Book-Remarks.com

Featured Author -

Gloria Mallette
 

November 2003 Interview
 

About the Author

Questions and Answers with Gloria Mallette

Q: The Honey Well, your current release, has some very memorable characters, especially Queen Esther. Is this your most challenging novel to date? How do you feel about this book in comparison to your other novels?

A. Surprisingly, The Honey Well flowed from me rather quickly - two months. The characters, especially Queen Esther, revealed themselves to me right away - I didn't have to struggle to develop their personalities. So I would not consider The Honey Well my most challenging novel to date. For me, that would be Weeping Willows Dance, the story about my grandmother. Having to write about a woman's struggle to survive in the south in the 30's through the 60's was extremely challenging.

However, The Honey Well in comparison to my other novels is different for me because I couldn't redeem Queen Esther - she wouldn't let me. Queen Esther was controlling, manipulative and self-centered to the core. There was no way for me to fix who she was so that the readers could come away saying, "I feel sorry for her."

Q: In what way did these characters reveal themselves to you? Do you sketch them or do they 'tell you about themselves'?

A: Cyd, great question. Obviously you understand the writing process and character development. My characters reveal themselves to me only when I sit down at my computer, get into my writing, and it's time for a character to make his/her presence known. Characters flow from a place in my brain that is not revealed to me until they plop onto my computer screen. As weird as it sounds, the characters tell me who they are and what their purpose in my story is. As I write, until that character shows up, I had no idea he/she existed. At that point, I let the character take the lead - I just follow.

Q: Do you feel that every manuscript you write is meant to be published? Do you have unpublished works that you feel is for your eyes only? Please comment.

A: Actually, I'm hoping that every manuscript I write will eventually see the light of day.  I self-published Weeping Willows Dance because I was trying to get it in print before my grandmother passed. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. The first manuscript I ever wrote is still locked away in my file cabinet and is, as it turns out, a sequel to Weeping Willows Dance. I hope to publish it one day, but I do understand that titles like Weeping Willows Dance will never sell like my Shades of Jade or even the Honey Well, so I may end up self-publishing that first manuscript as well.

Q: Your books have wonderful snatches of humor that come out of nowhere. From where do you get your sense of humor and do you use special techniques to make sure the material is funny?

A: Funny? Me? Now, this is news to me. Personally, I think my writings are too dark. I would love to lighten up my titles with some humor, but when I wrack my brain trying to come up with something funny, I inevitably fail. I want desperately to be funny and envy writers who can inject humor throughout their tales.  In The Honey Well, the only funny scene might be when Tony is recounting the story about Arnell getting her first car. I thought that was funny myself and had no idea that Tony would give voice to that story. So technique? I don't have a clue.

Q: All of your books seem to be different in that they cover a wide range of topics. Is this intentional and if so why?

A: Yes, all my books are different, and yes, it is intentional.  I tackle various topics because I do not want to be pigeonholed, nor do I want to write a story and the reader sees it as pages of fluff or mindless babble. Nor do I want any one story to sound like the last.  I'm no great literary master, I'm a storyteller, but I want to tell stories that people can identify with. And each story is written differently because the characters in each story tells it the way they want it told.

Q: In what ways do you find and develop your readership?

A: I've been blessed in that my readership has found me.  With each title, I can only hope that a new reader will discover my work and go back and read what came before.  Which is what seems to be happening.

Q: Do you write the kinds of stories that you like to read? Who are some of your favorite authors?

A: Good question. I am writing the kinds of stories I like to read. Other than my grandmother's story, I like to write stories that have elements of suspense, mystery and romance in them.  At one time in my past, I was addicted to books in each of these genres- now I just combine all three in my writing.

I hate to admit it, but I read very little of anyone else these days because I am constantly writing and in order to let my characters guide me, I have to keep my head clear of characters or storyline developed by others.  As soon as I finish one manuscript, I'm on to another one in a week.

My favorite authors of yesterday were James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Robert Ludlum, Grahame Greene, Sidney Sheldon, Robin Cook, etc.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being an author?

A: What I enjoy most about being an author is the creative process of writing. I love it.  I am always amazed when I finish a manuscript that all of those words came out of me.

Q: What is the hardest thing about being an author?

A: The hardest thing about being an author is, I guess, pleasing a readership. I think most authors write for themselves and secretly hope that readers will enjoy or understand what they've created.  Unfortunately, we can't please all the people. We will get our critics, but that's part of the game. Still, the truth is, bad reviews hurt.

Q: What are some tips for aspiring authors who are interested in breaking into the publishing industry?

A: The best tips I can offer are:  be disciplined in your craft, present a clean, edited manuscript to the publishing houses, and don't let a 'No' stop you.  If being a writer is your dream and if a major house won't publish you, publish yourself.

Q: What are your tour plans? Will you be visiting various cities to promote your books in the near future?

A: Unfortunately, with The Honey Well, I didn't get a tour and I can't say for sure if a tour is in my future.  The only cities I will be visiting on my own outside of New York this time around are: Washington, DC, Bowie, MD, Harrisburg, PA, and Jersey City, NJ.  That's it. I can't handle the expense of a tour.  Thank God for the internet and for the United States Post Office.  With my own website and websites like Book-Remarks.com, and the shipping of thousands of bookmarks, I can reach people who otherwise would not know of my work.
 

Review of The Honey Well

Reviewed by Cydney Rax

The Honey Well is another fine example of the talents of Gloria Mallette, a prolific writer who gives a solid performance through her engaging novel about a scandalous mother that pushes her young daughter into prostitution.  Queen Esther is one of the most fascinating mothers in contemporary fiction. She is the ultimate Mommie Dearest type - ruthless, calculating, and thrives on power, not stopping until she gets her way.

In the prologue, Arnell, Esther's daughter, is a teen, but is an adult in the story. Arnell is now engaged and wants nothing more than to come from under her mother's rule. But Esther is a hard-head, she constantly makes up excuses for keeping her daughter a part of the brothel. Arnell is determined to fight Esther every step of the way and goes through much drama before the end. 

With fast paced plotting full of twists and turns, The Honey Well is a page-turner that shows a fascinating side of the mother/daughter relationship.

All the characters are well-developed, and the writing voice of Mallette is top-notch. She takes the reader on a journey that is similar to riding a rollercoaster, dips, turns, shockers, and eye-openers, all of which makes for another great, and highly recommended read.