CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I never grew up thinking I’d become a writer. I didn’t know people actually became writers. When I was coming up, there was no mention at all of MFA programs and the idea that I could become a writer never crossed my mind! Even after I started college, writers to me, were people who came out of the womb basically writing books. I didn’t know writing was something one could develop. I thought you were either Toni Morison or Stephen King or you weren’t. I always loved to read, though, and I kept a journal religiously. On a whim, and because I was curious, I took a creative writing class while in college. It was my junior or senior year and I absolutely loved it.
How would you describe your books?
I’ll tell you what I’m aiming for. I hope to write a well-paced story that keeps the reader guessing. I love surprising myself and hope that the reader is ultimately surprised by certain turns in the narrative as well. I strive to write characters I’ve never seen before who are also flawed and human. And I love funny. Even with more serious stories, I love adding elements of humor.
Why was Shake Down the Stars a book you wanted to write?
I’m a one-idea-at-the-time kind of writer. I usually start with voice when I first start writing. When I started Shake Down The Stars I saw a woman in a room by herself nursing a drink while her best friend was celebrating her wedding. I sort of let her speak to me as I played around and “listened” to what she had to say. It wasn’t long before I realized her struggle dealt with loss. I then thought, “Uh-oh, this is not going to be easy of fun,” but I fell in love with Piper—her sassiness, her humor and courage—all of it. I liked the challenge of telling her story while keeping myself from falling into melodrama. And like I said, since I’ve learned I do humor well, I also wanted to add elements of funny.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
When I first started, everything about the writing process was tough. Even convincing myself to sit down and write was difficult. I learned, however, to find my way to kindness. I stopped beating myself up and started thinking of writing as “practice.” Over time, I started to enjoy it. Which is a true miracle if you knew how torturous it was for me when I first started. Anyway, that’s my long way of saying, I kinda like all of it—editing, writing crappy drafts, all of it.
What are your favorite genres to read?
EVERYTHING! Noir, thrillers, literary, graphic novels, contemporary fiction… What I don’t read is fantasy. But I watch Game of Thrones, does that count?
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
That’s a great question. I hope readers learn that it’s possible to find happiness again; that if you’re the outsider of your family, you can create a loving family from friends; and that humor is the antidote to many a momentary problem. Also, that the night sky is wondrous and amazing.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Very! My guess is that the only writers who don’t use social media are already established. For the rest of us, or most of us, you shouldn’t expect a big publicity campaign and social media allows you to meet more people than paying for your own book tour, for instance. Blog tours are an awesome idea as well and I’m happy to be on a tour with ChickLitPlus. (Samantha, did not pay me to say this, by the way! 
)
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Be yourself. Write the story you want to tell and not the story you think you should tell. Do your best to discover what you’re good at and run with it. In the meantime, continue to hone the weaker aspects of your writing. Read a ton. As you read, watch how writers set up scenes and use dialogue and all the rest. Finally, find a way to make the process of sitting and facing your fears every day enjoyable. I know that sounds nuts, but it’s such a long haul, the sooner you learn to become your own cheerleader and best friend, the better.
**Excerpt**
I turn from the window and begin scanning the library’s massive leather-bound collection
until I decide on The House of Mirth. I’m about to sit at a small table near one of the stained-glass
windows when a man the size of a troll walks inside. He steps directly up to me with an expectant grin on his face as though we know each other, but I’ve never seen him before in my life and
have to assume he’s with the wedding party that’s rented the east wing of the estate. He’s built
like a wrestler and wears a silver suit that strains against his Popeye-like biceps; his chest bubbles
out from his shirt like a growth. He looks, in fact, like a baby shark standing on its dorsal fins.
He runs his tongue over his upper lip while staring at me. “You. Are. Lovely.”
“And you,” I say, waving my hand at the alcohol-induced stench rising between us, “are.
Shit. Faced.”
“No shame in it. I’m here to celebrate, after all. I see you’re not holding back either,” he
adds, nodding toward my scotch.
I raise my glass and take a sip. “Touché.”
“Name’s Selwyn. And you are?”
“About to read my book, if you don’t mind.”
He points at me with the same hand that’s holding his glass. “You’ve got spunk. I like that.”
“Spunk?”
“Yeah. Gotta little fire going on.”
I look him over while taking another pull from my drink. He’s not exactly troll-sized,
probably five foot seven at best, but I’m five foot nine and in heels, so from my vantage point he
may as well be a Lilliputian. An Oompa Loompa. A hobbit. “How tall are you exactly?”
“Five-six-and-a-half and proud of it. Never let a man’s height fool you. Height is never an
indicator of a man’s sexual prowess.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
He studies my face briefly. “I don’t remember seeing you at the wedding rehearsal last night.
You a friend of the bride or the groom?”
“Neither.”
“Neither? You with the other wedding party?”
“Yeah. But it’s an engagement party.”“Wooooo. Having an engagement party up here? Must be some engagement. So, you gonna
tell me your name or what?”
“Why should I?”
“Because I’d like to get to know you better. Seriously, girl, I’m here all alone, and I have a
feeling we’d hit it off. I’m the groom’s cousin. I’m here for the wedding tonight, and I’ll be on
my way home tomorrow morning. I’m a good guy. I live in Livermore. I work for the mayor. No
kids. No wife. What do you say we spend a little time together before I leave? Celebrate this
weekend of . . . amore . . . with a private celebration of our own. You. Me. A bottle of Dom?”
I stare at his finger as it’s making its way up and down the side of my arm. I can only hope
that he’s behaving like a throwback to 1970s bachelorhood because he’s high or drunk—or both.
Otherwise, there’s no excuse.
***
Author Bio:
Renee Swindle is the author of Shake Down The Stars (NAL/Penguin) available now.
Her first novel, Please Please Please, was published by the Dial Press/Dell. Please Please Please was also published in Germany as Mehr Mehr Mehr and published in Japan. Please Please Please was an Essence Magazine bestseller.
Renee Swindle earned her BA from UC Irvine and MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University. She lives in Oakland, California
Connect with Renee!
www.reneeswindlebooks.com
