When did you first realize you wanted to be a Author?
Shortly after graduating with a degree in Journalism, I realized that what I really wanted to do was make stuff up. I wanted to write fiction—I’d loved writing stories since I was a kid. But I was newly married to my first husband and needed to work while he finished his degree. So I enrolled in a night class, a fiction writing workshop at the local college, and started writing short stories. Eventually I began a novel. I worked as an advertising and marketing copywriter while raising kids, going through a divorce, being a single mom, remarrying and blending a family—but I was always working on a novel too. It took me a long time, with some wrong turns and close almosts, before I finally got published. If you’d like to publish a novel quickly, I advise that you take a different route!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I’ve been seriously addicted to Uniball Micro Rollerball pens in black for more than two decades. I often start writing in the mornings in my notebook, then switch to the computer, then switch back to pen and paper if I get stuck or want to work something out. I’m not a picky person, but I’m picky about my pens!
My family also teases my about my work “uniform,” which usually consists of old sweats, a hand-me-down sweatshirt of my son’s, and in the cold mornings, fingerless gloves. Yep. All vanity goes out the window when I’m writing!
What was one of the most surprising things you learned while you were writing "The Underside of Joy?"
I had no idea that Italians were interned in the US during WWII. I knew that the Capozzis had something going on in their past, but I didn’t know what. Then my friend Kelly, who is a very smart history teacher, casually mentioned to me one day that Italians in the area had been interned. I started researching and found that indeed they had been, and I knew I had the missing piece of the Capozzi puzzle.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Yes! I’m amazed at the generosity and kindness of readers. No matter what kind of day I might be having, when I open my email, it’s a good day. The response to The Underside of Joy has been so heartfelt; I often have tears in my eyes when I read my mail. After such a long, uphill road to publication, knowing my work is finally reaching readers and touching them? For me, that’s the absolute sweetest part of the dream coming true. I’m so grateful they take the time to write me.
And I’m grateful to you too, Ali, for having me here on your wonderful blog. Thanks so much!
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