In the Author’s Tent: Erin Blakemore

Women want fictional characters who mirror our own reflections, however smooth or unpolished we might be. Likewise, we’re drawn to headstrong protagonists who defy conventional expectations; who, in leaving indelible impressions on our minds and hearts, encourage each of us to stake our claim on the worlds in which we live. We have insatiable cravings for literary role models who make us think, "I’m like her…or could be." Characters who help us realize we’re not alone…who inspire us to say, "With God as my witness, I can and will prevail!"

From Scarlett O’Hara to Scout Finch, THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF celebrates these fictional characters and the authors who birthed them. In Erin Blakemore’s delightful new book, you’ll rediscover the literary heroines you’ve loved and admired over the years–female protagonists who’ve sparked our creativity and ignited our passions, and who’ve set the literary world afire in the process.

I’m delighted to host Erin in the Author’s Tent this morning. You and all your friends are invited to join us! But first, allow me to mention our contest.

CONTEST RULES: If you were hosting an afternoon tea party, which literary heroine(s) would you most want to invite? Tell us in the comments thread, and we’ll enter you in our drawing. Or if you can’t think of anyone offhand, just respond in some way to our conversation. The prize? Your very own copy of THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF! Entries must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday, October 23. Erin will select the winner via a random drawing, and we’ll announce the winner on Monday, October 24.  

 

 

It’s my privilege to welcome you to the Authors’ Tent, Erin, and to help celebrate the newly-released HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF. Your book is such a cozy read; I feel as if we should be talking about it over tea. So I’ll put on the kettle, and of course, I’ll invite your beloved readers to join us.

 

Thanks, Melodye!  Feel free to select your tea of choice…yes, this is the panoply of tea (Excuse to say “panoply”!) I drew upon for strength as I wrote The Heroine’s Bookshelf. 

 

Oooh, blackberry sage sounds wonderful! While I pour, would you please give us a brief summary of your book?

 

Think of THB as my defense of rereading and my love letter to literature’s most lovable heroines and the authors who created them.  In twelve chapters about the characteristics of a true heroine, I manage to uncover how women can draw upon books as they lead heroine’s lives. 

 

I love how you’ve paired female authors with their literary daughters. But whew, so many to choose from, and yet you’ve selected just 12! Naturally, we want to know your secret: How did you go about narrowing your choices to those you’ve featured in this book?

 

With lots of help!  It was a huge process of elimination, but in the end I let my heroines and authors be my guides.  Many books were eliminated because their author wasn’t compelling enough.  Others fell to the wayside because they overlapped with other choices or just didn’t have a classic feel. 

Who or what inspired THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF? And a companion question, if you please: As you hold it in your hands today, does it satisfy your original vision?  [Curious to see how her vision played out in print? Take a peek inside the book!]

The Heroine’s Bookshelf was inspired by the hours, days, weeks, months, and years I’ve spent buried in books, sometimes to the detriment of my relationships but mostly to the great enhancement of my life.  I wanted to honor the book-obsessed little girl and the woman she’s become – one inspired, influenced, and forever changed by the books who are still her constant companions.   

What process did you follow when selecting your heroines’ one-word character traits?

 

Many of them were no-brainers.  Who couldn’t assign “self” to a Lizzie Bennet or “dignity” to a Celie?  However, I tried to be creative along the way.  “Compassion” didn’t seem obvious until I learned about the real generosity and compassion of Harper Lee’s own friends.  “Ambition” used to be “work” until my editor suggested that “work” isn’t really a heroic attribute.  Needless to say, as a workaholic myself it hadn’t even crossed my mind! 

 

Your chapter endings are so entertaining! How ‘bout I sit back and sip my tea while you tell us all about them.

 

I must say, those chapter endings really tied everything together for me (and eliminated my guilt over having to take many beloved books out of the running).  Sascha Alper, my agent’s wife and partner, suggested I think of circumstances under which each book should be read earl+y in the proposal process.  The other lists grew out of that seed.  Interestingly, they were always the last part of a chapter I wrote and often felt harder to write than the chapter itself! 

 

The HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF is already capturing the public’s fancy…from a Heroines of Literature Walking Tour in Manhattan to a write-up in Glamour. [Ed: Scope out the September issue, page 326.] So…how would your favorite heroines feel about this whirlwind of publicity?

 

Depends on which heroine you ask!  Scarlett would have basked in the limelight; Jo March would have cringed and hid upstairs.  I’m trying desperately to take it in stride, but I will admit to a few moments of awe and even more huge, hysterical grins. 

 

I’d be hard-pressed to choose an absolute favorite, so I’ll just ask…which literary characters appealed most to your childhood self? And do they still influence you as a writer?

 

I was a hardcore Little House on the Prairie fan as a child; the combination of Westward journey and anachronistic tasks really spoke to what I found out later was the miniature cultural historian in me.  Also:  bonnets.  I forced my mother to sew them for me and I (cringe) wore them to elementary school.  That early love of history and of minute detail came with me to college, where I studied history and American studies, and has followed me into my career as a writer – this book focuses on history in its way, and I’m working on my first historical novel as we speak. 

 

Tell us briefly about your journey to publication, from signing with an agent to signing your first book.

 

Long story short:  Girl finds agent.  Girl fails to sell first book.  Agent miraculously keeps girl around for over three years until girl taps into project of the heart.  Project of the heart makes its way to the desks of a handful of enthusiastic editors.  The rest?  History. 

 

What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published?

 

My big lesson throughout the grueling process (which was, of course, far longer than my nutshell story would indicate) was to focus on what makes me unique – that strange combination of experience, perspective and voice that makes my work particularly mine.  I think that mix is what sells books – until you can answer the question of why you should write it and get the deal, there’s not much incentive for a publisher to do the same.  One more nugget:  throughout the process, it’s served me well to treat publishing as a business.  Read, study, and take your career seriously so others do, too.  I don’t mean to suck all the life out of writing, but nobody is going to show up on your behalf and learn the ropes for you. 

 

What new things did you learn about Erin Blakemore while writing THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF?

 

Erin can operate on very little sleep.  She can write through personal tragedy, the Christmas rush at the mall, and many work distractions.  And, strangely enough, she has something to say. 

 

You’ve answered these questions so thoughtfully. So now…let’s get your candid, unedited responses to the Lightning Round!

Cupcakes or Scones?  Scones.  More buttermilk!

Your favorite Crayola crayon color?  Ooh, just got that visceral crayon smell feeling.  Cornflower. 

Eucalyptus or Aspens?  Aspens.  Fewer allergies, more quivering.  Does that mean I’m a real Coloradan now?  {Me: Yes, but I say that with some reluctance. I hope you’ll come back to California for frequent visits!

Crinoline or Jeans?  Jeans, for I am a klutz. 

Scarlett or Katniss?  Scarlett, for her true unlikeability.  

Thanks for joining us this morning—it’s been delightful! Thanks also for the delicious tea! I hope you’ll be able to stick around for a while…I’m imagining our readers will want to ask a few questions of their own.

Erin M. Blakemore learned to drool over Darcy and cry over Little Women in suburban San Diego, California. These days, her inner heroine loves roller derby, running her own business, and hiking in her adopted hometown of Boulder, Colorado.  Learn more about The Heroine’s Bookshelf at http://theheroinesbookshelf.com or http://twitter.com/heroinebook.

Dont forget to enter the contest! And for more author interviews, please visit the Author’s Tent archives.