Clifford Garstang's Blog, page 7

So Many Questions!

The Last Bird of Paradise by Clifford Garstang

Since the release of The Last Bird of Paradise in February, I’ve participated in several literary events, including my book launch party at Ox-Eye Vineyards Tasting Room in Staunton, VA, and signings and/or readings in Charlottesville, Richmond, and Winchester, VA. I also spoke at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville in March.

In addition, I’ve had a few written interviews appear, including one with Atmosphere Press and a fun joint interview (in which we asked each other questions) with Bradley Sides at the Southern Review of Books.

And there are podcasts! I’ve done several, and these are fun because they are recorded conversations, some with video, where I don’t know the questions in advance, so I sometimes have to think fast if a question is one I haven’t answered before.

Writer’s Bone Podcast

If you haven’t listened to the Writer’s Bone podcasts, you’re missing out. I’ve appeared on the show with Daniel Ford before, and he’s a great interviewer. Check out our recent conversation about The Last Bird of Paradise.

Big Blend Radio

And if you don’t listen to Lisa and Nancy at Big Blend Radio, you should! They are a traveling mother-daughter duo and they always have such interesting guests talking about a wide range of topics, including travel, art, music, and books. We had a wonderful time chatting about The Last Bird of Paradise recently on Big Blend Radio. The conversation also aired on another channel of theirs, Women Making History (because the book’s protagonists are women who live in Singapore during tumultuous times).

Living the Next Chapter

I’ve been on both of those shows before, but a podcast that was new to me is Living the Next Chapter, featuring Dave Campbell interviewing authors. We had a wonderful conversation about books, writing, publishing, and, especially, about The Last Bird of Paradise. Listen to our chat at Living the Next Chapter.

I also had a great conversation with poet Jen Schomburg Kanke on her podcast Meter & Mayhem, where her focus is on discovering what work by another writer “created mayhem” for her subject. It was fun to think about that. Listen to our conversation and see what I had to say in response! Meter & Mayhem.

2024 Reading–March

Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson is my book club’s selection for this month. I was keen to read it because I read the author’s daily newsletter that reports important political developments. It really is a good summary of where we stand in America at this moment and how we got here. The first section is called “Undermining Democracy” which explains both the original meaning of “conservatism” and the rise and subsequent attacks on the “liberal consensus” in the country. The second section, “The Authoritarian Experiment,” takes us through the rise of Trump, his embrace of authoritarianism, and his efforts to dismantle the US government. The last section, “Reclaiming America,” rehashes the idea of America and how Lincoln redefined it as deriving not from the Constitution but from the Declaration of Independence. The book ends rather abruptly because, I suppose, we don’t know how the defense of democracy is going to turn out.

Everybody Here is Kin by BettyJoyce Nash

Everybody Here is Kin by BettyJoyce Nash is a novel about a family visiting the Atlantic coast of Georgia on the way to Key West, the spot where thirteen-year-old Lucille wants to spend her vacation and birthday. Lucille, sometimes called Lucky, is concerned about the environment and climate change, and wants to see the Keys before the coral reefs die and the islands disappear. They stop at a decrepit motor inn so that Lucille and her mother, Naomi, can scatter Lucille’s father’s ashes, although the mother has an ulterior motive—hooking up with a high school boyfriend. At the motor inn, they encounter Will, a veteran who has a number of his own problems but who is also a talented artist and a good guy who can help out in a pinch, which inevitably comes.

The County Line by Steve Weddle

The County Line by Steve Weddle is a very entertaining red-neck noir novel set in Arkansas in the 1930s. Cottonmouth Tomlin has recently returned to his hometown from a shady stint (gun-running?) in Honduras to take over his uncle’s business, a former hunting camp that is now a way-station of sorts for bank robbers and other miscreants. Cottonmouth is a good guy, although not with particularly clean hands. He does his best to make peace with the local powerbrokers and even cooks up a scheme to defend the county from crooks who are even worse. Lots of good details here about the prohibition era, automobiles, and guns.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a stunning book, painful to read, beautifully imagined and written. It is a family saga that might be called a novel in stories because each chapter is a story about succeeding generations in parallel lines. It begins in Ghana in the 18th Century with two sisters—separated very early and unaware of each other—who land on opposite sides of the slave trade. Their stories and the stories of their descendants have tragic elements but eventually converge in contemporary America. The book is difficult to read because of the horrors of slavery and post-slavery discrimination, the Jim Crow era in the South and northern racial tension that was nearly as bad. And yet, none of it rings false. We know these horrors to be true, but too many people are willing to ignore it or brush it aside as a thing of the past. Required reading!

