Posted Kathleen Pooler /@kathypooler with Diana Cruze/@ladysalesman
I’m very pleased to feature memoir Author Diana Cruze in the guest post on her memoir A Life in the Day of a Lady Salesman. Diana and I met on Goodreads. Diana blazed a trail through the Appalachian Mountains and brings us along on an adventuresome and humorous trip. But underlying this lady salesman is a woman who has to fights hard to establish herself in what the people she serves believe to be a man’s job.
My book reviews can be found on Amazon and Goodreads.
Welcome, Diana!
Finding Memoir Themes
A Life in the Day of a Lady Salesman—an odd title for a memoir with male chauvinism in the workplace as one of the book’s themes. Lady Salesman is no longer proper when speaking about or to a female salesperson. Before I wrote the first word of my memoir, I knew the title, which is a nod to my customers in southern Appalachia.
From Preface:
I slipped through the back door of the school kitchen. Two cooks yelled, “Gladys, the lady salesman is here.”
I heard that call often during years of selling to school lunchrooms and other accounts.
Southerners have long been thought of and portrayed as ignorant backwoods hillbillies. While one chapter in my book does discuss Appalachian language, I never mean to ridicule the folks I met. Simply put, the mountain population speaks as generations before them have spoken. Referring to a salesperson as a lady is indeed a compliment in southern Appalachia.
“Appalachian speak” has been the subject of a wealth of books and articles. Christy, a 1967 novel by Catherine Marshall, documented the connection between Appalachian dialect and the English-Scottish immigrants to our southern mountains.
A Life in the Day…because the many unusual, humorous, or frightening events that took place during my 32 years selling products in mountains and valleys of TN, KY, West VA, VA, and NC caused each day to seem like a lifetime.
Well, what is the theme of my memoir?
Male supervisors who made work life difficult in most office positions I held? “Diana, bring me coffee and hurry,” I seethed as my own work was interrupted while I poured coffee, wanting to pour it on the bosses’ head.
Or male sales managers who cared only for the sale and disregarded needs of the customer? Yes, my desire to escape these supervisors certainly is woven throughout the book.
Adventures that I lived as a child are largely responsible for my driving across treacherous mountains, becoming lost while searching for customers. Seeking freedom, independence, and a decent income is a significant idea in my memoir.
All these subjects: male bigots, adventure seeking, desires for freedom and earning money all are subject matter for this memoir.
I began my book with anger at unfair treatment by bosses, with yearning to tell with humor of my adventures, whether comical or sad, with the awful trials of learning how to sell. Telling of the beauty of our hills and valleys and rivers is also central to my story.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime via Diana Cruze
In the end, the truth that the people of my southern Appalachia are also my theme came through this memoir. I learned to appreciate and care deeply for my customers who were employed as school lunch room cooks, street department workers, linemen, maintenance mechanics, custodians, and many more folks working each day no matter the weather with low pay and few benefits. These people showed me kindness and shared personal stories of their families. Judy, a housekeeping supervisor for a large health care facility once told me, “We are the downstairs people who hold up the rest of the building.”
Here you have the themes of my memoir. You choose the one you like best.
A quote from my book:
“Even though selling chemicals remained challenging, I loved to trek anywhere through rainbows on the road: Brownsville, Bowling Green, Greeneville, White Pine, Copper Hill, Bluefield, or Gray.”
***
Thank you, Diana, for showing us the various layers of themes that have emerged from your memoir. You take us on an adventure through the Appalachian mountains and pique our interest about the people and experiences you encountered.
Short summary of A Life in the Day of a Lady Salesman:
My sales career began in the late ‘70s when I grew tired of office life and sexist bosses. Keebler Cookies offered me a temporary route position, covering for their vacationing sales reps. A cookie and snack position led to a job with a novelty company based in Roanoke, VA until a candy and tobacco company, Tobacco Sales, hired me. IDI (a grocery distributor, located in London, KY) kept me employed for 3 years and I finally chose industrial chemical sales as my last career. Starting my own company in1994 afforded me even more freedom and frequent headaches.
