Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler with Mary C Gottschalk/@Marycgottschalk
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. ~Douglas Adams
It is my pleasure to feature author Mary C Gottschalk in this Google+ Hangout interview on her journey from memoir to fiction. Mary and I met on Facebook several years ago. I’ve been a fan of Mary’s writing since reading her memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam, where she took me on a real-life adventure around the world in a sailboat and showed me the real meaning of “stepping out of your comfort zone.” Mary will discuss her new novel, A Fitting Place, and how there are many ways to step out of our comfort zones. Hint: It is just as adventuresome!
My reviews for Sailing Down the Moonbeam can be found on Amazon, Goodreads.
My reviews for A Fitting Place can be found on Amazon , Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThings
Welcome, Mary!
Writing a Novel After Writing a Memoir
KP: What made you decide to write a novel, A Fitting Place, after writing your memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam?
MG: I’ve long believed that the potential for personal and/or professional growth is greatest when you are in situations that cause you to re-examine your beliefs and values. In my memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam, I chose to step out of my comfort zone from a professional, geographic and cultural perspective. It changed my life in some amazing ways.
But most people don’t have the option of quitting their jobs and heading off into the sunset. I wanted to write a story that could happen to any woman. In the novel, my protagonist, Lindsey, remains in her hometown surrounded by friends, family and her career, but begins to grow in new ways when she is forced out of her comfort zone.
KP: We are all told that as memoir writers we need to use fiction-writing techniques. How did writing a memoir first prepare you for writing a novel?
MG: Two things
- Memoir has to read like fiction or it will not engage the reader. It has to have a story arc with appropriate plot points and credible characters. When you already know the story arc and major plot points, you have more energy to learn how to build tension and develop fully-realized characters.That’s a lot harder when you’re making up the key plot points. You can spend a lot of time writing scenes that turn out to be completely irrelevant. Knowing what it feels like when you get it right makes it easier to keep trudging through the mistakes.
- A related issue is the creation of interesting and credible characters. It took many drafts of my memoir before my ex-husband and myself emerged as three-dimensional figures that would be recognized by people who knew us and appreciated by people who didn’t. I could never have done the novel without have some sense of how to go about creating fully-imagined characters.
KP: How did you decide on the plot and characters for your novel?
MG: I mentioned before that I wanted to stay with premise that you grow the most when you step outside your comfort zone. One of those growth periods, for me, came during a rebound relationship after my husband and I separated. The advantages and disadvantages of rebound relationships inspired the overall story arc, but the events are fictional.
So are the characters. You know, for example, I have no children. But the characters in the final novel are not the same as the ones in the first draft. Several people got dropped because they did nothing to further the plot, while at least two were added in a later draft because they were necessary keep the tension up and the story moving forward.
KP: Since we have already met Lindsey, your main character, through your blog posts, we know she is conflicted and struggling with self-defeating behavior patterns. Can you offer some insights on how you developed her character?
MG: So many women of my generation grew up with stereotypes about masculinity and femininity. The stereotypes say a lot about people’s expectations, but they don’t tell us much about reality … how any given man or woman wants to be or wants to act. The self-defeating behaviors came when there is an unresolved conflict. In Lindsey’s case, it is a conflict between what she really wants, and what she does based on what she thinks—often incorrectly—is expected of her.
KP: One of the threads in your novel is the concept of sexual fluidity. What made you decide to incorporate this controversial issue into your story?
MG: Sexual fluidity describes a situation in which a sexual attraction is based on personal and emotional intimacy rather than gender. It is the subject of an emerging field of academic research, which indicates that sexual attraction for women is often as much personal attraction as gender. I suspect this perspective appealed to me because I’ve never been sexually interested in a man based on his looks. I was attracted to men who were intelligent and thoughtful, and I could talk to about interesting and challenging ideas
I also think a lot of women who are not lesbian or bisexual find themselves caught up in a rebound relationship with a woman after a heterosexual one has failed. They are searching for emotional comfort, for reassurance that they are still desirable human beings. As is typical of a rebound relationship, Lindsey falls “in love” with the first person who shows a genuine interest in her.
What makes the same sex relationship so important for Lindsey is that it challenges her long held assumptions about gender roles. For example, she consistently subordinated her needs to her husband’s, often feeling that she had no choice but to do what “the man” wanted. But when she finds herself in a subordinate role in a same sex relationship, she can’t blame it on norms about gender roles. She has to look in the mirror.
KP: Can you describe your writing process and how long it took you from idea to published book?
MG: Both my memoir and my novel had three phases. The first was laying out the basic story arc and plot points. The second was identifying the characters and events that I need to make the story work. The third was fleshing out the characters to make them fully-realized.
That is not the same as saying each book took three drafts. Both took many more than that, and in both cases, I put the manuscript aside for several months before attempting a revision. Both books took about 5 years from start to finish.
KP: Do you have any writing tips you’d like to share?
MG: I think the most important thing any writer can do is make abundant use of beta readers and editors. It’s too easy to fall in love with your own words and your own characters.