The House on Sun Street by Mojgan Ghazirad

The House on Sun Street by Mojgan Ghazirad is a novel set mostly in Tehran, Iran, from the point of view of Moji, the child of well-to-do Iranians who are sympathetic to the Shah before the Iranian revolution, but who are forced to live under the new regime. They spend a short time in America but return to Iran because of the hostage crisis in Iran and the harsh treatment the family receives in Alabama where the father is in graduate school. There isn’t much of a plot here. Moji gets into trouble at school, where she otherwise excels, and also becomes infatuated with the librarian and the world of books. At a recent event, I heard the author read from the book and talk about her own childhood in Iran, on which the book is based.

The Curators by Maggie Nye

The Curators by Maggie Nye is a novel set in Atlanta in 1915 that I was asked to review (forthcoming, June 2024). It’s part history and part magical realism (although that element might just be teen imagination). The actual event on which it is based was the arrest, conviction, and lynching of a Jewish factory manager after one of his young factory girls is murdered. The anti-Semitism of the lynch mob creates fear in the Jewish community. A group of early teen girls (the “Felicitous Five”) believe the factory manager is innocent and collect clippings from the newspaper, creating an ad hoc museum. But they also create a golem, to protect the community and also to defend the lynched man’s honor. One of the girls becomes obsessed with the golem, which appears to come to life. My full review will appear in the Southern Review of Books.

I’ve Got Questions for Ellen Birkett Morris

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it, please visit other interviews in the I’ve Got Questions feature.

Beware the Tall Grass by Ellen Birkett MorrisWhat’s the title of your book? Fiction? Nonfiction? Poetry? Who is the publisher and what’s the publication date?

Beware the Tall Grass; Fiction; Columbus State University Press; March 15, 2024

In a couple of sentences, what’s the book about?

A mother struggling with her young son’s disturbing memories of war and a young man thrust into combat, who discovers what matters most, find themselves connected across time. With war as a backdrop and empathy at the heart of the novel, this dual narrative story takes on the power of love and courage to meet unforeseen circumstances.

What’s the book’s genre (for fiction and nonfiction) or primary style (for poetry)?

This is literary fiction, a straight-ahead look at the mysteries of past lives.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has said about the book so far?

The novel won The Donald L. Jordan Prize for Literary Excellence, and was selected by Sam Chang, who said this about the book:

“In this beautiful novel, two stories separated by half a century intertwine to create an indelible narrative of peace and war. In the throes of his first loss, young Thomas joins the Army and travels to Vietnam, where he is propelled toward his fate. Decades later, in another time and place, Eve and Daniel welcome their infant son and resolve to set aside their own family ghosts. But is it possible to release the past? Can powerful experiences of love and death ever be forgotten? Through surprising and suspenseful turns, Beware the Tall Grass explores the evocative mysteries of time and memory.”

What book or books is yours comparable to or a cross between? [Is your book like Moby Dick or maybe it’s more like Frankenstein meets Peter Pan?]

I keep thinking of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, which is not a perfect match, but also deals with haunting echoes across time and the mystery of memory.

Why this book? Why now?

For some reason there are lots of books coming out this year with Vietnam at the center, Kristin Hannah’s The Women, Alice McDermott’s Absolution. I think writers are picking up the threads of untold stories, in their case of the women affected by the war, in my case of the innocence of many of the men caught up in Vietnam war and their desire to act with integrity in the face of the horrors of war.

Other than writing this book, what’s the best job you’ve ever had?

I love teaching, which I did as an adjunct for ten years, and do now virtually through writing centers across the U.S. Also, I have worked freelance for more than twenty years for the Kentucky Foundation for Women promoting the grants received by feminist artists in Kentucky. I’m honored to spread the word about the great work done by Kentucky artists dedicated to positive social change.

