Erica Bauermeister on not writing over head and heart
A few months ago a fellow editor, Laurie Skiba, tipped me off that I would love Erica Bauermeister’s language. Most of you know I will read just for that. But as I looked into Erica’s work, there were also other great loves I could see slipping off their bra straps in the low light: food, flavor, scent, atmosphere, homes—what do you call that, curated environment?—community, friendship. Intriguingly, for someone working on a braid of three voices, most of Erica’s books are a kaleidoscope of intersecting narratives—a novel in stories, a memoir in essays, three novels set around tables of six or eight. I decided to invite Erica for one of my industry chats.
I started my reading with Erica’s latest, NO TWO PERSONS. I expected to enjoy the read, but by the second page of text, I was already tempted to send Erica a gushy email. Two pages later I decided, embarrassing or not, I had to do it. I warned her to expect a fan-girl interview. And I was not alone. My partner in crime, Lisa Manterfield, had been unable to attend this month. She got to the end of the first chapter of NO TWO PERSONS and rearranged her schedule to be there.
On the night, not only was I in full fan fizz, but as an author and writing instructor, I had more than the usual amount to ask. I expected a good interview. But I didn’t expect this: Erica was not only gracious, warm, and generous, she was open and specific in a way that few authors are when interviewed. She managed to keep squeezing in fine micro-workshops on craft, including a stimulating discussion on the obligation not to write over a reader’s head and heart. Laurie, despite already having taken a workshop with her, came away with seven pages of notes.
I’m not going to continue to douse you with superlatives. I’m instead going to give you this link: Watch this video. I was told in a flurry of texts afterwards that it was one of the best yet, and I couldn’t agree more, even though I take zero credit. If you want insight into process, paths, and protagonists, this is a power pill.
And now, before I go off to read more of Erica’s work, I’m pleased to pass on some community news.
Community member Elizabeth Kemp is delighted to be launching her debut novel, TREAD LIGHTLY from Sibylline Press, on October 10th. In Tread Lightly, a murder shakes up an idyllic Silicon Valley town, drawing Tierney—former Dublin hostage negotiator turned stay-at-home mom—back into her past. While navigating the isolating cliques at her kindergartener’s new private school and the shadow of the 2007 tech-industry backdating scandal, Tierney must confront the mystery at hand and the false assumptions we make about others—and ourselves.
Join Elizabeth at Books Inc. in Campbell, CA on Friday, October 24th at 7pm to celebrate the release of her new book. She’ll be in conversation with author Jordan Rosenfeld (Women in Red) and will sign books afterward.
And for all those of you happy to pay for a little consultancy or input, here’s a chance to do that and support a good cause. The Bay Area Book Festival’s Bibliophile’s Bazaar, stocked with manuscript reviews, agent consults, writing workshops, and much more, is now open for bidding! Proceeds go to the Foundation for the Future of Literature and Literacy—which I assume supports the festival. Check it all out here.
Don’t forget to drop me a line if you have news to share!
Until then, happy writing,
Shirin