Q. Let's go back to the
time before the creation of the character Babysister. Had you previously
developed any characters with a voice as strong as hers? What was
it about Babysister that intrigued you? A. First of all,
thanks for noting Babysister's strong voice. She's so different
from me and I worked very hard at keeping her voice consistent.
Before writing Please Please Please, I only wrote short stories
and a few poems. And yes, what drove all of the stories were the
character's voices. I've always been drawn to characters I don't
necessarily see in literature and usually they are women who make
wrong choices and have to deal with the consequences. I enjoy creating
"people" not necessarily plots. I'm especially interested
in women who are flawed in some way and women who are different
from me (not that I don't have my share of flaws!)
Q. So far, what has been the response to Please Please
Please?
A. The response to Please Please Please has been great. I really
thought everyone would either hate Babysister and not be able to
read the book at all, or they'd think Babysister was me and not
respect the writing. But with the exception of very few cases, people
have been writing and telling me they couldn't put the book down
or that while they didn't like Babysister, they thought the book
was fun. So I'm very happy with that. People have also been asking
me when the next book is coming--which is also a good sign.
Q. Being a relatively new author, what is something about
the publishing industry that shocks you?
A. I actually have been treated very well--maybe that's the shock.
I do have friends, however, who get ignored by their editors or
agents so I know that goes on. I've also learned that publishing
is basically a business. It's all about numbers these days not necessarily
nurturing a new writer's career. As for trying to get a novel published,
I would like to give the advice to work hard on your manuscript.
I hear so many people complaining that they can't find an agent
but then I look at the material and understand why. Usually they're
rushing. I think people send out their novels too soon. You should
be doing tons of rewriting and taking classes and having people
look at the material before trying to find an agent. You have to
do it for the love of it, 'cause like I said, you don't get pampered
much once your book is out.
Q. In what ways do you interact with your readers? Do you
meet them at Expos or Conferences? What are some of their comments?
A. Right now, I only interact with my readers through my website
www.reneeswindle.com. I respond to all emails and comments and have
enjoyed it very much. I was fortunate enough to go on a book tour
last summer when Please Please Please first came out. I don't have
any tour money right now and I'm busy on book two so I don't travel
far unless someone pays to fly me out. I've been trying to do what
I can, like meeting with a few book groups here in the Bay Area.
Whenever I meet with people they all want to know if I'm Babysister
(NO!) and they usually get right into the story and start talking
as though everything in the novel really happened and they know
Lisette and Deborah and the father. It's great. It's the best thing
to have people respond to your work on an emotional level like that.
Everyone has been so supportive.
Q. When you write, do your books begin with the storyline
or the characters? Or does it depend?
A. My writing always begins with the characters. I like getting
in the heads of people who are different from me and I like creating
people. Right now, for instance, I'm writing from the perspective
of a woman in her sixties, one in her late forties and one in her
early twenties. I never write with an outline or with any idea about
what's going to happen next. Sometimes this is a problem because
I get stuck, but I've learned to just follow what comes and to write
several drafts. I take it chapter by chapter and let the characters'
actions and thoughts guide the plot.
Q. When you were writing Please Please Please, did you
have any fears or hesitations or did you feel this was the story
that you wanted and/or needed to write?
A. I first started writing Please Please Please while I was in
graduate school. I waited until the very last minute to write a
story that was due the next day for one of my creative writing classes.
The voice of Babysister came to me and I went with it because I
didn't have time to edit. My professor suggested that her voice
was strong enough to turn into a novel. Since I didn't have my thesis
completed--or even started--I thought I'd try to write a novel--which
later became Please Please Please. I sent the first hundred pages
off thinking that maybe some small publisher might want it. I thought
the narrator, Babysister, might be too much for a big publisher,
but luckily I was wrong. Once I knew the book was actually going
to be published I did worry about how it would be received. I thought
everyone would think that I was Babysister, and I was worried about
my mother reading all those sex scenes! I also tried to write this
happy ending--what I call my Color Purple/Alice Walker ending, but
it was too forced and I ended up not changing a thing because in
the end, I think it's an interesting story and I'm proud of the
fact that Babysister isn't your typical character.
Q. Do you have any other goals besides writing books? If
so, what are they?
A. My goals are to continue to work solely as a writer. I hope
I never have to work as a substitute teacher again!!! I also hope
to write screenplays some day. I'd love to do adaptations from novels--my
own and others. (Can you hear me Hollywood??!!)
Q. When can we expect the next Renee Swindle novel?
A. Hopefully by next summer--which means that I need to get to
work 'cause so far I only have two chapters!
And before I leave I want to give a huge thanks to Cydney and her
great site BookRemarks. These were great questions and I enjoyed
answering them. Best wishes to you all!!!!
|
Review of Please