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

I hope readers feel something that is cathartic or it helps them get in touch with their own struggles or place in the world. I hope they enjoy the journey.

What food and/or music do you associate with the book?

There are so many songs from the sixties that connect with this book. I am thinking Credence Clearwater Revival’s Senator’s Son and Bad Moon Rising. Senator’s Son tells the story of so many of the young men who were fighting who were without means and were taken away from farms and factories and sent off to war. Bad Moon Rising reflects the constant sense of menace, even during periods of calm, while at war.

What book(s) are you reading currently?

I just finished Colm Toibin’s Long Island, which is a perfectly mirrored narrative to his earlier work, Brooklyn, and Julia Phillips’s The Bear, which mesmerized me.

Ellen Birkett Morris

Learn more about Ellen on her website.

Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Buy the book from Bookshop.org, Amazon, University of Georgia Press, Carmichael’s Bookstore.

Mixed Emotions

On the one hand, AI is amazing. On the other hand, it’s scary as hell. We may not be doomed, but we’re rapidly becoming irrelevant.

It was recently brought to my attention that Microsoft’s AI tool Copilot is readily available in Windows. I’ve toyed with ChatGPT before, but the earlier version seemed flawed. Copilot, though, seems pretty sharp.

First, I asked Copilot who had influenced my writing.

Answer:

Clifford Garstang, the accomplished author, draws inspiration from several notable writers. His influences include:

Tim O’Brien: Known for his powerful and evocative storytelling, Tim O’Brien’s works have left a lasting impact on Garstang’s writing journey.Elizabeth Strout: Strout’s ability to delve into complex characters and their emotional landscapes has resonated with Garstang.Peter Ho Davies: A master of the short story form, Davies’ craftsmanship has likely influenced Garstang’s own approach to writing.Colum McCann: McCann’s lyrical prose and exploration of interconnected lives have left an imprint on Garstang’s work.Grace Paley: As a writer who skillfully blends humor, wit, and social commentary, Paley’s influence can be seen in Garstang’s stories.

These authors have contributed to shaping Garstang’s literary voice and thematic explorations. His own body of work, including novels like Oliver’s Travels and The Shaman of Turtle Valley, as well as short story collections like House of the Ancients and Other Stories, What the Zhang Boys Know, and In an Uncharted Country, reflects this rich tapestry of inspiration.

As a follow-up question, I asked about my writing style.

Answer:

Clifford Garstang, an accomplished author, weaves his literary tapestry with international and multicultural flavors. His writing style is characterized by several key elements:

Rich Cultural Context: Garstang’s stories often unfold against diverse cultural backdrops. His experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Korea and his work in international law have infused his writing with a global perspective.Interconnected Characters: Garstang excels at creating intricate networks of characters whose lives intersect. His novels and short story collections feature characters whose paths converge, revealing shared histories and hidden connections.Nuanced Emotions: Whether exploring love, loss, or longing, Garstang delves into the emotional landscapes of his characters. His prose captures the subtleties of human feelings, allowing readers to empathize deeply.Economy of Language: Garstang’s writing is concise yet evocative. He crafts sentences that resonate, conveying layers of meaning with precision. His short stories, in particular, showcase his ability to pack a punch in limited space.Exploration of Identity: Identity—whether cultural, familial, or personal—is a recurring theme in Garstang’s work. His characters grapple with questions of belonging, heritage, and self-discovery.Literary Craftsmanship: Garstang’s background in law and international development informs his meticulous attention to detail. His prose is polished, and he skillfully balances plot, character, and setting.Variety of Forms: From novels to linked short story collections, Garstang embraces different forms. His versatility allows him to experiment with structure and narrative techniques.

In summary, Clifford Garstang’s writing style combines cultural richness, emotional depth, and precise craftsmanship. His works resonate with readers seeking thought-provoking stories that bridge borders and illuminate shared humanity.

Who am I to argue with this expert analysis?

