- What was your relationship with The Tempest before you started Juno's Daughters? Had you been wanting to work with Shakespeare or The Tempest in particular? [SpSq note: this is partially already answered in a comment on the "Overall Impressions" post].
- In novels about novelists there is always this moment when the characters take on lives of their own, outside of the writer's control. Is this a reality for you? As you were writing JD were there times when you felt you were just recording actions of characters rather than manipulating words?
- Did you consider making Lilly 18 so there would have been less of an "ick" factor?
- My cover blurb mentions that Juno's daughter is part "Led Zeppelin" anthem. I'm not a big Zeppelin fan, so I missed the references. Can you elucidate?
- How do you balance your other job, writing at the creation stage, writing at the editing, revising and promoting stage, being part of your family and being "yourself" (i.e. someone neither defined by her occupations or family roles).
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Juno's Questions FOR the Author
E-mail me your questions for Lise Saffran, author of Juno's Daughters, and I will post them here.
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7 comments:
Q1 (I'll take them in order in case I don't answer all in one sitting).
I didn't necessarily plan on writing a Shakespeare-themed book until I saw the play that summer, but I have always LOVED Shakespeare and was interested in how powerfully I reacted to the play. And then, once I started, I spent a lot of time flipping back and forth between the play and my own novel-in-progress, making connections, finding echoes etc. Even though I have always maintained that everything on earth is in Shakespeare (human emotions, potential actions etc.) I often thought (as Jenny did think once in the book): How did he KNOW that?! Finally, a lot of my work is about the tension between finding community and finding independence and so the setting of the Island seemed perfect for an exploration of those themes.
Q2: After the first burst of energy that comes with finding the idea, the early part of novel-writing often feels like you're stumbling around in the weeds looking for a path. If the book is working, though, you reach that point where the story seems like it's already THERE somewhere, like a long stretch of road and you just have to travel it until the end. Sometimes it's characters talking in your head, sometimes it's something that HAS to happen, sometimes it's something that a character knows (that you didn't know they knew). For example, the fact that Jenny had to go see Monroe, and that she had to do it alone, arrived one day seemingly on its own (and then I had to figure out how that might happen exactly).
Q3: Interesting question! I'm wondering if there would really have been that much of a difference if Lilly was 18. I mean, she was way too young for Trinculo, in any case. I would hope that even if she was legal, he would have acknowledged that (though he did find her attractive,I never intended her to be a serious contender, except in her own mind). I'd be curious to know if her legal age would have made a difference to folks in this discussion...
I don't blame you for missing the Zeppelin references--there are just three brief ones! The first is when Lilly and Jenny have their big fight and Jenny tries to connect with Lilly by reminding her how they used to sing The Immigrant Song. The second is when Lilly runs off and texts her mom "Goin2CA" knowing that Jenny will fill in the rest of the lyric, "With an aching in my heart" (Lilly is telling her mom--through a rock song--that the separation is painful for both). #3 is the Chapter Title (same song). Beyond the direct references, I really liked Elin Hilderbrand's blurb because of the sense it could convey to readers that Juno's Daughters might have a bit more edge than some of the commercial books that are marketed as "women's fiction."
Thanks Lise, I really appreciate your sharing your experiences. I may even be motivated to go read The Tempest again (this week I have spent a great deal of unwarranted mental effort trying to figure out when I read The Tempest [approx. 20 years ago] and whom I was trying to impress by doing so).
Age 18 would have not made any difference to me, but one of my friends commented that the actual number was a major stumbling block for her.
Q5: Well, my house could be a lot cleaner!! I began writing after I had already embarked on a public health career and shortly before having children so the balancing act has characterized my writing life. It helps that I have been lucky enough to find the holy grail: an interesting part-time job! I do take breaks between projects (particularly now where I'm finishing up a global health class and getting ready to lead a study abroad) but when I've got a story/novel going I try to write every morning. Book promotion is fun, but it also takes a lot of time (and I'm not doing half of what some do). One writer friend has resolved to send a note to each person entering a Goodreads give-away of his book. If I had thought of that (and I kind of wish I had)that would have meant over 1000 personal notes!
If Lilly had been in her mid or late 20's and independent that would have changed my perspective on her potential relationship with Andre. However, I saw Lilly as still growing and maturing, so far too young (chronologically and maturity) for Andre.
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