The series
continues this Friday, March 18, 7 PM
literary community and just general coolness.
One of the writers reading at Grub is
Nonfiction Fellow ‘10). We had the chance
to ask Jamie about her writing, books, and
unmistakable joie de vivre.
ArtSake: Your writing experience is so
varied - young adult novels, short
stories, screenplays, relationship
advice, writing tips, memoir. When
you conceive a new work, is
the form (novel, script, nonfiction
work, etc.) immediately apparent, or do
you sometimes have to explore different
forms to find the right fit?
Jamie: And you didn’t mention poetry
and plays!
and plays!
Honestly, I just like to write.
Still, I suppose the form is very much
determined by the influences in my life and
who is around me. For example, I wrote
short stories and plays during a time
when I belonged to The Writers Bloc, a group
in Los Angeles made
determined by the influences in my life and
who is around me. For example, I wrote
short stories and plays during a time
when I belonged to The Writers Bloc, a group
in Los Angeles made
up of writers and actors. Then, I wrote
screenplays while I was getting
my MFA from UCLA film school.
After film school, I began teaching
at Wesleyan University, Educational
Center for the Arts, NYU, Yale and then
at Grub Street, and so I created
The Writers Toolbox, out of the games
and exercises I used in my classes.
Most recently, I’ve reconnected
with my French roots and discovered
more history relating to my French
grandmother. I loved how she had
this spicy marriage with my
grandfather. They didn’t always agree,
but they certainly adored each other.
This is how I became inspired to
I think I wanted it to be an advice book
because I wish my grandmother could
sit down and tell me her secrets to
romance,
romance,
love, marriage and elegance. Oh, and
how to make a great coq au vin!
how to make a great coq au vin!
My latest book, Bonjour, Happiness!
I actually wrote a proposal for a memoir
about my travels to France (beginning in
the 1970’s and up to the present) and my
editor said she wanted the book to be
“prescriptive” but that it could be still
be “narrative.” And with that, I think I’ve
created a hybrid genre - the literary advice
book!
Anyway, perhaps this is another answer to
your question about what determines the
form my writing takes - it’s unpredictable
and it’s just how the stars happen to align.
form my writing takes - it’s unpredictable
and it’s just how the stars happen to align.
ArtSake: You mentioned Bonjour,
Happiness! Secrets to Finding Your
Joie de Vivre, which is just about to
be published. But you won your MCC
award by submitting a work of fiction.
Writing is rarely ever easy, but does
either form, fiction or nonfiction,
come more naturally to you?
Jamie: For me, fiction is delicious and
dreamy. I enter into an imagined world
and just let it lead me into surprising,
sometimes illogical places. Along the way,
and just let it lead me into surprising,
sometimes illogical places. Along the way,
characters introduce themselves to me,
take me by the hand and together we get
into trouble. Lots of trouble (narratively
speaking, of course). For the story that
won the MCC grant, I was inspired by my
husband who told me that when he was
growing up in Madison, Connecticut during
the 1960’s, the town was mostly a summer
the 1960’s, the town was mostly a summer
community and that because only a handful
of people stayed over the winter they
formed a “Winter Club.” This is where the
title “Welcome to the Winter Club” comes
from. I envisioned the club as a metaphor
for loss of innocence and adulthood.
From here, I imagined what it would be like
for an adolescent boy experiencing his first
sexual awakening in this community in the
1960’s during the Camelot years, when
Kennedy was in the White House and
Vietnam was a shadow in the not-so-far
distant future.
From here, I imagined what it would be like
for an adolescent boy experiencing his first
sexual awakening in this community in the
1960’s during the Camelot years, when
Kennedy was in the White House and
Vietnam was a shadow in the not-so-far
distant future.
In terms of craft, when I am writing fiction,
I write fast and let the characters lead me.
At the end of the day, I put the work away.
The next morning, I look at the writing with
fresh eyes and see where I may have gone
off course, or if I let one of the characters
take over the story or lead me astray, and
so I trim and edit and bring the story
back into alignment.
take over the story or lead me astray, and
so I trim and edit and bring the story
back into alignment.