2024 Reading — February

Prequel by Rachel Maddow

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow was my book club’s selection for February. The book is remarkable on several levels. While I knew there had been isolationist forces at work in the run-up to World War II, and that there had been some pro-Nazi sentiment in the US also, I didn’t know the extent of it. The book also provides more detail about how the Germans took lessons from the American treatment of Blacks in developing their genocidal policies toward Jews. The book is an amazing look in great detail at some of the efforts to root out people, including elected officials, who were not only Nazi sympathizers but were actual Nazi agents. Horrifying. And it’s impossible to miss the parallels with the current right-wing extremism that the title points to.

What Makes You Think You’re Supposed to Feel Better by Jody Hobbs Hesler

What Makes You Think You’re Supposed to Feel Better by Jody Hobbs Hesler is a fine collection of short stories. Many are set in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Hesler lives, but that mostly doesn’t matter, except that I recognize a few street names and locations. Characters in these stories are placed in difficult circumstances that tend to get worse before they get better. In one story, a husband who is separated from his wife is under pressure at work and so hesitates to answer his phone when he recognizes the number on his caller ID. When he does answer, it turns out to be his daughter calling about an emergency, which launches the man into action despite the work. Dealing with the emergency reveals a lot about his character, and the story isn’t solely dependent on his marital situation, which is simply one factor in the equation.   

The Searcher by Tana French

The Searcher by Tana French is, essentially, a mystery set in the Irish countryside. For reasons that are never made clear, Cal Hooper, a retired Chicago cop, has bought a small farm in Ireland. He becomes acquainted with a feisty local kid who asks for his help in finding the kid’s older brother who has disappeared. Reluctantly, Cal begins the search, during which he discovers more about his new home than he bargained for. The only character I liked in this book (“likeability” not being particularly important in the greater scheme of things) is that kid. Cal is a pompous ass and so are most of the other characters, especially Cal’s neighbor Mart. French is a popular Irish writer, so I’m glad to have read one of her books.

That Pinson Girl by Gerry Wilson

That Pinson Girl by Gerry Wilson. Here’s the blurb I gave this novel: Devastating and beautifully written, Gerry Wilson’s Spirit Light is at once a heart-rending tragedy and a testament to the indomitable human spirit. In her heroine Leona, Wilson has drawn an unforgettable character buoyed by her determination to survive and to care for her child, even when confronted with violence, racial tensions, the horrors of a distant war, mounting losses from the influenza epidemic, and the lingering repercussions of murder. This historical tale about a hard-scrabble Southern farming family grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. 

Maddie’s Ghost by Carol Fisher Saller

Maddie’s Ghost by Carol Fisher Saller is a mystery for young readers. I’m not a young reader, but Carol is an old friend of mine, so I wanted to take a look. I enjoyed it! The protagonist of the story is young Lainie, short for Madelaine, the granddaughter of the eponymous ghost. She delves into a family mystery surrounding her grandmother because a local TV reporter, who says she is doing a story about Millennium babies—Lainie was born at midnight just as the new Millennium was arriving—also asks about the grandmother. Lainie makes some claims she can’t back up, so she searches the family’s old house for evidence and also enlists the help of her best friend and, to spice the story up a bit, the boy she has a crush on. It’s a book I think young readers would really enjoy.

Publication Day!

Today, February 22, 2024, is publication day for my new novel, The Last Bird of Paradise. The book is a blend of two stories set in Singapore, one historical and one contemporary, connected by the shared plight of two women. As one reviewer says, the book is “part history, part romance, and part corporate intrigue.” Another calls it “vivid and simmering,” while yet another says it’s “a feast of a novel.”  

click on the image to see a YouTube video about the book

There are lots of ways in which you can contribute to the success of the book, some of which won’t cost a dime. It’s all greatly appreciated.

