Kimberly Menozzi, Author
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Thursday Thirteen: 13 Questions for Author Robb Grindstaff

17/1/2013

34 Comments

 
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Characters tend to show up in my head uninvited. They start talking, I write down what they say. I hear the character’s voice in my head, and I’m just taking dictation. -- Robb Grindstaff
Ciao a tutti! Hello, everybody! This week's Thursday Thirteen is one I've been looking forward to for some time. January 15th saw the publication of the novel Hannah's Voice, written by Robb Grindstaff. This release has been highly anticipated (in my writers circle, especially), and I literally had the date on my calendar so I would remember to snatch it up ASAP.

I purchased the book on Tuesday morning and completed it Tuesday night. It's a truly engaging read, with sharp wit, biting satire and wonderfully John Irving-esque echoes throughout. (I'll be writing a review soon, when I've recovered from the 'flu.)

In the interest of "full disclosure", I'd like to add that Robb and I have been friends since we met on the Harper Collins Authonomy site back in 2008 (how time flies!).

So now, please allow me to present to you:

Thirteen Questions for Robb Grindstaff!


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(1) Tell us a little about yourself.

My career has been as a newspaper editor, publisher, and manager. The newspaper biz has taken my family and me from Phoenix, Arizona, to small towns in North Carolina and Texas, and from seven years in Washington, D.C., to five years in Asia. Born and raised a small-town southern kid, I’m just as comfortable in Tokyo or Tuna, Texas. I now live in a small community in Wisconsin where I manage a daily newspaper. I’ve written fiction most of my life, and the variety of places I’ve lived and visited serve as settings for the characters who invade my head.

I’ve had a dozen short stories published in several print anthologies and magazines, and several of my articles on the craft of writing fiction have appeared in writerly type mags and websites. I’ve been editing book manuscripts, fiction and non-fiction, for about five years.

(2) You shared some of your work on the Harper Collins Authonomy site when you were working on it. Do you think this proved beneficial?

  Posting my work on Authonomy did prove beneficial, but perhaps indirectly, not because of the contest or the editor’s review. Harper Collins didn’t offer me a publishing contract because of it. Ha. This was back when Authonomy first launched, and it was a much smaller group than it later became, and I think it had more camaraderie at the time than it did later when things went a bit overboard. It may be a wonderful site again—I haven’t been there in more than four years.

I met some wonderful writers on the site with whom I am still friends today. Writers would read each other’s works and provide detailed, honest critiques. The feedback was very helpful at that stage of the writing. Hearing from other writers that the story and the character grabbed their attention—that it really was good enough to keep working on—provided a lot of encouragement. My other novel, Carry Me Away, made the editor’s desk as a top five book on Authonomy. The whole experience really pushed me to keep writing Hannah’s Voice and to submit Carry Me Away to agents and publishers.

(3) An advance review of your novel, Hannah's Voice, says: "Robb Grindstaff’s writing is pure, and free of the hyperbole and love for one’s own words that often get in the way of a good story." What was your immediate reaction upon reading that?

I think all writers like to hear positive feedback. It’s kind of a “Yes, it worked the way I intended” reaction when someone gets it and enjoys it. Writing is such an internal, personal process, that to share it at all can be a little frightening. If someone doesn’t like it—and there will always be those who don’t because reading is also an internal, personal process—it’s hard not to take it personally, no matter how much you try to detach and accept the fact that not everyone will love everything you write.

(4) How much of that hyperbole-free writing is conscious effort, and how much is simply your own "voice"?

I’m not sure I can easily separate the two. It takes conscious effort and years of writing to develop your ‘author’s voice.’ But it’s also a product of the author’s personality, the way the writer views the world, the way the writer naturally communicates. I also believe an author’s voice continues to grow and develop and change over time.

And then there’s the character’s voice, which is a different element from the author’s voice. Although the two are inextricably linked, a character doesn’t speak or think or view the world exactly the way I do. Characters tend to show up in my head uninvited. They start talking, I write down what they say. I hear the character’s voice in my head, and I’m just taking dictation. But then I fuss over every single word to make sure that the words on the page will translate that voice accurately from my mind to the reader’s mind. I want the reader to hear the same voice that spoke to me, and that takes a lot of conscious effort—writing, rewriting, revising, editing. Would the character say it this way or that way? Am I getting the exact right words, in the exact right order, so readers will feel what Hannah feels, know what she thinks, see what she sees? Will readers hear Hannah’s voice?


