Established in 2018, TBR [to be read] is a semi-regular, invitation-only interview series with authors of newly released/forthcoming, interesting books.
Give us your elevator pitch: what’s your book about in 2-3 sentences?
Go Out Like Sunday and Other Stories is a
collection of sixteen short stories, featuring a cast of characters facing
moments of decisive change. From a bullied boy in high school, to a couple
shopping for coffins, the folks in this book face betrayal, loss, violence,
grief, and yearning while dancing with the joy of new directions.
Which story did you most enjoy writing? Why? And, which
story gave you the most trouble, and why?
Of all the stories in the book, I enjoyed writing Park
& Ride the most perhaps because that voice came to me so easily. I
instantly could hear her. And yes - I too like pickup trucks - so I had a
natural affinity. And she was just so much fun!
Several stories in the book took a while to develop. Midnight
Swimmer was the most emotionally difficult because it was close to the
bone. I left my home in New England after being in CT for almost fifty years.
It took a bit to work to get to the psychic distance I needed to tell Cynthia's
story.
Tell us a bit about the highs and lows of your book’s
road to publication.
For me, the highs and lows collided. I found out the book
had been accepted for publication by Main Street Rag the Tuesday after my
husband died unexpectedly during an operation. While I was thrilled that I
would be working with Scott on the book, my husband's death stopped me for a
while. The last story in the book, The Midnight Swimmer, was the last
story he ever read for me. I knew the story wasn't yet finished, yet it took me
almost six months after he died before I could work on it again. I was lucky enough
to attend the Writers in Paradise Workshop in St. Petersburg with Stewart O'Nan
specifically to get help with it. It paid off. However, it would be another
year before the book felt finished to me and we could go to press. Main
Street Rag's publisher Scott, and his wife, Jill, were incredibly
understanding about my situation and waited for me. I will be forever grateful
for that.
When the book finally appeared, with the cover designed by
my artist friend Randy Gillman, I felt just joy that it finally happened. There
is no better feeling that seeing your work in print and so beautifully done.
What’s your favorite piece of writing advice?
This one is simple for me though there are days when I don't
get there. Write every day. When I was working full time, I somehow convinced
myself that I had to find an hour or two to write successfully. Then, while
moaning to a friend that I could never find the time, he looked at me and said
- fifteen minutes. From then on, whether I had to set the clock a bit earlier,
I would write every day for at least fifteen minutes. Most often I would write
before work with my first cup of tea. But I was almost immediately amazed at
how much I could do in such a short period of time. And even when I had to
stop, the stories and voices would often spill over into the day and those
thoughts would add to the story for the next day. This helps me stay in that
creative stream.
My favorite writing advice is “write until something
surprises you.” What surprised you in the writing of this book?
I hadn't realized until the collection came together how
much I enjoyed playing with voices and genres. Each story in the book is very
different and yet I can't help but really like these folks. I'm so glad I got
to spend time with them.
How did you find the title of your book?
I am very bad at titles. The title story of the book had a
different title originally. (It's honestly too embarrassing to name here.) The
editor of the Louisville Review wrote to me to say she loved the story,
hated the title. I confessed my title deficits, and she suggested Go Out
Like Sunday. I loved it immediately. When I was searching for titles for
the collection, I knew immediately that's what it would be. It just felt right.
Inquiring foodies and hungry book clubs want to know: Any
food/s associated with your book? (Any recipes I might share?)
Evie makes pot roast in Dishes and as it happens, I make
Dutch Oven pot roast with root veggies that is so easy it's criminal. Secret - deglaze with Port Wine. And it's
amazing!
***
READ MORE ABOUT THIS AUTHOR: https://www.barbaragreenbaum.com/
READ MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK: https://mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/go-out-like-sunday-barbara-p-greenbaum/
ORDER THIS BOOK FOR YOUR OWN TBR STACK: https://mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/go-out-like-sunday-barbara-p-greenbaum/
READ AN EXCERPT FROM THIS BOOK, “Dumb Ass”:
https://mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/go-out-like-sunday-barbara-p-greenbaum/
(click on “sample”)
