I was developmental editing a self-help book about the mental health crisis in Black America. I was also helping with a book proposal for a memoir by a titan of the gay liberation and gay publishing movements, and I was dealing with the overwhelming presence of dementia among the elders in my family. So I can look back and see that all of these influences were the soup in the pot at the time.

20 June  2024 – Gina L. Carroll

The Back Flap

Bella Fontaine is on her own. Fresh out of college and with the winnings from her first international photography competition, she leaves LA to forge a new life in New York. But her childhood trauma threatens to follow her, and Bella fears her secrets catch up with her, keeping her from developing the relationships she needs to make her dreams come true.

We meet young Bella just after her tenth birthday, along with her grandmothers, Olivette and Miriam, each with a beautiful, mature garden as different from each other as the two gardeners who tend them. As Bella’s home life begins to unravel, she relies on her grandmother’s gardens as her refuge for stability and belonging. But when Miriam moves in with Olivette in search of healing, the grandmothers bond in a way that makes Bella feel excluded. What happens next will send Bella out into the world before she is ready.

About the book

What is the book about?

Bella Fontaine decides to move to New York to pursue a career in art and photography. She is hopeful and ambitious, but she is also nursing wounds from her childhood and from her break from home that threaten to thwart the pursuit of her dream. The story is an exploration of family, love, loss, and the human ability to find belonging and strength in unexpected places.

When did you start writing the book?

The idea showed up in 2017-2018.

How long did it take you to write it?

From seed-of-an-idea to full manuscript– five years. I was not able to write at all during the pandemic because I was working my day job practically around the clock, as the director of personnel for my husband’s company. So there was a gap of time before I could return to writing. In short, this story has been cooking for a minute!

Where did you get the idea from?

At this point, honestly, I am not sure. It does seem to have been a contemplation of what was happening in my life and all of the projects I had going at the time. I was developmental editing a self-help book about the mental health crisis in Black America. I was also helping with a book proposal for a memoir by a titan of the gay liberation and gay publishing movements, and I was dealing with the overwhelming presence of dementia among the elders in my family. So I can look back and see that all of these influences were the soup in the pot at the time.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, all of it. I find fiction writing difficult, so much harder than non-fiction. Rewarding and fulfilling, but difficult.

What came easily?

The ending. I was feeling better about pacing and where the characters had come to. But nothing was easy.

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

The only characters who resemble real people are the two grandmothers, Olivette and Miriam. When I started writing, these characters were very much like my grandmothers. In fact, at first, I used my grandmother’s names. But they evolved into very different people over the writing. My grandmothers did not even garden!  Olivette and Miriam are master gardeners and this very much defines who they are. But my grandmothers did take careful, intentional time to teach their only granddaughter, me, so many things, the things they were good at. With my Father’s mother, Clemmie, in particular, I spent a lot of time.  We did so much together, and like Bella and her grandmothers, we had a very special bond.

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?

There are so, so, so many writers who I love to read and who inspire and inform, but my current fixation is Ann Petry. Prolific, brilliant and largely unknown. Her most famous work, The Street, is wonderful. But my favorite is The Narrows, a strikingly brave book for its time. She was a very private individual who preferred to let her work speak for her, for the most part. As a writer, she reminds me to be brave with the truth.

Do you have a target reader?

Women of all ages, from young adult to ageless, especially women of color.

About Writing

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

I like and advocate for writing ritual—setting up a designated writing space; coming to the work at a consistent time; lighting a candle, saying a prayer or meditating; and then, trying to write for a consistent time or amount. BUT I am not so good at keeping to mine. I started writing as a young mother with a houseful of children (5). I wrote when and where I could and my favorite place to write was in the carpool line, waiting for the kids to be dismissed from school. (At my kid’s school, the carpool line was a serious matter. You had to show up early and wait.) So it provided a quiet moment of rare solitude. Now that I have no kids at home, my day job still necessitates that I fit writing in. Early mornings are my favorite time.

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

I start with a treatment (to borrow a film term) or summary of the key points. Then I fill in a framework, not too detailed and super-subject to change.

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

Both, unfortunately. I think it’s better to wait, to get the whole thing down before tinkering with it. But I love editing and I jump the gun.

Did you hire a professional editor?

 The more editing, the better, I say!

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

I do not listen to music when I write. But music is important to me and my process. As part of my character development, I create a playlist for my main characters. This helps me make them whole and puts their music in my head. But actually listening while writing would be too distracting for me.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I haven’t. I am taking a measured approach. Trying to get better and better at the craft. I do hope an agent is in my future, though.

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

After much research, honestly, I fell in love with my publisher and their whole approach to the publishing process, the hybrid model and the community of women writers that they have created. This is my second book with Spark Press/She Writes and they continue to feel like the future of publishing.

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

My publisher takes great care with the book cover process and this one was a magical experience for me. Spark Press/ She Writes Press, under the creative direction of Julie Metz, wins awards for their stellar book covers. I sent them art from a wonderful artist, Sofia Bonati, as an example of my dream book cover, and unbeknownst to me, they were able to get Ms. Bonati’s permission to use her wonderful work. So, dream come true!

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

I am working with the BookSpark team and they are keeping me on my toes! My favorite part of marketing is putting some articles and other writings out there. The marketing of a book of fiction is quite different than for a non-fiction book. So my learning curve is steep here, as well.

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

Be prepared for the hard parts of writing. The journey is not linear and writing is hard. Stick to it. Don’t give up. Read voraciously.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Los Angeles, CA, and raised in its suburbs.

Where do you live now?

I am based in Houston, Texas. But also spend time in San Antonio and in the Los Angeles area.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am about to be a grandmother! My first grandchild is due right before this book launches. I am very excited and already feel bonded with this new human whose timing is already impeccable.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a sequel to The Grandest Garden. The Grandest Garden is the story of a girl. The sequel is the story of a mother. Bella’s mother, Eddi, has a story of her own.

End of Interview:

For more from Gina L. Carroll, check out her website.

Get your copy of The Grandest Garden from Amazon US or Amazon UK.