Scott D. Southard is the author of the new novel Permanent Spring Showers. His other books include A Jane Austen Daydream, My Problem With Doors, and Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare. He lives in Michigan.
Q: You’ve said that your new book originated as a screenplay
and then as a novel that you created on your blog. Can you share more about the
process by which you wrote the novel?
A: Yes, I have a long history with this story. Definitely
something I could never escape and it was never a normal project for me. There
was something about Permanent Spring Showers that demanded my attention,
demanded something new, a spectacle.
A few years ago, when I was in the first year of my blog, I wanted to do something
unique for my followers.
A lot of bloggers/authors share fiction on their sites, but
I wanted to make it more personal, more intense. I was going to write a novel
in “real time” which meant I would be assigning myself to write a chapter a
week and I would also write about the experience.
So in a way, the followers were not only following my book
but following its creation as well, watching the working of the man behind the
curtain.
The idea to use this screenplay came to me on a Wednesday
night, I wrote the first chapter on Thursday, wrote a post that day about my
plan (quickly creating a table of contents, mapping out 25 chapters), and the
first chapter was up on that Friday.
It’s really gutsy (or stupid) to just jump into a big
project like that, but I did. Again, Permanent Spring Showers always demanded a
spectacle.
It was after the second chapter that the new novel had
changed from the script. I was in new territory. I should have been terrified,
but I wasn’t. I enjoyed watching the book grow and figuring out how it would
turn out. Now the book and the script are two very different enterprises.
I worked with an editor at 5 Prince Books and in some ways
the book is even different from what people experienced on my site (chapters
moved around, etc.). I could not be more proud of the final novel.
Q: It seems that you wrote this novel piece by piece—was
that the case with your other books as well?
A: Since I was writing Permanent Spring Showers for all the
world to see and read along, I had to do it in chronological order. This is
very opposite to how I normally work.
Typically, when I am working on a book, I let my creativity
drive the first draft. Whatever chapter it wants to work on, go for it. When I
look back at the first drafts of my other books (like A Jane Austen Daydream)
it is obvious that I am usually all over the place.
The creation of Permanent Spring Showers was a one-time
experience for me; I can’t imagine putting myself through that again. Even
though it was a lot of fun (and, hopefully, also a lot of fun to read).
Q: Which authors have inspired you?
A: For Permanent Spring Showers I think I was inspired in
many ways by Charles Dickens. He wrote books in a serial format as well. His
was in a paper, mine was on my site. Also, like him I have a large cast, humor,
and surprises.
I think Middlemarch by George Eliot also is an inspiration
for this one. She has some wonderful character moments in that great work.
Usually, my favorite memories for me as a reader is when an
author can truly surprise me, take my breath away. I’m a big Kurt Vonnegut fan,
but James Joyce has been an influence as well (even though I haven’t always
enjoyed his work).
The character of Jenn Gane makes a lot of references to
other writers and poets in Permanent Spring Showers. Some of her opinions are
mine as well; not all, but some.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have two things going on right now. I am working on a
new novel, but it is too fresh to talk about. It’s still growing.
I do have a novel ready for the world though. It is called
Cassandra on the Island. I hope to find a publisher or an agent to represent
it. I’m really proud of that one. I like to think of it as an impressionist
painting. The beauty in moments, colors. Definitely one of my most poetic and
moving works. Hopefully, something will happen with that book.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: The best way to follow me and my books is to check out my website. I have
excerpts, news, and info on all of my works. Plus, I write a lot on different
topics. I’m a little all over the place. Blogging is fun.
And besides my new novel, an audiobook has recently been
released for my novel A Jane Austen Daydream. It is such a pleasure to listen
to the performance by Louisa Gummer, the narrator (I won’t say reading, it is
so much more than a simple reading of the book). I highly recommend people
check it out as well. It is on Audible and iTunes.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. For a previous Q&A with Scott D. Southard, please click here.
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