Squeetus exclusive: Carol Lynch Williams

Today I get to expose Carol Lynch Williams to my blog readers. She's not shy--she'll bare it all! But we'll try to keep this nice for polite society. Carol is a fellow Utah writer (we breed writers out here on ranches). Her latest book completely took my breath away. I couldn't put it down, and I wasn't the only one. Not only is it gripping, it deals with an issue that has been in the news a lot the past couple of years. The Chosen One is about Kyra, a thirteen-year-old girl who was born into a religious community called the Chosen. Her father has three mothers, her family is large and loving. But the community's Prophet has chosen a husband for Kyra--she is to marry her 60-year-old uncle, who already has multiple wives. That's how the story begins.

Carol and I conversed via email.

SH: Hi Carol! You are looking gorgeous as usual. And you smelly so pretty. You must be one of those authors who actually shower. I hope that doesn't make you think you're better than the rest of us. But whether or not you think it, you probably are. I mean, The Chosen One. Wow. Knock my socks off. I could not put it down, and a full half hour after I finished, I suddenly started sobbing again. What was the experience of writing this story like for you?

CLW: I spent a lot of time wanting to cry while writing the book, Shannon. And the story starts out long before I sat down to write. You know how that goes. You get an idea--it's sloshes around in your brain for a number of years. Then one day (when you start your MFA at Vermont College in Writing for Children and Young Adults, you realize that you have to have a creative thesis done) you start writing.
 
Part of the sadness was all the research. That was hard. Lots of sad things happen in our world (well, not in your world, Shannon. Because you got the Newbery Honor. But in plain people's worlds--like mine-- icky things happen.). So I did this research and I just felt sick for a couple of years (much longer than a 9-month puking pregnancy).
 
But here's the serious part, Shannon. As I was writing, I realized abuse happens EVERYWHERE to kids. All over. And it made me sadder than ever.
 
As far as the smell, that's Shalimar--a great 'I-haven't-showered-in-four-days' cover up.

SH: It's weird, how after getting a Newbery Honor, there's this magical force field around you that protects you from anything bad ever again. The magical force field, more than the framed certificate even, is the real bonus.

You mentioned research. What kind did you do? Would you recommend any other books on either abuse or fundamentalism?

CLW: I researched a lot online, read newspaper articles and watching what was on TV, too. Not Big Love. I still haven't seen that. But it seemed every channel had something about polygamy. And I think about this time (or right before) Warren Jeffs became one of the Ten Most Wanted or something, so he was in the news quite a bit. I read accounts of people who had escaped the lifestyle. I talked to practicing polygamists and people who had left families when they decided to not follow their leaders. I spoke to families where a child left the religion taught at home and followed someone into polygamy.
 
One of the misconceptions I encountered (and am still encountering) is that some people think members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are polygamists--or that polygamists are somehow Latter-day Saints--like a branch or something. But what I found is that there are all kinds of people who have broken off from their churches and become polygamists.
 
I didn't read any non-fiction books (like Jessop's Escape or Jeff's Lost Boy, which has been recently released, or Stolen Innocence by Wall). I wanted to get my facts from reports and documentaries. So these may be books I'll read later--and they may be good but haunting books to recommend. Some of these cultures are not for the faint of heart.

SH: I'd say the same of your book--not for the faint of heart. Unflinching, brutal, but beautiful and loving. I've noticed that though the Chosen in your book have nothing to do with the Latter-day Saints (i.e. Mormons), in reviews and articles, people will still mention that you are a Mormon. The New York Times did that. How do you feel about this? Being myself a practicing Latter-day Saint, I'm sure we get a lot of the same questions and confused opinions. The questions are great--but the assumptions can be hard. Not that I'm helping dispel myths very well. I wrote a book with my husband, Dean Hale. The illustrator, Nathan Hale, is not a relative, but at book appearances out of Utah, I've started to claim him as my second husband. 'Cause, you know, I'm a Mormon and all. And apparently I'm that kind of a woman--the kind of a woman with many needs.

CLW: You are a woman with many needs, Shannon. That's part of why you are so hysterically funny.
 
I don't mind that people know I'm a Latter-day Saint, Shannon. Religion is a part of who we are, don't you think?
 