Buy the book. Okay, this one does cost something—the price of the book–but you have lots of options: the publisher, Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, other online sellers, or your local bookstore. (Your local store probably won’t have it in stock, but they can order it for you.) Or ask your local library to get it.
Go to Goodreads and mark the book as “Want to Read” and then go to Amazon.com and put the book on your Wishlist. (These things don’t obligate you to buy anything, but may impact algorithms on those sites that result in other readers learning about the book.)
Let your friends know about the book, especially friends in a book club. As the synopsis suggests, there is a lot of substance to talk about in the book, not to mention romance and intrigue. (I love visiting book clubs, by Zoom or, if not too far away, in person.)
Once you’ve read the book, leaving even a short review of a sentence or two on Goodreads and Amazon can be very helpful. Again, those mysterious algorithms eat those numbers up and cause the machine to start spreading the word to other readers.
Lastly, I’d love to hear what you think about it. And if you get a copy of the book, send me a picture: at the beach, on a plane, in a comfy chair, wherever.

Thank you!

YouTubed!

I’ve had a YouTube Channel for some time, but until recently the only thing on it was a clip of me asking my dog (the late, great Bhikku) if he wanted to go for a walk. Cute as hell, but not much of a draw.

And then last month I uploaded the first of three book trailers promoting my new novel, The Last Bird of Paradise. (Wow, it took hours for the upload, I suppose because my internet connection is slow.)

But I also appear elsewhere on YouTube, even though those appearances are scattered, and I thought it would be useful to compile them in one place, so links to those videos appear under the Playlist tab on my channel. There you’ll see Interviews, Conversations, and Readings, and there will be more to come.

The book trailer is also on my new TikTok.

2024 Reading — January

Silverview by John LeCarre

Silverview by John LeCarre is another—the last, apparently—spy novel from the master of the genre. Completed by his son and published after his death, the novel focuses on a figure outside the Secret Service. He is a disillusioned former trader from London who has cashed in his former lifestyle and moved to a village where he has opened a bookshop. There he becomes acquainted with a mysterious figure, Edward, who claims to have known his father at school. The two begin a venture that is tangential to the bookshop to build a library of classics. For this purpose, Edward needs a dedicated laptop in the basement room where the library will be housed. (Uh-oh, red flag!). Meanwhile, it seems that Edward, who occasionally did work for the Secret Service, is married to a woman who was formerly high-up in the service who is now dying, but he also made contacts with the Muslim world while working in Bosnia during the war there. It’s an engaging book, as all of LeCarre’s have been.

Somewhere to Nest by Kristen van Nest

Somewhere to Nest by Kristen Van Nest is a travel memoir I was given to review. On the one hand, I’m a likely target reader because of my own extensive travels and overseas living experiences. On the other hand, the author is from a very different generation and her lifestyle is far removed from my own. The book follows her pursuit of a series of careers after college, pretty much anything that would take her on the road. First she lands a series of jobs and fellowships in Europe and, later, a longer-term job in Shanghai. The memoir reveals more about her relationships—including the men she has sex with—than it does the countries in which she’s living, which I think many readers would find more interesting. Or maybe that’s just me. Publication date is in April 2024.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Trust by Hernan Diaz was my book club’s selection for January. While the sentences were strong and the characters of the two middle sections were mostly interesting, the structure of this novel bothered me. The whole first section, which purports to be a novel itself, while compelling, isn’t needed for the whole. The book, in my opinion, would have been stronger (and shorter) if this “libelous” fictional biography of Andrew Bevel and his wife had simply been referred to in the middle two sections, rather than presented in its entirety. Likewise, the last section feels a bit like an epilogue, where a few questions are answered, but because the style is so different from the earlier parts, it fell flat for me. Even the second section, which tells much of the story from Bevel’s point of view, is problematic because of the choice to present it as if it were a draft of the final piece, with markings to indicate where additional material is needed. As a whole, though, the book does paint a portrait of the crazy financial happenings of the 1920s, so I’m glad I read it. Also, it won a Pulitzer Prize, so apparently some people liked it more than I did.

Labyrinth by Burhan Sonmez

Labyrinth by Burhan Sonmez is a tough read because of style, but I intend to re-read it when I have time. The main character, Boratin, is a musician who attempts suicide by jumping off the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. He survives with relatively minor injuries, but he has lost his memory. His loyal friend Bek helps him in his recovery, but Boratin is struggling to understand the world he now lives in. He confuses time. He doesn’t remember people or places. And he isn’t sure why he attempted to kill himself. It is in some ways a political novel, and it may be that Boratin did what he did as a desperate protest.

