A Writer's Moment: 'Those stories behind the truth'

A Writer's Moment: 'Those stories behind the truth':   “I can't speak for readers in general, but personally I like to read stories behind which there is some truth, something real and abov...

'Those stories behind the truth'

 

“I can't speak for readers in general, but personally I like to read stories behind which there is some truth, something real and above all, something emotional. I don't like to read essays on literature; I don't like to read critical or rational or impersonal or cold disquisitions on subjects.” – Laura Esquivel

 

Born in Mexico City on this date in 1950, Esquivel wrote the worldwide bestselling novel and award-winning screenplay Like Water for Chocolate.  The book is the all-time bestselling novel in Mexico and the film the winner of more than two dozen international awards.   It was the first of 10 novels for Esquivel, whose latest is the Spanish language My Black Past. 

 

Also noted for her essays on life, love and food – based on the culture of Mexico but resonating around the globe – Esquivel’s compilation of many of her best were published in another huge bestselling book Between Two Fires.   She characterizes the kitchen as the most important part of the house; “a pleasurable source of knowledge and understanding.” 

 

When asked if she likes fiction or film better, she leaned into fiction.

“In film you can use images exclusively and narrate a whole story very quickly, but you don't always so easily find the form in cinema to dig deeper into human thoughts and emotions,” she explained.  “In a novel you can much more easily express a character's inner thoughts and feelings.”

A Writer's Moment: 'Write what you most enjoy'

A Writer's Moment: 'Write what you most enjoy':   “Sometimes the characters develop almost without your knowing it. You find them doing things you hadn't planned on, and then I have to...

'Write what you most enjoy'

 

“Sometimes the characters develop almost without your knowing it. You find them doing things you hadn't planned on, and then I have to go back to page 42 and fix things. I'm not recommending it as a way to write . . . but it works for me.” – Barbara Mertz

 

Born in Canton, IL on this date in 1927, Mertz wrote under her own name and the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels.  A noted academic, she held multiple degrees in ancient history and Egyptology, including a Ph.D. in the latter field, and one of her mystery series (written as Peters) focuses on a professor who holds a degree in Egyptology.

 

Mertz wrote 71 mostly mystery and suspense books, although two of her nonfiction books on ancient Egypt also are still in print. More than a dozen of her books were nominated for or won best novel or best mystery awards, led by Trojan Gold; Naked Once More; The Last Camel Died at Noon; and Night Train to Memphis.

                                  

Named an Anthony Awards Grandmaster for mystery writing in 1986 and Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster in 1998, she wrote bestsellers right up until her death in 2013.   When asked why she liked writing mysteries, suspense and thrillers instead of “scholarly” works, she replied that it was what she most enjoyed. 

 

“There are lots of things to write about,” she said, “but I think it would be difficult to write books I don't like to read.”

A Writer's Moment: 'A great path to vicarious living'

A Writer's Moment: 'A great path to vicarious living':   “Fiction, for me, is sort of a protracted way of saying all the things I wished I said the night before.” – Christopher Buckley   The...

'A great path to vicarious living'

 

“Fiction, for me, is sort of a protracted way of saying all the things I wished I said the night before.” – Christopher Buckley

 

The only child of conservative author and speaker William F. Buckley, Christopher was born in New York City on this date in 1952 and made his own way in the writing world as a noted humorist and satirist.   He has written 20 novels, published in 16 languages.  Among his best-known books are The White House Mess, No Way To Treat A First Lady and Thank You For Smoking – the latter made into a popular movie as well.  His most recent satirical novel is Has Anyone Seen My Toes?

 

Buckley’s journalistic pieces have appeared in many top magazines and newspapers, and he also has done considerable work in public relations.  “In public relations,” He said, “you live with the reality that not every disaster can be made to look like a misunderstood triumph.” 

 

Buckley says writing is a great way to live a life you might only imagine.  “You live vicariously through your characters.”

A Writer's Moment: Another catalyst for inspiration

A Writer's Moment: Another catalyst for inspiration:   Every writer knows autumn begins when the stirrings of nature and its changes cause us to write things down.  For some, it creates a condi...