At one point--when I knew I would write about polygamists but I didn't know it would be this book--I thought that having a middle grade novel where two little girls met (one LDS, one the daughter of a polygamist) would be a good way for people to see that Mormons do not practice polygamy because I would show the difference between the two groups. That turned out to be a book that I could not write. At all.
 
What is interesting is that I still keep getting the reviews for The Chosen One that say things like "This is a book about Mormons." Or " This book takes place in a Mormon-like setting . . ." I had one woman ask me, "What will the Mormons do when they read this book?" And I was like, "Ummm, I'm not so sure. I hope they like it."
 
Being a Latter-day Saint is a huge part of who I am. So is being a mom. And being a good friend. And a woman. And paranoid. And an over-eater. And a Miss Bossy-face. And a would-have-been Country and Western singer. And a reader. And on and on till your sick of my list. It all influences me as a writer.

SH: Well said. Now, you know, you are the hysterically funny one. Not only in person, but you've written some very funny books. A Mother to Embarrass me had me laughing out loud. And yet you can go to some very dark places. There's a scene in The Chosen One that I never could have written. I just couldn't live in that moment (maybe I could've when I was younger, but not since becoming a mother). What's that writing experience like for you?

CLW: If you're mad enough, Shannon, I bet you could write anything, don't you think? The more research I did on some of these communities (remember--many are NOT like this), the more sad and angry I became.
 
So--this leads me to another story. Once upon a time (this is NOT a fairy tale) I wrote a book called The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson which is about child abuse. This was a long time ago. The whole time I wrote that book, I wore my emotions not just on my sleeve, but all over my body. Some days my girls would come in, "Mommy?" and I'd burst into tears. Other days I would turn to them like Regan from The Exorcist--"Whaaat?"
 
What I'm trying to say is that it is hard to write icky, yucky stuff. Writing is so much who we are that we feel  what we are writing--experience, sometimes, what our characters are feeling. Maybe I'm making too much of it, but that's why, I think, it's hard to put something tough down on paper.
 
Some people want a sequel to The Chosen One. Honestly, at this point in my life, I don't know that I could write one.  [SH note: Spoilers in white follow--highlight to read, but only if you've read the book!] It was hard to see Kyra leave her family--and I'm not so sure she'd ever get back there. As an aside, one of the things people want to see is what happens with Josh and Kyra after they are out of the compound. The fact (or fiction) is Kyra is only 13!

SH: Thanks Carol! Is there anything else you'd want to add?

CLW: Just where they should send the money. 50/50 split, right?

Love that Carol. A fine lady and a fine writer, even if she is a Miss Bossy-face. And check her out putting spoilers for her own book! I just couldn't let it ride. I'm a spoiler freak, had to hide them. Go read the book. And keep some tissues handy

Comments

[Tracy]

Great interview. I don't know if I could handle reading a story like that, but I can certainly see that the timing is right for such a book. I'll have to check out A Mother To Embarrass Me though. That sounds right up my alley.

Um, and the cheque is in the mail...split it however you want :)

[Kyle]

Sounds like another great writer. I'll have to watch out for her books.

[Emily M.]

It's a great book. Disturbing, painful, but also great. Thanks for the interview, Shannon.

[L.T. Elliot]

I love your interviews, Shannon. They're always funny and yet oh-so-informative!

[Marisa]

I have to admit, that Carol let me read the ARC of this book, and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. And I'm not just saying that because I love Carol, but she is one of the most fantastic, wrongly under-the-radar writers. I love that she can go from the seriousness of the Chosen One to the silliness of My Angelica. Even if you're not one for the "darker" stories, I encourage you to read this book. It's fantastic.

[SpeedReader]

I just got this book from the library and am anxious to start it because I've heard such fabulous things about it. And Carol really is a kick in the pants ... she emceed a writing conference I attended and had everyone laughing. I'd love to see the 2 of you emcee something together ... that could be really fun to watch!

[Shannon Morris]

I totally dig books like this. I'll admit it's painful and hair-raising to read but I think it's crucial for society to be aware of what people deal with in their lives. And most often it's the little people who deal with the worst of it. I have been a social worker for years and recently became a school counselor. I certainly have heard more than my share of 'stories' and my heart bleeds every time. Yet here I am. Maybe that's one reason I have chosen to write some. This way I get to pick and choose what happens, and take out the bad guys in the most painful ways possible if necessary. Not that I would ever do that, but maybe. We'll see. Thanks to Carol and to all you fabulous writers who inspire awareness and also offer a way to escape, even temporarily, into beautiful worlds of fantasy.

