Q&A with Jean Burgess

  

 

Jean Burgess is the author of the new novel Navigating Her Next Chapter. It's a sequel to her novel That Summer She Found Her Voice. Burgess is also an educator, playwright, and workshop presenter, and she lives in Maryland. 

 

Q: Why did you decide to write this sequel to your novel That Summer She Found Her Voice?

 

A: I decided to continue the story of Margie Stevens's development as a woman for two reasons.

 

First, I realized that as I completed the first book in the Retro series, That Summer She Found Her Voice, that Margie's life and experiences and career had just begun. As a 20-something, she had so many discoveries to make, so many avenues to explore, so many mistakes to make and rectify...like all of us.

Second, I had many requests from readers who asked, "What happens to Margie after she leaves the King Vido's Swing Band?" As an author, you never want to leave your readers empty-handed, right?

 

Q: Was the story based primarily on your own experiences in New York in the 1980s?

 

A: Great question. As I mention in my Author Notes, I do pull from personal experience in my Retro series as well as weave in a lot of period research to enhance and authenticate my fictions.

 

In the case of Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel, I actually lived in New York City in the early 1980s – not to pursue a writing career like my protagonist, Margie, but rather as a “starving actor.”

 

I was inspired to draw from many of my personal experiences, my love of the city, my creative highs and lows, my self-doubts, etc. and apply these to this fictional story.

 

Another fun fact is that during my time in NYC in the early 1980s, I worked as a receptionist at Radio City Music Hall so I thought it would be cool to give Margie that position as well. It was a way to offer readers an insider's glimpse into the workings of that iconic NYC treasure.

 

Q: Did you need to do much research to write the book, and if so, what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

A: As I mentioned, I do a lot of period/historical research for my Retro series (books set in the 1970s and 1980s) because I want readers to trust in the stories' authenticity. (If any plot point stray, I always justify why in my Author Notes.)

For Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel, I wanted to research the socio-economic-political climate of New York City in the early 1980s.

This was important for weaving in the themes of the cocaine epidemic, the emerging AIDS crisis (before it had a name), and the anti-nuclear protests. I used the New York Times archives for much of my background work in this area.

 

In addition, I needed specific arts and music information to plug in Margie's music review story line. In that case, I used images from the SoHo Weekly News, The Village Voice, and other alternative music venues of the time period.

 

I interviewed a person from Puerto Rico and read books about El Barrio (the East Harlem Puerto Rican neighborhood) to better understand the background of Miguel, the love interest of Margie.

Sometimes, in my research, I come across a strange detail and I think to myself, "So cool. How can I weave that into my story without seeming imposed?" That was the case with the freak snowstorm of April 1982 that hit Manhattan. You'll have to read the book to see how I used that fun fact in the book!

Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: Titles, titles, titles. Always a struggle for this author. Perhaps for many authors. I chose the word "Navigating" because I wanted to relate to that sense of Margie's career aimlessness, her self-doubts, as she cautiously inches ahead. I liked "Next Chapter" because it relates to writing and Margie's writing career.

For book clubs, I provide a Topics of Discussion list. I include a question about the title and how it relates to our own "Next Chapters" in life. For some folks, there may have been many; for others, their lives many have been a straight shot -- not much "navigating" needed.

 

A follow up question is: Who has assisted navigating your next chapters in your lives? In Margie's case, she has a menagerie of unlikely NYC friends -- a punk waitress from the neighborhood diner, a gay couple from her apartment building, a dreamy Hispanic man from her writing group, and her fashion-crazed roommate.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: My Retro readers are asking: Will there be more to this Retro series? Will there be a Book #3? The answer is yes. I’m in the research and outlining stage now. No spoilers at this point, though.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I simply want to thank your readers for learning more about me and my writing journey today. If you feel inclined, hop over to my website at www.jeanburgessauthor.com, sign up for my fun newsletter, “Jean’s Writerly News,” and stay in touch.

And, of course, Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel is available at
https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Her-Next-Chapter-Retro/dp/1627206264

 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Jean Burgess.