark, so evil, they will only lead to despair and isolation. One of Simon’s Many Poems: Silence raining down, Lost within my thoughts, Self destruction all around. Lost in a bed-sit, Demons flooding back, Enfolded by a darkness, Shadows cold and black. Crying in a bed-sit, Ashamed of what I’ve done, A hatred for myself, And all that I’ve become. Recommendation: Recommended for parents and teenagers or those who have experienced the trauma of abuse. Although raw and riveting, the sexual content is not graphic or explicit. I would, however, suggest a parent read the book before suggesting it to their teenagers. My personal thoughts are that anything that encourages our youth to share what is going on in their lives is significant. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Buy it:Amazon.com (eBook and Paperback)Barnes & Noble (Paperback)WHSmith (Paperback)If you enjoyed this review, you can subscribe to the Underground or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Have you ever asked someone about themselves, and then got that ‘deer in the headlights’ look as you listened? Such was the case when I met Katie Rose Guest at the Algonkian Pitch Conference in New York City. The intensity in her huge brown eyes and the way she took non-stop notes made me well aware that Ms. Guest was not at this conference passing a little time; Katie Rose was on a mission. I not only found the premise of her novel intriguing, but found Ms. Guest to be a very bright, multi-talented and enjoyable person. From her French degree, to her law degree, to an MA in writing, the knitting patterns she creates, to her career as a ski instructor, somehow I know that even on the slopes, Katie Rose would never settle for an almost perfect run.
I am pleased to introduce this talented upcoming author Katie Rose Guest to the Underground.
Kimberly: Katie, You have a law degree, a BA in French, an MA from John Hopkins in creative writing and a PHD in Rhetoric. Can you tell us a bit about why the degree in French? Did you/do you have plans for to use it? Could you explain what a PHD in Rhetoric is and if it has helped you in your writing career?
Ms. Guest: For my day job, I’m a professor of legal writing at UNC Chapel Hill School of Law.
The MA in creative writing taught me how to write a book. The law degree taught me how to read a book. And the Ph.D. in rhetoric taught me how to teach others how to write. As you might imagine, every one of these skills has helped my fiction writing.
The major in French? I love Marguerite Duras, and wanted to be able to read her in French. It’s probably crazy to select a major based on one author, but that’s what I did. But then I discovered Annie Ernaux and Francoise Sagan, and (seriously) Descartes, and all of the studying was worth it.
Kimberly: When did you begin writing your novel? A book is never finished it seems, but how long did it take you to get your novel to the point where you felt it was agent ready?
Ms. Guest: Rules of Entanglement is my second novel. I wrote my first novel during graduate school, when I needed a break from my dissertation. While I shopped that first book around to agents, I began writing Rules. Then, I realized that the first novel was just that—a first novel—and set it aside to focus on the second.
Rules of Entanglement still doesn’t seem finished and never will. But I’ve published enough stories to know that at some point you let the writing go. And now that I’m a mom, that theory makes a lot more sense.
Kimberly: What enticed you to write about a violent attack on a naïve young woman?
Ms. Guest: Violence against women is rife even in our supposedly civilized society. When I was thirteen years old, I was raped by a twenty-four-year-old man. In some ways, that attack really shaped my younger years. With Rules of Entanglement, I wanted to explore the pool of violence that women wade through every day. I’ve written on sexual assault before, in short stories and in my first novel. Because of these earlier, more cathartic (read: self-centered) pieces, I’m now able to write about sexual violence in Rules of Entanglement without the story being all about me. The story is about Greta and Daphne, the main characters of the book, not Katie Rose.
Kimberly: Who is the main character(s) in your book and what qualities do you want to convey to your readers about them?
 AB Riddle and I met Ann Garvin in New York City at the Algonkian Pitch Conference. Ann was our instructor, our mentor, the voice that hammered into each of her l7 ‘pupils’ that we would, by God, be published.
Ann’s humor, laced in with a whole lot of persistence, helped us perfect a one-on-one ‘pitch’ we presented to four editors. She somehow brought l7 strangers together as a group, encouraged us to interact, get to know each other personally and inspired us to come together as real people with one common goal. She is the definition of a leader. Author, nurse, teacher, mother, Ann approaches everything she attempts with optimistic enthusiasm.
Kimberly: You have had many careers in your life. Which one is the best fit for you and why?
Ms. Garvin: My best career is the one I have now: professor. I get to be a bossy know-it-all, talk about the thing I am most passionate about which is health. I don’t have a boss (so to speak) so my issues with authority go un-perturbed. The schedule is flexible, meaning I can work when I am most productive and not on a nine-to-five schedule and I get to use both my left and right brain together. I love my job and teaching. I am so lucky.
Kimberly: The main characters in your novel, On Maggie’s Watch, along with other short stories and your novelette, Must Like Working With Cows are strong women. Are these characters that you bring to life based on women you know?
Ms. Garvin: I’m sure that bits and pieces of my characters come from people that I know, along with parts of my personality intertwined. Having said that, I don’t actually have someone in mind when I’m writing the characters. They live in my mind and on the page completely and if they come from a flesh and blood person, I’m not entirely aware of it. But, I hang with some made-of-steel women—I’m sure they are alive in my work.
Kimberly: At what point in life did you absolutely know you were going to be a writer? That you were not going to take ‘no’ for an answer?
Ms. Garvin: When I started, it was on a lark. When I won the contest that started me writing it became a possibility. When I wrote the first chapter of my book, it became my life.
Kimberly: Can you tell us a little about your new book? And when will they be coming out?
Ms. Garvin: I have two new books almost completed. Ask me this question again in a month.
Kimberly: You have an outgoing personality and have the ability to share yourself with others. In return, they feel comfortable opening up to you. Could you be content in the role of a full-time writer -- someone who many times isolates themselves from the outside world?
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