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| Author Elizabeth Wilder |
Thank
you for participating in this interview, Betty, and sharing information about your
second novel, Granite Hearts, your
research process, and interesting trivia about mason jars gathered in your
pursuit of the facts.
E.E.
WILDER: Thank you Gail for including me in your “Fast Forward” interviews. Your
questions were probing, causing me to examine my own thought process. It took
me a while to work through some areas and in doing so grew to better know my
own process. BTW – My muse was most appreciative.
FAST
FORWARD: A story’s protagonist often reflects an author’s personality, or
displays characteristics the author has chosen to explore. In your series, the
protagonist is “One family, One Journey of early Maine settlers.” Can you
please share with us some of the back story that defines your
protagonist/family but isn’t included in the published novels?
E.E.
WILDER: Although I can see many traits of people in my life and those of my own
in characters in Granite Hearts, I did not start this “journey” with a specific
protagonist in mind. I am by nature a curious creature who likes to find the
why and how in any new scenario.
In
researching my husband’s family as “pioneers” who helped settle the town of
Washburn along the Aroostook River in northern Maine, I found that when they “hacked
their way in” through the forest from the coast, many Canadian families were
already well established along the river. When visiting the museum housed in
the original Wilder home, no one could tell me why the Canadians were there
first. So began the five-year process of research to uncover the history and
find a way to tell the story of the battle between the US and UK over the
boundary of this lucrative lumbering area and the plight of the Micmac Indians
being displaced. Thus the story of Jed and Ben evolved to tie the gems of
history together.
In Granite Hearts, the “family” once again
was the string, which held together the fascinating history along the Penobscot
River. This area was rich in events so the story travelled another 20 years
from building Fort Knox, to the Penobscot Indians and their plight, to the underground
railroad, to earliest women’s rights. The story continues to the election of
Hannibal Hamlin as Lincoln’s first VP, then to the heroics of the Maine 20th
under Joshua Chamberlain in the Civil War. What you showed me was that the
protagonist(s) in my stories was the nugget of history I wove together by character
driven tales of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and struggles to survive sometimes-cruel
situations.
FAST
FORWARD: After writing the first novel in a series, it seems that subsequent
novels would flow out fully formed. The author has the basics down: format for
the storyline; a feel for the proper number of plot lines and chapters;
techniques for creating a charismatic protagonist and supporting characters;
secrets to making the antagonist likeable; and guidelines for adding conflict
right up to and through the denouement. How has writing become easier for you;
and what remains as difficult now as when you wrote the first novel?
E.E.
WILDER: I had to chuckle at the notion of Granite
Hearts flowing out fully formed. I feel my writing technique has become
more natural to me, it is easier to form a chapter that will lead the reader to
the next and it is not as difficult to dig for new or validating information. I
guess I truly like my character protagonists so it is not difficult to make
them someone you may want to meet. I have never struggled with secrets to make
an antagonist likeable. Just the opposite, I enjoy squeezing every bit of
despicable out of them. In Granite Hearts,
however, the lead antagonist is an inanimate granite fort that provides a
living but at the same time proves negative for the family.
The
final outcome is known to me as is the beginning before I start writing. This
helps me focus on ways to reach that outcome. As for how writing is easier, I
have gained a lot of confidence in my skills – mostly through trial and error,
write and rewrite. My need for research is as difficult now as it was with my
first novel for I want fact to be fact, and fiction to be fiction. For example,
I wanted the youngsters in Granite Hearts
to chase fireflies and put them in mason jars. Were there mason jars at that
time? Turned out it was still too early for them. Guess I’ll have the next
generation chase them.
FAST
FORWARD: Great comment about squeezing every bit of despicable out of your
antagonists! To hold a reader’s attention, a series protagonist must continue
to grow or change in each novel. In The Spruce Gum Box, the reader is
introduced to the Smythe family, Jedediah Smythe and Adelaide Wingate, and
their son, Ben. Early in the novel, Jed meets three boys, including Sean “Uncle
calls him Trouble.” Without revealing any spoilers, how does Sean Ryan
represent family development and change in Book 2?
E.E.
WILDER: Of the three brothers one had left the Indian settlement on the
Aroostook and lived a quiet life as a teacher near Bangor on the Penobscot
River. Of the two left only Sean would jump at a chance to start anew with his
bride in hopes to provide a better life for her and to escape the bigotry still
strong within the growing communities along the Aroostook. He felt his father’s red Irish hair and fair
complexion would carry him in a new environment where no one knew his background.
They had just started clearing the land for the new fort and he was not afraid
of hard work. His nickname of Trouble still held and his obsessive drive to
succeed with dreams of becoming a finish stoneworker drove a negative wedge
into his part of the Ryan family development.
FAST
FORWARD: A series requires the presence of a continuing main character. Often,
however, there is another recurring character. In your novels, the family
represents the protagonist. In Granite Hearts, Sean Ryan is the
recurring character who continues the family story with his wife, Gert.
However, Gert is actually the strong female protagonist who carries the story.
What is Gert’s purpose/role within the story and how well does she handle the
suspenseful and often life-changing situations that arise?
E.E.
WILDER: I have always considered The
Spruce Gum Box a father/son story but was very surprised when Granite Hearts became a mother/sons
story. I’m not sure if Gert would have
become so strong if not for the influence of her next door neighbor, Mrs.
Hodge. Her late husband was unusual among men of the times for he made sure
their home and large farm was deeded to his widow. She was well traveled, well
read, a community activist and no nonsense boss of her thriving farm. She and
Gert shared a common love of reading and from there a deep friendship developed
that would allow Gert to grow as a woman, not merely a wife under the thumb of
a demanding husband. Through grit and determination Gert raised her boys and at
times a child-like man, her husband. She handled difficult situations with outward
bravery and private weeping. When I told my son that Granite Hearts was becoming a story of a strong woman, he replied
“Should I be surprised?”
FAST
FORWARD: Researching a new novel takes the author on a journey to many new
places, whether through books, movies, newspapers, or physical travel. What did
you most enjoy about the research process of your second novel, and where did
your research take you?
E.E.
WILDER: Obviously, we made trips to Fort Knox in Prospect, Maine across the
Penobscot River from Bucksport to walk the grounds and tunnels. We drove around
on one trip and found the spots to place the Ryan and Hodge homes and I took
photographs of the terrain, river and roads. We visited museums, read archived
newspapers, and chose names from mid 1800’s genealogies. The only books I read
were about Joshua Chamberlain and Civil War battles. I have never thought of
taking research from movies – I like to discover my own information. In
addition I studied antique maps and searched the areas via satellite using MapQuest.
I enjoy digging deeper and deeper into bits and pieces on internet search
engines. I love finding the occasional surprise that works perfectly to drive
the story.
Where
can fans of your novels find you and your books on the Internet?
Links:
Books
through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indie Bound – ordered through your local
bookstore.
Kindle
versions through Amazon.
Wholesale through Ingram, Baker
and Taylor, and publisher direct. Discounts given to qualified book clubs.
*****