[Celes]

I actually just finished this book a few days ago, and it was really good! Hard to read, though, at times. But I'm glad I read it!

[Katie-wa]

Oh, I hate sad stories that aren't fluffy and happy! Does it end good? So long as it ends good, I can read it. So does it end happy? Or is it tragic?

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Thank you for being a spoiler freak. I am, too. Once, a friend told me the ending of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- I didn't talk to him for a long time. :) This book sounds interesting, and I'll have to see if I can get it.

[Kinney]

I loved this book! It was pretty scary and sad in some places, but I thought it was great. Thanks for doing an interveiw with Carol Lynch Williams :)

[MIMI]

I am so glad that you did this interview. I really struggle with allowing myself to go the dark places that I feel I need to write about. It does take a lot of courage to go there and it helps a new writer like me to know that there are others who have already tread that path.

[Ennafan]

What age group would you say that The Chosen One is for?

[Jas fr Aus]

Wow, what an interesting topic to be writing on. That's definitely a book I'd like to check out. I love these interviews that you conduct Shannon, because they always leave me inspired as to what to read next!

(A slightly irrelevant comment coming from the inner grammar-Nazi within me: shouldn't "till your sick of my list" be "till YOU'RE sick of my list"?)

[Emma H.]

I LOVE reading- all types of books. I've never heard of Carol Lynch Williams, so I checked out her books on the internet. I can't wait to read The Chosen One. Any book you recommend must be great! Carol sounds like a fun person. Thanks for introducing her to us! I'm always open to new books!

Thanks for clarifying that about Mormens and polygamy. I'm a Mormen myself and it's hard to explain that kind of stuff to people.

[Julie]

1) Thanks for the spoiler warning. That was an awesome way to do it, too.

2) What you said about people mistakenly believing that polygamists are Mormons/Mormons are polygamists reminded me of a bit from Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. The main character is Muslim, attending a Catholic school, and this girl at school asks her to give a speech "explaining" 9/11 - as though, being a Muslim, she understands the extremist point of view. The girl agreed to give the speech "when you give one 'explaining' the Ku Klux Klan." It is such a good point to make, that there are extreme cultures everywhere and it's important to view them as such, not just a branch off of something else.

[Je Reve]

Now I want to read it. But I don't want to cry. Thanks, Shannon and Carol! Great interview. It reminded me of the polygamist-eating scene in A&H:)

[Leslie]

I can only imagine how hard it would be to write a book like that when I know how reading it affects me. Great interview.

I found your website because my family just finished The Goose Girl over the weekend (audio edition). We LOVED it. Even my husband was going on and on about how fabulous it was. :)

[Marsha]

I am not really sure where to post this but hopefully you will read it here :)

I just finished The Actor and the Housewife and really enjoyed it. What a tasty dish for a bookclub discussion! I am going to suggest it for my group to read. I think our group of LDS Housewives will have alot to talk about! Thanks for this book and all your books! I have read them all and loved each one.

Anyways I do have a question for you. I noticed that every (well almost every) chapter title starts with "In which ... ". Is there any chance that is a tribute to one of my favorite books of all times, The Girl of the Limberlost? I love that book and ever chaper title starts "Wherin..." which seems very similar to me and I would love to think you love Elnora as much as I do. If you havent read it you should. It is a real treasure and I think you would like it.
Marsha

[Melanie]

I'm right there with you, Shannon: I just finished The Chosen One tonight (this interview made me itch to check it out, and I raced through it) and wept through about the last 80 pages. Then, later, when my boyfriend called and asked how my day was, I burst into tears again and couldn't speak for several minutes. (Poor guy.)

I think this is the hardest story I've ever read, but it was also so beautifully written and so, so worth reading. Thank you, Carol, for writing this book, and thank you, Shannon, for conducting this interview (and all your interviews!).

(P.S. Shannon, thanks for this blog, period. I'm reading through the all the archives--I'm still working on 2006, but I'll catch up soon! It's inspiring. If you can write novels so well with so much going on in your life, then there's hope for my novel, too!)

[julie]

oh I have check this book out. thanks so much for introducing her to me..I will check out the book asap.

[Sara Weiss]

this book sounds really good i want to read it so bad! i was about to read the spoiler but i didnt thank god!!