(5) Who (or what) is your favorite character you've written, so far?

Oh, that’s sort of like asking, “Which is your favorite child?” If I don’t love a character, I can’t write the story. Hannah is pretty special to me, of course. I want readers to get to know her the way I know her, and I want readers to remember her long after they’ve forgotten the details of the story. To me, the best books I’ve ever read are those where the characters stick with me for years and years—Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Garp from The World According to Garp, by John Irving, Billy Pilgrim from Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.

Carrie Destin from Carry Me Away is a character who invaded my mind and heart and wouldn’t let go. She’s so completely opposite of Hannah in so many ways. Whereas Hannah doesn’t speak, Carrie doesn’t know when to shut up. Hannah doesn’t want to be the center of attention, just wants to be left alone. Carrie demands attention and wants to accomplish her life goals by tomorrow.

Right now, the character from my novel-in-progress, Turning Trixie, absolutely fascinates me. Trixie Burnett keeps revealing layer after layer of depth underneath a simple, uneducated, small-town single mother. I can’t wait to keep writing this story and find out more about this young lady.

I suppose my favorite character is always the one I’m writing now.

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(6) What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a writer?

From a career standpoint, getting published—figuring out the topsy-turvy world of book publishing today, deciding on the best route to go, and how to get your work noticed in an overflowing river of books is a huge challenge.

From a writing standpoint, I tend to set challenges for myself that force me out of my comfort zone as a writer. I’m a middle-aged white guy, so what do I do? I write a story with a mixed-race, teenage girl as the main character in Carry Me Away. After I’d finished that, I swore I wouldn’t attempt a female narrator again. So then Hannah shows up. I didn’t just have to write a novel from a six-year-old girl’s perspective, but she’s a first-person narrator who doesn’t speak. How’s that supposed to work? How do I write that? The second half of the book jumps ahead ten years, so now she’s a teenager. I had to figure out how to let her voice and her thought patterns mature from age six to sixteen while keeping her voice consistent as the same person.

But the absolute hardest part of writing anything is to make sure it’s easy to read. To quote Vanessa Wu, the writer is supposed to do all the work so the reader gets all the fun. That doesn’t mean you can’t make readers think, but readers shouldn’t have to try to figure out what you’re trying to say.   

(7)  I know that you're also a professional editor. Do you give any thought to that as you write, or do you write first, edit later?

I do it all wrong. I write, edit what I’ve just written, re-read it and then rewrite it, then edit it again. Eventually I move to chapter two. When that’s done, I re-read and edit chapters one and two until I’ve got them just the way I want them before moving to chapter three. It’s not a process I recommend for any other writers. It’s just how my brain works.

The disadvantage is that it takes me a lot longer to write the first draft. The advantage is that when I finish writing, it’s usually much further along than a first draft. It will still need an outside editor, but it’s a much cleaner, more cohesive draft than if I’d written the whole thing from start to finish non-stop. It enables me to know the characters, the story, every detail, every piece of information. I don’t usually have issues with a character having blue eyes in chapter one and green eyes in chapter thirty-seven.

(8) Where/When do you do your best writing?

Alone. In total silence and isolation. The characters in my head get distracted easily and are jealous of my attention. Writing is not intended to be a public activity or a team sport.

(9) Do you have anything else in the works?

Carry Me Away is undergoing yet another edit, and is planned for publication this summer, also by Evolved Publishing.

I’m still writing Turning Trixie. Trixie, a single mom and the small town’s only prostitute, learns the winning lottery ticket in her purse is about to change her life. Trouble starts when she decides the rest of the town needs changing too.

(10) How do you go about developing your characters, and how much of yourself do you put into them?

As I said earlier, they just show up in my head and tell me their stories, revealing themselves to me as I write. I’m as surprised by characters as I hope readers are. Often, I’m typing away, and the first time I learn something about a character is when I read the words on the screen that I’ve just written.

During the revision and editing phases, I have to make sure that the character I know so well is coming across on the page, in the written words, so that readers will get to know her the same way I do.

