I thought about the problems in one-side relationships wherein one partner does all the compromising for the sake of keeping the peace at the risk of losing the sense of self.

Margaret Buckhanon – 3 August 2014

The Back Flap

People in the village of Upstate New York find the McClary family to be a peculiar clan. Some say they’re eccentric others call them crazy, but the strangest member is Endive, the middle child, nearing forty, and living in a basement above a mortuary.

Endive is a frustrated social worker in a bureaucratic hog tie rendering her helpless to those in need. Invisible to her family, and boyfriend Neil, she comes undone when he ended the relationship. The plot to win him back is foiled by Davin Gray, a rodeo star whose bravado and straight talk repels her but it masks the pain of a troubled past.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book about twenty-two years ago.  I‘d make changes, put it aside and work on other pieces.  About three years ago, I buckled down and pushed ahead to finally complete it.

How long did it take you to write it?

Twenty five years, but I was productive with other works which have appeared in several publications.  My short fiction has appeared in Birmingham Arts Journal, The Delmarva Review, Mississippi Crow and Shalla magazine. The Delmarva Review selected my work, The Homecoming, for reading on NPR in 2009.

Where did you get the idea from?

I thought about the problems in one-side relationships wherein one partner does all the compromising for the sake of keeping the peace at the risk of losing the sense of self.  Initially the protagonist, Endive McClary, wants to make everyone happy at the risk of self, including her family and boyfriend Neil, who dumps her despite the sacrifices she made for his sake.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I needed to pace myself to keep balance between the characters and not allow one to overshadow the other for continuity; hopefully, I succeeded

What came easily?

Once the story developed it, I simply became the typist as the characters came to life and took control. I was an observant, which is a good writer’s trait to watch and document.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I snipped piece of personalities from real people to create a few characters and some are entirely fictitious, that’s the fun part.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Ann Tyler, Langston Hughes and Zora Neal Hurston wrote about ordinary extraordinary characters, people who were invisible yet they impacted the lives of those around them. Joan Didion, another favorite, says a lot with a few words.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who have a family knows the levels of dysfunction, will enjoy The Secret of Flying; for the romance fans there is something for them too.  I think readers of contemporary women would enjoy it as much fans of commercial fiction; there is something for everyone.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

It usually starts with an event, or a phase.  I then jot notes on index cards to create a character—who are you, and what is your dilemma? How did this happen to you?  I recalled the five points of a journalism course I’d taken in high school: who, what, where, when and how?

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

It depend s on the story.  Sometimes an outline is required, but mostly a sentence will mushroom into a chapter.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I usually do both.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I would definitely recommend using an editor (if your budget allows it).  It helped me “see the forest through the trees.”  My editor was refreshingly honest and did not hold back; a writer needs that to produce the best fiction.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I like John Coltrane for melancholic scenes; Will Downey for easy listening and to hit the dance floor Earth, Wind and Fire to name a few.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did have an agent unfortunately, we parted, and then TSOF was rejected by one hundred fifty agents thereafter.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I read stories of writers in the same predicament who found success the self-publishing route.  It’s tough, but not impossible to reach the target market.  Amazon KDP and Create Space have made it possible to writers like me to have a venue for our work.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Lucky for me, Amazon and Create Space have a catalog of book cover images and I immediately found the right cover for The Secret of Flying.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Well, I’m hoping interviews like this will open the doors for my work.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

It’s not an easy route to take; but steady the course and never give up.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Nyack which is twenty miles north of New York City.

Where do you live now?

Upstate, New York.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I want people to laugh when they read my work.  I enjoy being around laughfers (I just created a new word.)  Our time here is short, so you may as well laugh.

What are you working on now?

A short novella, about a woman who cannot feel joy, (after telling you I like laughfers.)

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Secret of Flying from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).