The variety of jobs took me to KY, West VA, VA, TN, and parts of NC.
Although my jobs afforded me the freedom that I enjoyed as a child, my fear of heights made for many harrowing trips across mountainous regions. Mountains proved to be only one of many barriers to a woman in sales during the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ’90s. Although most customers welcomed me, I did often hear sexist remarks. Probably the worst hurdle I faced was learning to make cold calls without shaking from nervousness. I plowed through the cold calls and summits, earning a nice living while enjoying freedom and fun with my customers.
A Life in the Day of a Lady Salesman is available through Amazon, Union Ave Books in Knoxville, TN, Crossville, TN Library, Powell Library in Knoxville, and by emailing me at dianacruze41@gmail.com
Author’s Bio:
Knoxville, TN is my birth place where I have lived most of my life, except for 5 years in Rabat, Morocco and 3 years in Pensacola, FL. I am married to Wayne Cruze, who is retired from the U.S. Navy. My children, Kelly, Cheryl, and Brandon all live in Knoxville. Estella, 9 and Dolan, 5, my adorable grandchildren give me the greatest joy in my life.
Writing has been a passion for most of my life. My poem, “Whirlpool” was published in New Millennium Writings. In 2012, I won first prize for my non-fiction piece, “Words and Music” from Knoxville Writer’s Guild where I am a member.
Contact Information:
Facebook: Diana Amann Cruze
Twitter-@ladysalesman
Linkedin-Diana Cruze
Google+ dianacruze41@gmail.com
How about you? How have you found the themes of your memoir or story?
Diana has graciously offered to give a copy of her memoir away to a lucky commenter whose name will be selected in a random drawing.
We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~
Next Week:
Monday, 12/2: “A Fourth Blogaversay Celebration:My Blog in PIctures”
Thursday, 12/5: “Creativity” by Bryan Cohen
I love Diane’s title, cover art, and theme(s). I am still searching for the theme for my memoir. At the moment, I have purple, orange, pink, blue, yellow, and green stickies on a board designating “themes” from my blog posts which could turn into something more, seeds now incubating in my subconscious. Maybe some wonderful idea(s) will bubble up “unexpected in common hours,” as Thoreau says. I can only hope!
Obviously, I look forward to other commenters who’ve published!
Hi Marian, I have found identifying theme(s) in my memoir to be one of my greatest challenges. I couldn’t force it. It revealed itself as I kept writing, as did the title. I have heard that often times the theme does not “show up” until the end when your manuscript is nearly complete. It reminds me of a saying I have also heard and I’m paraphrasing :Keep showing up and writing and the story that needs to be told will reveal itself. We only need to get out of our own way.” How true. Best wishes as you move along in your memoir writing journey. Diana has enlightened us all by sharing about her themes as well as her rationale for her title. Thanks for stopping by and being the first to comment.
Hi Marion,
Interesting concept of sticking colored stickies on your board to find the theme. I might try this next time.
No worries-your theme, your ideas, your words will come. Sometimes when you least expect them. You may wake up during the night and think, “I’ve got it!”
Good luck and thank you for your kind comments.
Diana
I love the landscape and the way of depicting country people with both detail and respect. My favorite line? “Judy, a housekeeping supervisor for a large health care facility once told me, ‘We are the downstairs people who hold up the rest of the building.’” I tweeted it.
Thanks for introducing me to Diana and her interesting story.
Shirley,
Thank you for commenting and for tweeting your favorite line. When I wrote my memoir, I did not expect the understanding and empathy I felt for my customers. Hard workers all and without a doubt under appreciated.
Diana
Hi Shirley, Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your favorite line on Twitter! It speaks volumes not only to the work conditions Diana observed but also to her compassion for the people she met. I’m happy you enjoyed her story.
This looks like a fascinating read. Diane sounds like a real trailblazer breaking the gender barrier in sales”man” ship.
I would love to read this just to compare stories with my own journey trying to make it in the macho world of basketball. I also found the topic of Appalachian speak and a chance to learn more about this part of the country deeply intriguing.