Penultimates by Thomas Farber

Penultimates by Thomas Farber is a new book that came out this month. Here’s the blurb I gave the book: Dwelling on endings and near-endings, as Thomas Farber does in his lyrical and reflective book Penultimates, is paradoxically uplifting. The reader is treated to a series of short, poignant essays that honor the approach and arrival of old age, without trepidation or regret. There is, perhaps, a bit of wistfulness in these pages, but also a sense of gratitude for the accomplishments and courage of many of the people the author has admired over the course of a long life. There is also an air of inevitability, although let us hope, as the title of the collection suggests, that these are not Farber’s last words on the subject.

Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood by Bradley Sides

Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood by Bradley Sides is a collection of short stories that range from weird to weirder. Coming out in February, I interviewed the author in a piece that will be published next month in the Southern Review of Books. (Actually, we interviewed each other, which was fun.) The stories involve strange creatures (dragons, a crocodile-monster, a space-suited child) and events (freak snowstorms, toxic fallout, stars falling from the sky), plus odd humans (vampires!).

Library Finds: Translations from the Chinese

Translations from the Chinese by Arthur Waley

When a poet friend of mine died last year, his widow needed to deal with his collection of books. She came across one volume she thought I might like to have. As sad as the circumstances were, I was happy to swing by her home to pick up the book and to keep it as a reminder of a dedicated writer.

The book, published in 1941 by Alfred A. Knopf (originally published in 1919), is Translations from the Chinese by Arthur Waley, with illustrations by Cyrus Leroy Baldridge. The book comes in a handsome protective sleeve with the title on the spine.

In addition to over 100 poems by Po Chu-I, now more often written as Bai Juyi (白居易), a Ninth Century Tang Dynasty poet, the volume also contains translations of poems by many of the well-known classical poets, including Wang Wei, Wu-ti, Li Po and others. There are about 300 poems in the book.

Here is “The Red Cockatoo” by Bai Jui:

Sent as a present from Annam—
A red cockatoo.
Coloured like the peach-tree blossom,
Speaking with the speech of men.
And they did to it what is always done
To the learned and eloquent.
They took a cage with stout bars
And shut it up inside.

I’ve Got Questions for Beth Uznis Johnson

Editor’s Note: This exchange is part of a series of brief interviews with emerging writers of recent or forthcoming books. If you enjoyed it, please visit other interviews in the I’ve Got Questions feature.

Coming Clean by Beth Uznis JohnsonWhat’s the title of your book? Fiction? Nonfiction? Poetry? Who is the publisher and what’s the publication date?

Coming Clean; Fiction; Regal House Publishing; January 9, 2024

In a couple of sentences, what’s the book about?

Coming Clean is about a week in time when a self-employed cleaning lady named Dawn agrees to pose for her friend Matthew’s provocative photography project in the houses she cleans. The week is also significant because Dawn is struggling to decide whether to move to Key West to work in her father’s bar. It’s a chance for a fresh start after the death of her fiancé, Terry, in a motorcycle crash (that Dawn barely survived). Over the course of the week, Dawn and Matthew scour the contents of each house she cleans, giving the reader a snapshot of the people who live there. Dawn can’t help but compare herself to her customers and wonder what her life with Terry might have been like. It was really fun to invent these 5 unique households for Dawn and Matthew to explore. There is lots of sneaking around trying not to get caught for the sake of Matthew’s art.

What’s the book’s genre (for fiction and nonfiction) or primary style (for poetry)?

Literary fiction. Though people seem to think a cleaning lady book would be a plot-driven beach read, Dawn is in a dark place in her life. She spends a lot of time thinking about her customers’ homes and what their belongings say about them. She can’t help but compare them to what her life might have been if her fiancé Terry hadn’t died in the motorcycle crash.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has said about the book so far?

One of my creative writing professors noticed how the gaze of the novel seems to shift as we move through the week. So, at first, it seems we’re spying on Dawn’s customers along with her—that she is our window into those complicated lives—but gradually our gaze shifts to Dawn herself, and the houses she cleans become our windows into her.