Now, you might be surprised to learn that
when I am writing nonfiction, this process
is rather similar, because I am still writing
stories. The difference is, these stories are
framed by a more obvious lesson or
suggestion in terms of creating a happier
life, as with Bonjour, Happiness! Even
with this book, each chapter offers it’s
own mystery to me and
stories. The difference is, these stories are
framed by a more obvious lesson or
suggestion in terms of creating a happier
life, as with Bonjour, Happiness! Even
with this book, each chapter offers it’s
own mystery to me and
while my characters are real French (and
sometimes American) women that I’ve
actually met and interviewed, there are the
same challenges as with fiction, in that
I let a kind of narrative grow out of the
basic idea of a chapter topic (for example,
why lingerie is very important to a French
woman’s confidence!)but then in the
clear light of day I may find that perhaps
I need to edit and trim that part about
I let a kind of narrative grow out of the
basic idea of a chapter topic (for example,
why lingerie is very important to a French
woman’s confidence!)but then in the
clear light of day I may find that perhaps
I need to edit and trim that part about
the history of lace corsets. Wink. Wink.
ArtSake: How did Bonjour, Happiness!
come to be?
come to be?
Jamie: In 2009, the Virginia Center for the
Creative Arts awarded me a fellowship to
spend a month writing in Auvillar, France.
The village of Auvillar is a magical place
in the southwest filled with fig and olive
trees, roosters, and a town known for
welcoming artists from all over the world.
One day after I first arrived, I walked
into the village around noon, only to find
everything was closed. I was able to visit
the ancient stone cathedral (built in the
11th century), but the boulangerie,
the library, the shops and most
of the restaurants were all closed.
Creative Arts awarded me a fellowship to
spend a month writing in Auvillar, France.
The village of Auvillar is a magical place
in the southwest filled with fig and olive
trees, roosters, and a town known for
welcoming artists from all over the world.
One day after I first arrived, I walked
into the village around noon, only to find
everything was closed. I was able to visit
the ancient stone cathedral (built in the
11th century), but the boulangerie,
the library, the shops and most
of the restaurants were all closed.
The streets were silent as if everyone in
town had disappeared.
town had disappeared.
But then, I peaked through the cobblestone
courtyards and behind the lace curtains to
find couples and families enjoying their
mid-day meals. This is when the thought
came to me - this is the secret to the French
joie de vivre.
mid-day meals. This is when the thought
came to me - this is the secret to the French
joie de vivre.
Unlike our American “pursuit of happiness”
the French find happiness in simple,
pleasurable moments. In America, we
often think that bigger and faster is
better. For the French, smaller and
pleasurable moments. In America, we
often think that bigger and faster is
better. For the French, smaller and
slower is better. Happiness is an
experience, not a thing you buy or own.
And I felt so happy in that moment,
relaxing in the sunshine of Southern
France, knowing that the boulangerie
experience, not a thing you buy or own.
And I felt so happy in that moment,
relaxing in the sunshine of Southern
France, knowing that the boulangerie
would reopen at 2 p.m. and I would be
patient, imagining that the baguette
would be worth the wait and even
more pleasurable because of it.
patient, imagining that the baguette
would be worth the wait and even
more pleasurable because of it.
ArtSake: You teach extensively,
including at Grub Street writers’
service organization in Boston,
and you wrote The Writers Toolbox.
including at Grub Street writers’
service organization in Boston,
and you wrote The Writers Toolbox.
As a teacher, what do you try to instill in
emerging writers?
Jamie: Actually, The Writers Toolbox
is not so much a book that I wrote,
but a box of tactile writing games
I created - you know, sticks and
is not so much a book that I wrote,
but a box of tactile writing games
I created - you know, sticks and
spiny dials and a little three minute
egg timer, cards and then an instruction
book. It’s all based on right brain theory
- writing from that intuitive, nonlinear place.
And this brings me to what I try to teach
emerging writers:
egg timer, cards and then an instruction
book. It’s all based on right brain theory
- writing from that intuitive, nonlinear place.
And this brings me to what I try to teach
emerging writers:
Follow your muse. Don’t worry about
where you’re going or where you’ll end up.
Write from the heart and believe that there
is a place in this world for your voice,
your story, your style. No one else
can be you. You are completely
where you’re going or where you’ll end up.
Write from the heart and believe that there
is a place in this world for your voice,
your story, your style. No one else
can be you. You are completely
unique and amazing in your own way.
