Suzanne DeWitt Hall's Blog, page 5

Does the title SEX WITH GOD freak you out? Have a listen.

On Monday I had the pleasure of discussing my book SEX WITH GOD with Midge Noble for the GAY with GOD! podcast. We talked about intimacy, shame, and the inability to do anything without God's presence. 

We also talked a little about THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES. 

Have a listen.

Nature is a teacher

Today I made two discoveries:

First, that raw squash blossoms taste like... squash.

Second, that you should always unfurl a blossom before eating it, in case a big old juicy fly is trapped inside.

Chatting on the radio about THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Wayne Norman on WILI in Connecticut this morning about THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES. Here's the interview.

A reviewer takes note of my novel's botanicals

The Language of Bodies isn't a flowery story: it's full of oddity, passion, and pain; wax figures, mystical moments, and odd characters.  It doesn't use flowery language. Yet the cover image includes trumpet vine flowers, and a recent reviewer wrote the following:

"DeWitt Hall deftly weaves a tale equal parts tenderness and torture, rapture and revenge. A master of metaphor, she skillfully uses the natural world—from Monarch pupa to resurrection lilies—to beautifully reflect her characters' arcs and transformations."

Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, author of Crash and Through Thick and Thin.

My protagonist Maddie suffers self-imposed exile in central Missouri to be near the home of her wife's murderer, in hope of exacting revenge. While there, she attempts to grow some plants around the wax museum where she works. The native wildlife which survives and thrives despite the heat acts as a contrast and distraction from the lifelessness inside the building.
At the height of summer, unearthly pale, leafless stalks peer out from the dry ground, and push up quickly, blossoming nearly overnight into lilies like the ones in the picture above. The leaves themselves grow lush in the spring, but die off, leaving behind a bed of what looks like dried seaweed. 
Before the stalks flower, they look surreal, thinly phallic and miraculous in the speed of their growth out of apparent lifelessness. 
Maddie notices these seemingly magical organisms, and asks the young man who works at the convenience store near the museum about them. Chip's encyclopedic knowledge of wax worms, the local flora, and the murderer's ex wife all contribute to Maddie's entertainment, and to her planning.
The Language of Bodies isn't about flowers. It's about different kinds of love and loss, and the dark places guilt and grief can take us. I hope you'll read it, and that you'll notice the flowers glowing through the darkness.

WALLY LAMB endorsed my novel! WALLY. LAMB.

 

A few years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Wally Lamb while he was in Newburyport, MA as a featured author for the town's wonderful literary festival. The picture above captures me looking vaguely strangled, and Wally looking just as warm, friendly, and relaxed as I remember him. 

In case you aren't familiar with his work (though that's hard to imagine) Wally is the author of four New York Times bestsellers and two Oprah Book Club selections, including I Know This Much is True which was produced as an HBO miniseries featuring Mark Ruffalo. His books convey the complexity of human strength and frailty, and I've been an uber fan for years. 

He's also just a super nice guy. And guess what?

HE ENDORSED MY DEBUT NOVEL!

Here's what he had to say:

"In Suzanne DeWitt Hall's The Language of Bodies, a grisly murder sets in motion a grieving wife's plan for retribution. What follows is a struggle for dominance between vengeance and virtue. The novel is a film noir between covers--dark, tense, and sexy. And hats off to DeWitt Hall for shining a light on the potential dangers faced daily by transgender individuals."

Finding words to describe my emotion is challenging. The path to getting a novel published is populated by many more lows than highs. But a high like this is something I'll hold on to for a long, long time. Probably forever. 

Wally Lamb endorsed my novel.

WALLY.

LAMB.

And then people began to read it...

Two proud stacks of The Language of Bodies decorated our dining room table when our eldest grandchild and their girlfriend came to hang out the other day. We'd opened the first box the day before, and were still enjoying the afterglow. When I went to make dinner, they both grabbed a copy, moved to the living room, and began reading.

So there I was, puttering around in the kitchen--my happy place--while two smart, funny, empathic people read my novel nearby.

It's a bit nerve-wracking having people I love read a piece as emotionally connected to me as this book is. Today's young adults are so much wiser than when I was that age, and they've got sophisticated tastes in media. The Language of Bodies is full of strange darkness, humor, and beauty, which I hope transfers from page to mind in a seamless, immersive way. But I hadn't thought about this particular audience, nor about how nervous I'd be awaiting their reaction.

I'm not sure how far along they are in the book now. Perhaps they love it. Perhaps they hate it. Either way, I'll never forget the jittery joy of stirring a pot while my work was read in the next room. 

It was another once-in-a-lifetime experience, another first, and I'm elated.

Unboxing my debut novel!

Opening the first box of books for my debut novel, THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES, was such a joyful experience! I've written and published a bunch of books, but there's something special about novel writing, and holding this one for the first time was pure magic.

@suzannedewitthall It's #unboxing day for my novel! THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES launches 10/4 with @WoodhallPress, and I couldn't be more excited. #books #booktok #booktoker ♬ original sound - Suzanne DeWitt Hall

"I recommend this debut novel with enthusiasm for its tenderness and courage."

Endorsements for THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES are coming in, and here's the latest:

"Suzanne DeWitt Hall’s seditious and seductive novel “The Language of Bodies” is brilliantly unnerving. Hall’s elegant prose, coupled with her relentless examination of the perils faced by the deepest parts of the human soul, leave the reader breathless. To call it a page-turner is entirely accurate, because the complex central character is driven by loss, love, fear, fury, and desire, even as she works towards her own negotiation with the larger forces of the universe. We become increasingly desperate to know how the multiple plots and intertwined themes will resolve themselves. With grace, with a sense of humble grandeur, and with deft writing, DeWitt Hall manages to give us what very few writers offer: a satisfying yet provocative conclusion. I recommend this debut novel with enthusiasm for its tenderness and courage."

Gina Barreca, Distinguished Professor of English Literature, University of Connecticut

Isn't that absolutely gorgeous?

In addition to teaching literature, Barreca is the author of hilarious, insightful essays and books. She's been a repeated guest on CNN, the Today Show, and even Oprah! I'm absolutely thrilled to receive such a glowing review from this luminary. 

You can learn more about her work here: https://ginabarreca.com.

COVER REVEAL

The day is finally here when I can announce the cover reveal for my debut novel, THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES! The book launches on October 4 with Woodhall Press. My excitement bubbles over in the video below, where I get to share the gorgeousness with you!

@suzannedewitthall Cover reveal for THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES (@WoodhallPress, October 2022)! Isn't it gorgeous? #coverreveal #books #booktok #author #authorsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Suzanne DeWitt Hall

COVER REVEAL TIME!

The day is finally here when I can announce the cover reveal for my debut novel, THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES! The book launches on October 4 with Woodhall Press. My excitement bubbles over in the video below, where I get to share the gorgeousness with you!

@suzannedewitthall Cover reveal for THE LANGUAGE OF BODIES (@WoodhallPress, October 2022)! Isn't it gorgeous? #coverreveal #books #booktok #author #authorsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Suzanne DeWitt Hall