I was so happy that my teacher saw what I was trying to do. (The professor is Susan Perabo and her most recent novel is The Fall of Lisa Bellow)

What book or books is yours comparable to or a cross between? [Is your book like Moby Dick or maybe it’s more like Frankenstein meets Peter Pan?]

One of the cleaning lady novels I connected with is Pretend I’m Dead by Jen Beagin because it’s also dark, literary, and complicated. In that story, cleaning lady Mona has a relationship with an older man she calls Mr. Disgusting, who is a drug addict. I love stories about working-class lives and Mona is struggling to survive. In Coming Clean, Dawn barely survived the accident that killed her fiancé and she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life. She lives in a trailer she bought with the insurance money from the accident. I wanted to also zoom in on the houses Dawn cleans. I’ve always been fascinated by other people’s stuff and what it says about them. Plus, Dawn takes great pride in doing a stellar job, even if she’s snooping a bit. I wanted my cleaning lady to care deeply about a job well done.

This is a long way of saying Coming Clean is like Pretend I’m Dead meets Cash and Cari, the TV show about estate sales and finding treasures.

Why this book? Why now?

We need more books about working-class lives and the gritty day-to-day struggle most of us go through to make ends meet. Matthew’s photography project gives him and Dawn permission to explore each of her customer’s homes. The truth is, most of us could never afford to fully stock our basement fridges with fancy sodas, seltzers, and flavored waters like the McIntyres do. Dawn recognizes that the clothes in Hilary McIntyre’s cedar walk-in closet are probably worth more than everything she owns, including her car and trailer.

Fiction can take you anywhere and, though I can appreciate a great escape novel that takes me on a fabulous trip or adventure to another time, my interest is in everyday people and what motivates them to keep moving forward. There is plenty of drama and longing in having to go home to your trailer at night and only having one can of soup waiting in your cupboard. There’s tension in knowing that stealing one piece of jewelry some rich lady never wears could change your whole life.

It’s not easy to survive in 2024 America. Our society is incredibly unbalanced. I like books about that.

Other than writing this book, what’s the best job you’ve ever had?

The most meaningful job I’ve had was as the editor and lead writer for Thrive magazine at the Rogel Cancer Center. So many patients shared their personal health stories with me as a way to inspire and help others going through treatment. They changed the way I think about “problems” and why living in the here and now matters.

The best job I’ve ever had was as a teenager, at a restaurant in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI, where we’d hide in the walk-in fridge and eat the giant buckets of chocolate chip cookie dough. It was a dream come true.

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

Coming Clean is a story of starting over and coming to terms with grief after Dawn’s fiancé’s death in a motorcycle crash. I hope readers will see that she learns and grows over the course of the week, and realizes it’s possible to begin again, even though it’s not the future she planned. Also, at the core of the story, Coming Clean is about art. Dawn becomes Matthew’s muse and the inspiration for his photography project. She becomes very aware of how he finds art and beauty in its most raw and emotional forms. Art can help us heal.

What food and/or music do you associate with the book?

Coming Clean isn’t a culinary-inspired story, but food and drink represent survival. Dawn is broke and in her early twenties, so she eats what’s cheap: chicken and stars soup warmed up in the microwave after work, pizza for lunch that Matthew stops and picks up, a coffee drink that serves as a meal replacement. She also drinks a lot of whiskey, usually Evan Williams (the cheap stuff), but the more refined Makers Mark when Matthew springs for it. She notices a lot of the gourmet brands of food and drinks in her customers’ homes. On Wednesday at the Rileys’ townhouse, she shoves a piece of fancy bread in her mouth, along with a spoonful of expensive fruit preserves. It was a real treat and helped her hangover.

What book(s) are you reading currently?

I just began reading Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. The first chapter was excellent. I do love a first-person narrator who’s not afraid to admit she’s jealous of her friend’s wild success. She’s so sure her friend is disingenuous and putting on a show trying to be a nice person. Insecure characters can be very funny. I can’t wait to read Chapter 2.

Beth Uznis Johnson (photo by Edda Pacifico)

Learn more about Beth on her website.

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Buy the book from the publisher (Regal House Publishing), Volumes BookCafe, or Bookshop.org.