And as long as you stay true to yourself,
your contribution to the world will be
completely true and unique.
And as long as you stay true to yourself,
your contribution to the world will be
completely true and unique.
Oh, and one other thing.
Be kind to your writing.
Be kind to your writing.
It lives and breathes outside of you.
It’s a gift to you from your muse,
so if you are kind to your own creations,
your muse will make a habit of visiting
It’s a gift to you from your muse,
so if you are kind to your own creations,
your muse will make a habit of visiting
you often. I don’t believe in tough love
when it comes to teaching writing.
I believe in love.
when it comes to teaching writing.
I believe in love.
Kindness. Gentleness. And of course a whole
lot of joie de vivre. This is why I
adore Grub Street and the Grub Street
teaching philosophy. There’s a
adore Grub Street and the Grub Street
teaching philosophy. There’s a
whole lot of love going on and I can’t imagine a
place where writers receive so much support.
We’re lucky to have them!
ArtSake: Can you point to any one
decision you’ve made as an artist
that has had the
decision you’ve made as an artist
that has had the
most impact on your career?
Jamie: A long time ago, I decided to let go
of the debilitating idea of becoming an
overnight sensation.
of the debilitating idea of becoming an
overnight sensation.
I let go of the notion of the acclaimed
debut novel. I no longer care about being
the next new thing.Rather, I’ve embraced
the idea that I can be that
debut novel. I no longer care about being
the next new thing.Rather, I’ve embraced
the idea that I can be that
gal who has been quietly and consistently
writing all along (since 1973) while raising a
daughter, making a living, moving around,
experiencing all the unexpected ups and
downs of living a full life.
writing all along (since 1973) while raising a
daughter, making a living, moving around,
experiencing all the unexpected ups and
downs of living a full life.
The overnight sensation ship sailed
long ago, but I am here and this is my
journey.
long ago, but I am here and this is my
journey.
All this is to say, no one decision had the
most impact on my career, but the decision
to move forward, have faith and just write
no matter what, has made all the difference
in the world.
in the world.
ArtSake: What are you reading these
days?
days?
What are you writing?
Jamie: I am reading Malcolm Gladwell’s
What the Dog Saw. I love his writing!
I am writing the book proposal for my
next book, Bonjour, Beautiful - Secrets to
Finding your Ooh la la! And I’m also
working on turning “Welcome to the
Winter Club” into a novel. If anyone wants
to give me a nice advance, please speak up
and don’t be shy!
Winter Club” into a novel. If anyone wants
to give me a nice advance, please speak up
and don’t be shy!
Jamie joins Cheryl Clark,
Adam Schwartz,
Adam Schwartz,
Ron Spalletta, and Marc Velasquez
in Boston. Other events include Porter Square
Books (3/15 and 3/31), Forbes Library in
Northampton (3/23), and Newtonville Books
in Newton (4/5).
Jamie Cat Callan is the creator of
The Writers Toolbox (Chronicle Books,
2007) and the author of French Women
2007) and the author of French Women
Don’t Sleep Alone(Citadel/Kensington,
2009). Most recently, she received a grant
from the Virginia Center for the Creative
Arts in Auvillar, France where she wrote
her latest book, Bonjour, Happiness!
(Kensington/Citadel, 2011)
2009). Most recently, she received a grant
from the Virginia Center for the Creative
Arts in Auvillar, France where she wrote
her latest book, Bonjour, Happiness!
(Kensington/Citadel, 2011)
Jamie is married to a Woods Hole
Oceanographic climate change scientist.
The story of how they met (he was a
student in her creative writing class) and
eventually married - appeared in the New
York Times Modern Love column.
York Times Modern Love column.
I
I am so excited for you Jamie!
ReplyDeleteYour book arrived today and I am eager to get started...will blog about it when I am finished it.
Hugs,
Leslie
I just found your blog from Leslie...I've been reading your interview. Having lived in New Canaan, CT where they have a winter club, I think it's funny your take on it. I'll be looking for your book...any book signings out west?
ReplyDeleteA great interview, Jamie. I could hear you speaking it - it brought back lovely memories of Auvillar. My last big St. Patrick's season harp performance is tomorrow night, and then I'm going to delve into Bonjour, Happiness and my own book again with gusto!
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