I came back to my Irish love story and saw that it was more like Persuasion, Jane Austen’s classic novel, than I had intended. So, I had a choice to make– turn the manuscript into a real Austen reimagining, or rewrite it as something else. I decided to take on the challenging of retelling my favorite novel, in modern society with a different set of characters and setting.
Norah Woodsey – 3 May 2024
The Back Flap
Tildy Sullivan is the middle child in an elite yet fading Manhattan family. Her quiet practicality hides her deep, profound longing for childhood summers in western Ireland. She also carries a secret regret. After her mother’s death, she’s persuaded to abandon Ireland and the love of the local boy, Aiden.
When Tildy volunteers for a lucid dreaming experiment, it gives her all she wants – a life lived for her family during the day and a secret, perfect Ireland of her own at night. Will she face reality, or succumb to the ease of her dreams?
The States is a modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a story of love, obligation, and second chances
About the book
What is the book about?
Like Persuasion, The States is about regret, the lure of despair and the need to free yourself from obligations that hold you back. They are both about classism, though each is a representation of their time. In Persuasion’s case, a thread of conflict runs through the novel between Regency Era aristocracy and elevation in society through hard work (and war with Napoleon). The States is a product of contemporary society, in that the class conflict is between those who inherit corporate empires and those who make their way through the world. I layer in some other messages, about the oddness of Irish-Americans relationship with Ireland, and how many of us wish to live two lives, one for those we feel obligation for and another that is a virtual escape.
When did you start writing the book?
The book began as a NaNoWriMo project in 2020. I was midway through completing The Control Problem, a dark, hard sci-fi novel, and needed to do something lighter. While my kids did Zoom school, I wrote the early version of The States. In the end I had a sweet but incomplete romance novel set in Ireland. In the beginning of 2023, after The Control Problem release, I came back to my Irish love story and saw that it was more like Persuasion, Jane Austen’s classic novel, than I had intended. So, I had a choice to make– turn the manuscript into a real Austen reimagining, or rewrite it as something else. I decided to take on the challenging of retelling my favorite novel, in modern society with a different set of characters and setting.
How long did it take you to write it?
Many of the dream passages come from that NaNoWriMo month. I spent a month researching Persuasion in depth, and then wrote the rest of the novel in seven months.
Where did you get the idea from?
The core of the story comes from my experiences as an Irish-American. I think first or second-generation Americans, or really any members of a concentrated “hyphen American” community can probably relate to wondering if you’d belong easier in the old country, and that is not necessarily the case.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Some of the quirks of Persuasion do not translate through my method of storytelling. I deeply enjoy how Austen’s novel begins entirely focused on the protagonist’s father, Sir Walter Elliot. It’s such a delightful way of getting the reader in the headspace of this family. The father is central, a vortex that sucks all the attention and energy from those around him. When I did my first full draft of the novel, my early readers did not understand what was happening. Who is this guy? Is he the main character? I ended up scaling back how much focus is on Patrick Sullivan aka Sir Walter Elliot quite a few times, even after I sent out my first round of Advance Review Copies.
What came easily?
I had such fun writing the dialogue between the Irish friends. Some of it I pulled from conversations I participated in or overheard in Galway, but most of it flowed without much effort. I come from a huge family and a lot of the banter is similar to how we interact.
My other works feature characters who are duplicitous in some way, so reimagining Mr. Elliot came very easily to me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I have been fortunate, I suppose, to spend time around people who are exceptionally wealthy. I have seen how they interact with their household staff, the kinds of events they attend, and how they are susceptible to obvious flattery. I used a lot of those experiences in describing the wealthy Sullivan family and their connections.
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?
Obviously, Jane Austen. She is a master of character development. I feel like I always learn something from a re-read of her works. I adore Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s style. I wish I could be so efficient at conveying depth in a simple scene. Brandon Taylor is another author I have admired for years. His ability to maintain focus on moments in a story while keeping it vivid is such a treat. I also adore Rosemary Kirstein, who weaves realism with science fiction in a way that is approachable for any reader.
Do you have a target reader?
Anyone who yearns for a second chance at love, who relates to regret and a desire to escape, either from their lives or their family dynamics. And of course, fellow fans of Jane Austen, who want a different take on the characters and experience a bit of Galway at the same time.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write in my head first. I come up with an idea that I latch onto at some random moment in the day and write it down in my phone’s Notes app. If it seems compelling after a few days, I take long walks and think through what is appealing about the concept, jotting down notes that feel especially important as I go. From there, I research any details I’m not clear on and keep notes on inspiring bits of information I come across along the way.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I don’t formally outline. I tend to write a summary, then add details to the summary until it becomes a first draft.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I try very hard to not edit as I go, but I can’t help myself. I reread everything before I start writing for the day and end up stuck somewhere in the middle, revising paragraphs or rewriting dialogue.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Absolutely. Editing is a core part of my process. It is challenging, of course, but I firmly believe a novel requires a good professional editor.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I make a playlist during my walking/research phase of writing. Certain songs are simply for a particular scene. They call me back to a phase in my life that I need to tap into. Others capture the vibe of the entire book.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I’ve had my books requested by agents, but I have never reached out to them myself.
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 never considered traditional publishing. I’m treating my writing as a self-funded startup. At this stage, I want to retain as much of the control and my profits as possible. I’m not opposed to a traditional publishing deal, but I believe the kind of deal that I would be willing to sign is not something that will be offered to me. Better writers have traditional deals that barely cover the bills. I also enjoy working directly with the cover designers, interior designer, and my hardcover printer.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Irish artist Anna Morrison, a mega talent and delightful person, designed the covers for The States.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
With each book, I layer in new strategies or tools for marketing. I’ve been working with an amazing publicist, Books Forward, for this launch. I’d like to incorporate more independent bookstores into this launch.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
A traditionally published author has the benefit, in a way, of being put into a process that brings on criticism. To be independent of that system means you must seek out criticism, and if you do not follow the right criticism, only you are to blame. In short, you need a professional editor. No one’s first draft is The Great American Novel.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Brooklyn, NYC but we moved away when I was a kid. I lived in four states before the end of elementary school.
Where do you live now?
I live with my husband and our children outside of Oakland, CA, though we’re in the process of moving back to Brooklyn.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I do not actually speak Irish. I hired a lovely translator, Andrea Brown, for those passages!
What are you working on now?
Inspired by Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci series, I’m writing a sort of sequel to my novella When the Wave Collapses. It’s a time travel story with a heroine recovering from a bad breakup. It’s feeling fun so far!
End of Interview:
For more from Norah Woodsey visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Get your copy of The States from Amazon US or Amazon UK.