Marshall Fine is the author of the new novel Hemlock Lane. His other books include The Autumn of Ruth Winters. A longtime journalist, critic, and filmmaker, he lives in Ossining, New York.
Q: What inspired you to write Hemlock Lane, and how did you create your cast of characters?
A: I was inspired to write Hemlock Lane by the idea of telling a story that unfolds over the course of a weekend, with each day told from the perspective of a different main character. I wanted to tell a linear story in which each new point of view changed the readers’ perspective on what they thought they knew.
The character of Nora was inspired by an aunt of mine; her parents, Lillian and Solomon, were inspired by my grandparents, and Clara by their longtime housekeeper. I say inspired, because none of the facts of this story are true; none of these things happened to any of them. But as I guided these characters through this book, they were who I was thinking of.
I recalled an old family story about this aunt upsetting my grandparents by taking a job in another city and moving away. That’s all I knew of the story. But that spun itself into the fabric of this novel.
Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Nora and Clara?
A: I see it as mutually fulfilling on an emotional level, and sadly limited by the circumstances. Clara has been the real source of nurturing and support in Nora’s life; Nora has given Clara purpose in hers. But the secretive nature of their relationship—being forced to keep it hidden from Lillian—makes it bittersweet.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I did know the ending; I didn’t know how I’d get there in a way that was compelling for readers. Revisions were significant, because, while this is a story about Nora’s escape from her mother, I needed to make her decision to leave more difficult, to make her choice seem like more of a leap.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: I was guided by two ideas: No one thinks of themselves as the villain in their own life. And everyone carries a secret sorrow we know nothing about.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’ve just finished my third novel, which has a much lighter (and hopefully humorous) tone. It’s a romantic comedy, a modern retelling of a fairy tale, set in a New York show business milieu. That’s all I want to say about it right now.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: You can find more about me and my work at my website, www.marshallfine.com. Thanks for your interest.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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