Author Q&A: Susan Wiggs

I also felt really lucky because when you tell a story on two levels --- George’s story and then Claire and Ross’― you able to have more latitude to explore different issues than you do with one story line, and you can make them work together. With Ross you can have the captain America hero who’s a really good guy, but who doesn’t find himself till later in life. With George you can see his mistakes from a forgivable distance, and it’s also a cautionary tale for Ross. George wants to reveal who he truly is to Ross, so Ross can learn something and maybe do better than he did. I love a multilayered plot with, not easy answers, but some sort of resolution in the end.

 I also like that although it’s revealed that Philip is his son, it’s not acknowledged between the characters. What’s the message there? 
I will get mail about that. Some things that you say in books really spark a response. Some people just hate ambiguity. In “A Lakeshore Christmas” the loose end made people crazy. In a good way I think, because it makes them want to read on. I even love it when they scold me though, because it means I have attentive, active readers, who really participate.

The message is that George’s has to learn to be bigger than his own desires, to let go of his own need for reclaiming his missed opportunity, for the sake of the family. Jane is like my own mom, very practical and “you took this path and you’re on it.” In the end it’s clear that there’s nothing more important than family.

 There are lots of minor characters who flare up for a moment with great vitality, such as Jane, Ivy, Natalie and Philip. Is this where a new novel tends to jump off from? 
I was a big fan of Charles Dickens, and one thing that always stuck with me about his novels was that every minor character would do or say something that stuck in your mind. As a writer I’ve always tried to make sure there aren’t any throw away characters. I try to make them intriguing as they walk across the book in their bit part. That’s the beauty of writing.

 Ross’s mother is an unlikable and alienated woman. Do characters like her ever get protagonist treatment? Do you ever give them a chance to redeem themselves in a novel? That is, do writers ever have unlikeable heroines or heroes? 
Yes, they do. I had a character that my readers were convinced was a villain ―Sophie Ballamy―in the thirst three Lakeshore books. She left her three kids and her husband. Book four had her as the protagonist, and boy did I have to do some fancy footwork to make her actions understandable. The difference is, instead of telling the story about them, you get their point of view. Everybody’s the hero of their own story.

 What do you want readers to take away from this book? 
I want them to be brave and have no regrets. Claire had to learn to be brave and to trust that life was going to take care of her. And the George and Jane story line is about coming to terms with your choices having no regrets

 How do you research and prep for a book? 
I had to do a little 1940s research, and read up more on the witness protection program. With the Internet, information is much more accessible. For example, I found a Green Beret helicopter pilot through a Stars and Stripes article. He saved me from myself in certain spots to get the opening chapter in Afghanistan right. My first lead on polio came from an NPR show. I knew I wanted George to have a turbulent past, and one day I was making soup in my kitchen when I heard the program on the radio. As a writer, it’s important to stay open to any kind of stimuli, and have a natural curiosity.

 If you had to give writing up tomorrow what would your next career choice be? 
A Librarian. I just love books and literature, and I love readers. Librarians have so much influence on people. There’s nothing like a good librarian putting a great book in someone’s hands.

 Who are your favorite writers? 
My tastes are really eclectic; I can’t say I have a favorite. Let’s see, I like Elizabeth Berg, I’ve always read Alice Hoffman, but I love thrillers too -- Bob Dugoni is great. YA fiction appeals to me, and even children’s books. I just finished reading an excellent autobiography by Twila Tharpe, called “The Creative Process.”

 What are you working on now? 
My next book is a tribute to mothers and daughters. It isn’t titled yet, but it’s already written and will be out next May. This is a departure for me ― it’s the first novel I’ve written that isn’t based on a love story!
 

For more information on Susan Wiggs and her other books, visit her website.