Pat,
Thanks for commenting. I can only imagine your difficulty of making it in any macho sport. In Knoxville, TN, our women’s basketball coach (now retired), Pat Summit has won more games than any coach-male or female. She has helped change the perception of “girls” playing ball.
Good luck and hopefully you can visit southern Appalachia sometime.
Diana
Oh yes, Diana, the legendary Pat Summitt is an icon in basketball and like my former college coach, has done so much to promote women’s game.
Pat, It’s amazing how trailblazers show up in all sorts of arenas. You and Diana definitely have a lot in common in that regard–strong work ethic, perseverance and a can-do attitude that powered you through all the barriers you had to face. Best of all, you both made a positive difference in breaking down those barriers and paving new trails. Brava to both of you!
This sounds beautiful and adventurous. Loved your discussion of themes…I do believe they evolve.
I look forward to reading this soon and even sooner should I won.
Write on ladies!
Rhonda,
Thanks for commenting. Perhaps you will win my book because I would love for you to read it.
Yes, the theme did evolve as I came to know and love my customers who became like family.
I agree-Write on ladies,
Diana
Rhonda, I’m so glad you enjoyed Diana’s story and discussion on themes. You are right, it is full of adventure and humor. Thanks for stopping by!
To all of you who have commented, I must correct an error. My website is http://www.lady-sales.com. I inserted a comma incorrectly after sales instead of a period on some of my replies.
Diana
It was so much fun to read Diana’s memoir, as I was a female working in a male-dominated industry, too. I howled with laughter when shop workers played a prank on Diana, leaving her with her hand covered in grease. That same thing happened to me, too! Like Diana, I developed special relationships with customers who were small shop owners, fork lift operators, etc. I wish I had her gumption, though – I would have made a lot more money. She was a creative thinker when it came to looking for new customers.
Welcome, Debra. It’s so nice of you to stop by and offer your side of Diana’s adventuresome story. It sounds like having a good sense of humor was a prerequisite for enduring all you had to face. I appreciate your comments!
Hi Debra,
You are kidding! The grease trick was played on you? I would love to hear more from you and your sales job.
Thanks for commenting-I do appreciate each comment.
Maybe it wasn’t gumption I possessed-only stubbornness.
Keep writing.
Diana
I enjoyed Diana’s book very much. My copy is on loan to a friend who followed the same sort of career choice as Diana and traveled the “hills and hollers” of the Appalachians. Diana’s story is a good example of the determination, creativity, and stamina of southern women and women nationwide as they pursued their place in the world of work. Diana is one of the many pioneers who blazed a trail for others.
Welcome,Judith! It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts about Diana’s memoir. I agree, her determination,creativity and pioneer spirit come alive in her memoir. Diana serves as a role model for women on the work world.
JD,
Thanks for commenting. You have also held a career in what is typically a “man’s venue.” I think sometimes southern women are perceived as not too bright, and need to work doubly hard to prove themselves.
Diana
The Appalachian area and the people who live there make a dramatic background for this memoir. The sales-lady obviously thrived on the freedom and drama of that background. I have read much about this area of our Country, its beauty and also the poverty of the residents there. I would enjoy reading how Diana was able to overcome the male bias in her trade. I experienced some of this treatment when I was working in the clerical field. Thank you for an opportunity to read more of her journey.
Hi Kathy,
Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for posting. Overcoming male bias made for a difficult beginning in sales. As I mention in my book, more than one food service manager refused to see me.
Attempting to get a table while alone in a restaurant was met with glares, but after awhile, I learned to take a book and ignore them.
When I finally began to sell chemicals, I found that if a buyer acted rude or sexist, I didn’t have to see him or her again. Many sexist remarks came from my competitors. I believe you simply do your job with honesty and poise; then sales will come.
Diana
“We are the downstairs people who hold up the rest of the building” Thank you for showing these people to us Diana. I am in awe of intrepid people who knock on strangers’ doors despite their fear. Bless you!