In my days as a professional writer, I was always happy to debate the content of an article I wrote, but if someone challenged the way I said it, I knew I had written it poorly. It’s even more true with creative writing. You do not want anything to cause your reader to step out of the story you are telling. Only readers can tell you what does or doesn’t work.
KP: That sounds like excellent advice, Mary. Thank you for sharing all the hard work that went into both your memoir and your novel.
***
Author Bio and Contact Information:
Mary has made a career out of changing careers. She spent nearly thirty years in the financial markets, working as an economist, a banker and a financial consultant to major corporations. She has worked in New York, New Zealand, Australia, Central America, Europe, and amazingly, Des Moines, Iowa.
Along the way, she dropped out several times. In the mid-1980’s, Mary embarked on the multi-year sailing voyage that is the subject of her memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam. Twice, she left the world of high finance to work with the nonprofit community, first in New York and later in Des Moines.
In her latest incarnation, she defines herself as a writer. She published her first novel, writes for The Iowan magazine, and lectures on the subject of personal risk-taking.
Mary is on several non-profit boards, including the Des Moines A.M. Rotary
Links to books and social media sites:
www.Sailingdownthemoonbeam.com
http://twitter.com/marycgottschalk
http://www.facebook.com/mary.gottschalk.9
http://www.facebook.com/MaryGottschalkWriter
http://www.linkedin.com/in/marygottschalk/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/105973496280247274228/posts
Links to Amazon: amzn.to/Iy5JTJ
Mary has graciously agreed to give away a copy of both her novel, A Fitting Place and her memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam to two commenters whose names will be selected in a random drawing.
We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~
This Week:
Saturday, May 24, 2014: I’m over at Marian Beaman’s Plan and Fancy Girl blog with a guest post: “Kathy Pooler and Independence Day: Her Story of Freedom.” Hope you’ll stop by and leave a comment!
Monday, May 26,2014: “Google+ Hangout Interview with Memoir Author Nancy Sharp: Both Sides Now: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Bold Living.”
The 30-day Pubslush Crowdfunding Campaign for my memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse was launched on May 12. Now in its second week, it is 73% closer to its goal. The campaign ends at midnight on June 11.
By making a contribution you will help spread the messages of hope, resilience and courage to those seeking freedom from abuse. Here’s the link to the campaign:
http://pubslush.com/books/id/2076.
If you are unable to make a contribution, I’d love it if you would share this link with others.
Share the hope.
Thank you!
Dear Kathy and Mary, I sat here with my first cup of coffee in the morning and watched this. It felt as if two of my favorite colleagues and memoirists were sitting at my kitchen table with me. Thank you, Kathy, for bringing Mary “live”. The Google hang-out is a great way to really see and hear the author explain things.
Mary, congratulations on completion of your novel. You have chosen an intriguing and provocative concept as the centerpiece to your novel. I had not heard of sexual fluidity before. I admit I have never been attracted to a woman sexually, but I can see how it could happen that a woman goes to another woman after a troubled relationship or difficult relationship with a man. Again, many thanks for your insights.
How wonderful to have you as the first to join us “around my kitchen table”, Susan! I agree, Mary offers some valuable insights into the writing process for both memoir and non-fiction. The concept of sexual fluidity was new to me as well. Her novel, A Fitting Place examines this issue within the context of the role of female relationships from a societal and human relations point of view. Very enlightening. Thanks for having your first cup of coffee with us and for sharing your thoughts.
Kathy .. I can’t thank you enough — not just for hosting me, but for introducing me to an amazing new tool for communication. I loved our discussion .. it was like being in the same room with you — once we got the technology figured out.
And thank you,Mary, for your patience while we worked our way through the steep learning curve for all the technology! It was a mutually beneficial experience.I’m thrilled we were able to meet this way, almost in-person. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your valuable insights. As you can see, your discussion is resonating with many.
Hi Susan … I am thrilled to have been at your table … I hope one of these days it will be actual instead of virtual!
I glad you found the concept of sexual fluidity intriguing. It’s not a new phenomenon, but the term was only coined in 2008, as the title of a book about some academic research into women’s sexual patterns.
Thanks so much to both of you for this engaging conversation. I believe Mary and Carol Bodensteiner are beta readers for each other? How excellent. I agree that getting good criticism from both other writers and editors is essential to an outstanding final product.
I will be featuring Carol’s journey from memoir to novel on my blog June 2. I will now go insert a link to this blog for the benefit of my readers.
Thank you!
Yes, Shirley, I do believe Mary and Carol are critique partners and I agree, it is an excellent idea. The quality of their work speaks for itself and shows us all the value of putting our writing through rigorous scrutiny before we publish. I look forward to Carol’s post on your blog on June 2. I’ll be featuring Carol on July 7, maybe in another Google+ Hangout Interview if she wishes. 🙂 I love how we all keep gathering around each other’s tables! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights.