(11) Who do you consider your influences in your writing life?

Lots and lots of them. From Mark Twain to Edgar Allan Poe, John Irving to Chuck Palahniuk, Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dave Eggers. My tenth-grade English teacher. My parents.

(12) What inspired you to write in the first place?

Great books and great writers. I wanted to be able to do that too. As a kid, I read all the Mark Twain books and fell in love with his stories. Then my parents bought me the Jack London novels, like White Fang and Call of the Wild. As a morbid, angsty teenager, Poe’s work fascinated me, and then Catcher in the Rye really solidified it for me. I’ve always wanted to write stories and characters that feel as real to readers as these stories and characters did for me.

Also, as a young child, I was prone to telling tall tales. My mom had to explain the difference to me between storytelling and telling stories—between fiction and lying. Dad reinforced that lesson with a slightly firmer approach.

(13) What one lesson have you learned from your experiences in publication that you would like to share with aspiring writers?

Just one? Hmm.

Don’t launch too soon. Keep learning. Writing isn’t easy, no matter how easily that story flies out of your fingertips and onto the page. That’s your first draft. There’s so much to learn about how to write well, how to fully engage readers, and we never stop learning. When you write that first novel, remember that it’s a practice novel. Maybe your first three or four will be practice novels. That’s okay. Get lots of direct, tough, honest feedback from people who will give you the truth about your writing. Study the craft of writing. Read great books by great writers in a variety of styles and genres. Never be satisfied with what you’ve written. You can always make it better, but at some point, it’s time to move on and write the next thing, which will be better than the last thing you’ve written.

So don’t be afraid to launch eventually.

Intrigued yet? Well, you should be! If you'd like to find out more about Robb, or if you want to just jump right in and purchase Hannah's Voice (and I don't blame you if you do), just follow the links below.

Hannah's Voice on Amazon

Hannah's Voice on Smashwords

Robb's publisher, Evolved Publishing

Robb's own website

Robb's author page on Facebook

Robb's also on Twitter
34 Comments
CountryDew link
17/1/2013 05:24:38 am

Nice interview. I always enjoy learning how others work and process. I am esp. glad to know this author comes from a newspaper background. I do too. Sometimes I think it has ruined me but perhaps there is hope yet.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 06:20:04 am

I'm glad you enjoyed the interview, and if Robb's work is anything to go by, I promise you - there *is* hope!

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Robb Grindstaff link
17/1/2013 12:27:08 pm

Always good to meet others from the newspaper biz. We're getting fewer and fewer these days. Some people say there's a lot of similarity between journalism and fiction these days! ha.

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Mia Celeste link
17/1/2013 05:52:21 am

Thank you for the advice and for sharing about your writing. I like what you say about writing not being easy. :) I'll add Hannah's Voice on my to-read list.

http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2013/01/contests-thumbs-up-or-thumbs-down.html

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 06:21:15 am

I'll make sure Robb sees your comment, Mia, and I know you'll enjoy the book when you've read it. It's very entertaining!

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Robb Grindstaff link
17/1/2013 12:28:09 pm

Ah, I've heard "Writing is easy. Writing well is hard." Thanks, and I hope you enjoy Hannah.

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Jennifer Leeland link
17/1/2013 05:59:48 am

Awesome interview!!!! I'm checking this one out. Great TT Kim.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 06:22:49 am

Glad you liked it, Jennifer - I read the book in one day, and I can assure you it's well worth the read.

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colleen redman link
17/1/2013 09:08:49 am

I think the part about him making up stories and thinking they were true is funny. I used to be known for having "pipe dreams." Good interview!

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 09:12:20 am

It's certainly something all writers have had to deal with at one point or another. Until they make money from it, and everyone says "I knew them when...!" Glad you dropped by and enjoyed the interview, Colleen. :)

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MissMeliss link
17/1/2013 09:22:46 am

Great interview! I love reading about different writers approach the craft, and I've just wish-listed HANNAH'S VOICE (because my wish list is really my personal to-buy list) so I'll grab it in a couple of weeks.

In other news, I just bought YOUR book and it's downloading itself to my Kindle as I type this.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 09:29:01 am

*......*
I think I love you.

