Ask the Author: Joanna Kafarowski
Answered Questions (10)
Joanna Kafarowski
Louise Arner Boyd's biography could be written by a woman or a man. The reason why my book is subtitled "A Life of Louise Arner Boyd" and not "The Life of Louise Arner Boyd" is because this book is written from my perspective and based on my research. As such, it is shaped and impacted by my own biases and experience. Another writer (male or female) would write a completely different book. And I hope they do in my lifetime. Louise Arner Boyd's life and career is a rich one and more research and writing needs to be conducted on her scientific contributions, her photography, her maps, etc.- there is so much scope there! Such a marvellous woman, as you know! Thanks so much for your interest, Jim and I look forward to meeting you this week at the CoCoCo History Center!
Joanna Kafarowski
Not sure what happened to the tail end of your question here but I'll answer what I can read! I think what one considers a "normal" amount of sexism would vary from individual to individual. Certainly Miss Boyd experienced her fair share as a woman working in a non-traditional field for women. However, she did experience rampant sexism from certain individuals during her expeditions including Harlen Bretz on the 1933 Boyd Expedition and John Schilling on the 1941 Expedition.
Joanna Kafarowski
Thanks for your question, Jim! It's important to keep in mind the stage Miss Boyd was at in her life. It was 1926 and she was preparing for her voyage to Franz Josef Land. These were still very early days in her career as an explorer which, in my view, didn't truly begin until after the completion of her 1928 expedition. As part of her preparation, she did conduct a lot of research but that research would very likely have been confined to geography of the region, history of polar exploration to this area and botany. It is unlikely that she would have had access to literature on the very recent history of Franz Josef Land itself. As I point out in the book, Franz Josef Land is very remote even in Arctic standards and the fact that Russia had claimed it as their own only six months previously, would likely have been known only by the respective governments and people (like navigators and ice-masters) who worked in the area. As her career as an explorer progressed, Miss Boyd became more sophisticated as a researcher and broadened the scope of the literature she studied prior to each expedition. In my view, she was rarely blinded by passion regarding her preparations for each expedition. Rather, the opposite. She had a passion for the Arctic but she was clear-sighted, meticulous and detail-oriented in her preparations- and this included her research.
Joanna Kafarowski
Hello Pam,
I certainly am! I love researching and writing about the lives of remarkable people. Many thanks for your support.
I certainly am! I love researching and writing about the lives of remarkable people. Many thanks for your support.
Joanna Kafarowski
Like you, I love history! The name of Louise Arner Boyd has largely been forgotten despite her accomplishments and scientific contributions so it was a real joy to research her life and times and bring her story to the page. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the book, Pam!
Joanna Kafarowski
I am passionate about whatever project I am working on. It's like being in love. At the beginning, I want to learn anything and everything I can about my subject. When conducting research for my upcoming biography of explorer Louise Arner Boyd, my heart rate would actually increase when I discovered new material. And I'm sure those pleasure-inducing endorphins would course through my body whenever I was in a museum or archives poring over some of her letters. To write a comprehensive biography, you have to be in it for the long haul. You spend so much time with your subject- thinking, writing and reading about that person that it was critical to me that it was someone that I respected and wanted to learn more about myself. So even though it's hard work and requires phenomenal stamina and self-discipline, I am doing what I love and what suits me best.
Joanna Kafarowski
I think being a non-fiction writer is helpful in this regard. Whereas a novelist, short story writer or poet has to have all mental channels clear in order to be inspired and proceed with writing, if I get blocked I can stop what I'm doing (or trying to do) and turn my attention to another task. There's always another source to follow up with, another photograph to track down, another fact to verify. I don't even like to call it "writer's block" because then it would only make matters worse! If the story isn't flowing, I don't put more pressure on myself to perform. If this happens for a prolonged period, I do something completely different and try to get my mind to 'jump tracks'. A really strenuous work-out, a long walk in a forest filled with bird song or any activity that both gets your body moving and your mind attentive to other matters. Sometimes dangling a carrot helps too- such as promising yourself a few pieces of chocolate if you write 500 somewhat intelligible words.
Joanna Kafarowski
Take yourself seriously no matter what anyone else says and regardless of whether you have published or not. Read widely- both fiction and non-fiction and move out of your comfort zone by investigating unfamiliar issues and writers new to you. Know the authors and the books that support you and go to them when times are rough and you doubt your abilities. Take advantage of writer's groups and surround yourself as much as possible with those who nurture your creative spirit. Follow Virginia Woolf's advice and find or make a beautiful space that is yours alone in which to read and write. Walk barefoot in the sand. Climb trees. Take risks. Ponder life. Listen to your inside voice. And read and write always.
Joanna Kafarowski
Although a certain turn of phrase or a new avenue of inquiry to pursue may strike anywhere, I really prefer to write in my office with my special comfy chair, my calico cat Tilly perched on the corner of my desk and the light streaming in the window. Sounds ideal doesn't it? And then I wait! As long as there isn't anything worrying me, I'm usually good to go. But if I know that I'm about to embark on a new chapter or an especially tricky passage, I find that pursuing an activity that allows me to go inward and shut out the world is really helpful. Yoga, a long walk in the park, play-time with my animals, sitting quietly and listening to the birds are all really beneficial for me. Anything that closes out the noise and helps me to focus.
Joanna Kafarowski
I've always had a passion for the North. While studying for my doctorate that focused on gender issues in the Arctic, I came upon the name of a female explorer named Louise Arner Boyd. There aren't many female polar explorers so I was intrigued. Who was she? When did she live? What did she accomplish? Why hadn't I heard of her before? I was shocked to learn that no full biography had been written about Miss Boyd. Although my university work took me off in a different direction, I never forgot her. After receiving my PhD. several years later, I found myself thinking about her. No matter what other project I started, Miss Boyd was always in the back of my mind. Finally, I couldn't ignore the signs any longer and began researching Louise Arner Boyd on a full-time basis.
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