Shirley … thanks for tuning in to this neat new tool … As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I love your writing prompts, although I don’t actually write them down as often as I should. But they do make me think!
An excellent discussion, Kathy and Mary. Like Shirley, I enjoyed my morning coffee as I listened in. As Mary’s writing partner for both “Sailing Down the Moonbeam” and “A Fitting Place,” I’ve been in a unique position to see her work through all of issues she describes. She’s been a model for me.
Love the Google Hangout, Kathy. Great idea.
Hi Carol, more company “around the table”. I love it! I can see how you and Mary have been models for one another and in turn, both of you are models for the rest of us. I’m excited to feature you and your new novel,Go Away Home on July 7. I’m sure everyone will want to meet you in person via a Google+ Hangout interview. 🙂 I’ll be in touch.
Thanks, Carol. I have to say that A Fitting Place would never have seen the light of day if not for your enthusiasm and encouragement and brainstorming and good ideas. It’s been teamwork at its finest.
I always learn something new when I visit you, Kathy. And this morning is no exception. I’ve watched and followed Mary for a while now, finding her memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam, to have much the same theme as mine — the value in striking out into the great unknown. I had a sense of Mary through her writing, but having her speak right her in front of me was so much more personal. I’m particularly eager to read her new novel as I am smitten with anything that endeavors to help us look in that metaphorical mirror. Next time you schedule a Google Hangout, I’ll know to have my morning tea with me. Maybe even a crumpet. Too bad we can’t share the jam; maybe Google can work on that next. 🙂
Hi Janet, the more the merrier and you always lighten our day with your witty humor. If Google can have us working on a Rubik’s cube, surely they can provide some form of jam for our crumpets! 🙂 Interesting thought about how Mary’s “stepping out of one’s comfort zone theme” is similar to your memoir theme. It makes me even more intrigued about your upcoming Peace Corp memoir so keep us posted. I know you will enjoy A Fitting Place. Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation.
Hi Janet .. it does seem we are birds of a feather … the willingness to give up all the comforts of home in order to experience (i.e., learn from) other cultures.
I thought about going into the Peace Corps, or joining the Flying Doctors in Australia when I was in my mid-50’s, but then several other interesting avenues opened up and it never happened. I’m so looking forward to your book, as stepping out of your comfort zone at age 55 is probably a bit more of a shock than doing at 40.
I’m just know waking up and enjoying my first cuppa with Mary and Kathy here on the west coast. Grand way to start this sunny Portland day!
I’ve enjoyed following Mary, like many others, and learning from her for about three years now. Hearing her voice over the phone a few times as we collaborated on guest posts was my first one-on-one contact, but to be able to see and hear at the same time added great depth to really meeting Mary. As I work through my memoir and dream of writing a novel, this interview answered many of my questions. And thanks, Mary, for the reminder about beta readers and editors!
Kathy, I always find some new gem of wisdom or knowledge when I come here and I’m so glad I started my Thursday on your blog. Congratulations on the progress with your PubSlush campaign.I’ll definitely share the link forward to share in the effort.
And hi to all my other writing friends who’ve been here already today!
Hi Sherrey, more friends gather. Oh, how I love this community! So happy Mary’s insights resonated for you as you work on both a memoir and a novel. Thanks so much for your ongoing cheers and words of encouragement. I appreciate you sharing my Pubslush Crowdfunding link. So nice, as always, to have you stop by and share your thoughts. Thank you.
Sherrey … I think we have all learned so much from each other over the past few years, and I am so grateful for my friends who have contributed to the discussion about both memoir and about A Fitting Place. I am looking forward to the release of your memoir.
Thank you so much. This interview has answered, in a wonderful, usable way for my brain, some of the questions I have been seeking. Mary C Gottschalk’s generosity in her sharing has been enlightening to me on several levels…excited about getting back to my writing. Thank you so much Kathleen Pooler for a wonderful interview.
Welcome, Mary Anna! It’s nice to meet you. I’m happy Mary’s insights were helpful to you, that she motivated you to get back to your writing. Wonderful! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I hope you’ll keep coming back. Best wishes on your writing.
MaryAnna. It’s nice to meet you, and I delighted that you enjoyed the conversation, inspired largely by the thoughtful questions Kathy chose to ask! Hope our paths cross again.
Great interview, Kathy. My gosh, you are making a mark in every form of social media. Mary your book looks fascinating. I have never heard of sexual fluidity. This talk is so interesting not only in terms of writing and developing the craft, but also a woman’s ongoing search for her identity.
Hi Pat, I’m glad you enjoyed Mary’s interview. I love seeing and hearing online friends. Thanks, as always, for stopping by and offering your thought-provoking insights. I agree, Mary give us a lot to ponder beyond the writing.
Pat … it’s nice to meet you here … I love your comment about the search for identity. It’s certainly a key theme of the novel, but it’s also pretty true for the author of the novel! And sexual fluidity is a relatively new term (the title of an academic study published in 2008), but the phenomenon has been around for a very long time.