Seriously - I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the interview. Robb is a great guy, and it thrills me to be able to recommend his book wholeheartedly to a new audience.

And I thank you *so much* for the purchase (needless to say, it means the world to me!) and I hope you'll enjoy Hannah's Voice when you finally get it, too. :)

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Alice Audrey link
17/1/2013 09:30:36 am

Great interview, Kimberly. I'd wondered about the Authonomy web site.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 09:44:21 am

Thanks, Alice! As for Authonomy, I was lucky enough to be there at the very beginning, when there was more of a community feel amongst the participants. More recently, it seems to have lost that feeling, but that might just be because I left when it had a period of population growth. Some writers may still get something out of it, though.

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Jenna Bayley-Burke link
17/1/2013 09:55:59 am

Wait, you mean the stories we make up aren't true? My storied childhood is much more entertaining than anything I can prove.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 10:01:01 am

Well, according to those adults around us... I haven't become one yet, have you? My childhood was much more entertaining in my head than in reality, I suspect. ;)

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harriet link
17/1/2013 10:43:17 am

Wonderful interview. I always like reading what inspires people to take their path in life.

So, next week I'll assume there will be 2 # 13's :()
Have a good one!

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 10:55:59 am

Thanks, Harriet, glad you liked it. :)

I'll be throwing in an extra eye candy, yes, since it didn't seem right to add one this week. ;)

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Paige Tyler link
17/1/2013 11:59:21 am

Great interview! My characters show up and tell me their stories like that, too!

Hope you feel better, Kimberly!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 12:54:40 pm

Thanks, Paige! I'm sure many writers have the same experience with their characters. And yes, I'm feeling better every day. *cough* *splutter*

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Robb Grindstaff link
17/1/2013 05:27:15 pm

Isn't it weird when characters invade your head like that? And just try to explain it to someone who isn't a writer. The neighbors will stop letting their children play outside when you're home.

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Shelley Munro link
17/1/2013 12:39:35 pm

Nice interview. It was great to meet Rob, a new name to me:)

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 12:53:05 pm

Thank you, Shelley - Robb Grindstaff is a name worth remembering, too! :)

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Robb Grindstaff link
17/1/2013 05:25:53 pm

It's not a new name to me. I've had it all my life.

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Pearl link
17/1/2013 02:40:55 pm

Good interview.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 11:18:47 pm

Thank you, Pearl.

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Heather link
17/1/2013 03:15:41 pm

Thanks for the interesting interview, Kimberly.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 11:26:33 pm

You're very welcome, Heather. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Heather Fowler link
17/1/2013 03:28:17 pm

Great interview! What an interesting person -- and sounds like an interesting writer, too. Thanks for introducing him to us!

Feel better soon! The Flu ravaged our house recently too. NO FUN.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2013 11:29:14 pm

Thanks! Robb was very sweet to answer my inane questions so in-depth, wasn't he? He really *is* an interesting writer, and one well worth checking out.

I'm already starting to feel a bit better, so I have high hopes for my immediate future, health-wise. Thanks for the good wishes! I'm glad you're on the other side of this thing, too.

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kandyblossom link
18/1/2013 09:29:50 am

Oh, I loved reading this! Checked out the book and it sounds amazing. Downloading it to my Kindle as soon as I have some time off to relax and enjoy a good book.

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Kimberly Menozzi link
18/1/2013 09:58:43 am

Yay! Hopefully you'll have time to enjoy it soon, eh? :) Thanks for dropping by.

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Robb Grindstaff link
18/1/2013 12:20:36 pm

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who stopped by and read Kimberly's interview with me about 'Hannah's Voice.' And thanks especially to any of you who decided to read Hannah. Please stay in touch and let me know what you think. You can reach me here or look me up on Facebook http://facebook.com/robbgrindstaffauthor

And a huge thanks to Kimberly for doing this wonderful interview. Great questions that made me think. Grazie mille, Kimberly!

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
19/1/2013 02:56:54 am

Thank you, Robb, for the interview and for dropping by to reply to some of the comments readers left for us. I'm already looking forward to your next release so we can do something like this again!

Grazie a te!

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    Kimberly Menozzi

    Author. Happily Married. Survivor of life with two deranged kitties.

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