Writers and Readers discussion

Please welcome author Mari Mann to our Q & A discussions. Mari was born in 1960 in Portsmouth, VA., and, after much moving around with her military family, grew up mostly in southeastern Virginia and spent twelve years working on a horse ranch and a farm there.
A committed reader from childhood, she now works and writes next to woods and gardens and animals in Knotts Island, North Carolina, where she moved after marrying her husband, Rod Mann, a photographer with works in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. They have traveled together to Paris, as well as Italy, Spain and Andorra and across the US several times.
Her first novel, Parisian by Heart, was a quarter-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award in 2011. Her lifelong interest in ancient history, native cultures and art has led her to a Master’s Degree centered on Maya art and architecture, to an archaeological dig on an Anasazi site in the Southwest, and to painting and pottery-making.

Her Goodreads Profile:
Mari Mann

Thank you, A.F., and thank you, Writers and Readers, for this Q&A discussion. Bonjour, mes amis!

As I sit here at my desk this morning, my view out the window is full of life. At the bird feeder, our two resident woodpeckers take turns sharing the seed I just put out, along with doves, cardinals, sparrows, blue jays and chickadees. To the left, our chicken sits on her nest, waiting to lay her egg for the day. Tulips and iris are blooming in our gardens, an azalea bush by the road is just about to, and all around is green- the grass, the new leaves on the trees- it must be Spring again, the time to start new, as the cycle of life goes around...

I hope we can plant some seeds here, and start growing some new ideas, fresh relationships, and flowering questions and answers.

And in anticipation of April Fool's day, let me say Poisson d'Avril!

Mari Mann

Did you feel any restrictions/constraints with language or dialogue when you were writing as characters from the past? How did you work to make the distinction between the voices of the different historical characters?

Hi Cecilia~

Here's what I did- I jumped up and down from my computer to the mirror and tried out voices and dialogue- no, wait, that was not me, that was Charles Dickens. Seriously, what I did do was read as much of the characters writings, particularly letters, as I could. So for Marcel Proust, I read Letters of Marcel Proust and since I was already a Proustophile, I had read almost everything he'd ever written.

Vincent van Gogh was a marvelous letter writer, very prolific and detailed, and his voice in those letters is nearly as unique as his paintings. So I read quite a few of his letters and then immediately began to write, in my book, the letter that he wrote to my narrator. I also paint and to get myself in a "van Gogh-ish" state I attempted to copy some of his paintings. That also helped with the descriptions of the way he painted and the paintings themselves that are in my book.

Charles Dickens was another great letter writer, so the same with him as with the others. And I have read most of his works as well as Colette's, so I just tried to inhabit them through their works, written and painted. In that way it was not hard to make distinctions in their voices, and I was able to hear their voices, after all that immersion, fairly clearly in my head.

I think the only restrictions or constraints I felt while writing Parisian by Heart was to be sure that, even though it is a work of fiction, that the voices and dialogue were true to the characters and to the time period, which varies in the novel from the present to Proust's time (1871-1922) to World War II and so on. I didn't want anachronisms, like Proust saying "No problem", or van Gogh saying "Wow, look at that awesome sunset!"

So there was a lot of research involved, but I tried to take Isabel Allende's advice (and I'm paraphrasing here), to do your research and then put it away and write your novel. I put away the books and internet info-gathering and just let the voices of the characters speak to me. Maybe, like Dickens, I did use a mirror, but this mirror I held up to those characters from the past and allowed them to speak.

Thanks for a thought-provoking question, Cecilia.
Best wishes,
Mari

Thanks for your response. It must have been interesting to balance so many characters in your head! You did an excellent job. I can't wait to read what your next book!

Cecilia wrote: "Thanks for your response. It must have been interesting to balance so many characters in your head! You did an excellent job. I can't wait to read what your next book!"

You're welcome and thank you for your questions and your compliment. It did seem like there were a lot of people vying for attention in there sometimes!

I didn't find out about Parisian by Heart until A.F. listed your Q&A so I haven't read it yet. It's on my TR short list. Did you live in Paris for any length of time or just spend extended time there as a visitor? .

The reason I asked is that I lived in the Suisse Romande for a number of years. I also visited Paris regularly for work and pleasure and over a period of six years I average perhaps four days a month in Paris. I feel comfortable writing about the Suisse Romande and its people. While I have used Paris as a locale for temporary action and Parisians as minor characters, my comfort level isn't high enough to center a novel there or adopt its people as main characters. I wondering how you feel about this.

Hi, Lee~

I forgot to mention earlier in my "greetings" to the group that I'm also having a giveaway here on Goodreads for Parisian by Heart that ends on April 2nd, so you can sign up for a chance to get a copy (http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...) Thank you for putting it on your TR list, and for participating here.

My husband and I visited Paris for about 2 weeks in 2005. It fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine to go, and I very much wish to go back, so I envy you your days in Paris! I am not familiar with the Suisse Romande, but I'd like to hear more about it and your times in Paris.

My novel has some aspects of time-traveling in it so most of the part set in Paris is during the Belle Epoque, for which I did a lot of research so I felt comfortable enough with it to do so. The remainder of the time (in the novel) that is in Paris is based on the trip we took there in 2005, so it is from the tourist's point of view. I'm not sure, like you, that I would feel comfortable enough to center a novel there, but I probably would feel that I could "adopt its people as main characters" because I have always felt that Paris was (is) my spiritual home and so feel Parisian (by heart!) myself. "Real" Parisians, however, might feel differently!

Also, in adopting Parisians as main characters (Marcel Proust, Colette), as I outlined to Cecilia above, I had done so much research and spent so much time with them all (Charles Dickens, Vincent van Gogh), not just for my book but for many previous years, that I felt comfortable enough to "put words in their mouths", so to speak. I hope this answers your question!

How are your cats, by the way?

Hi Mari,
Thanks for the tip on the giveaway. I'm now entered. If I don't get lucky, I'll buy the kindle edition.

Suisse Romande ("Roman Switserland") is what the locals call the cantons in the west and south whose native language is French. If you want to learn a lot more about French Switzerland, read Impediments.

You did, indeed, answer my question, and by the way, I share your love of Paris, but I think speaking at least some French is a must to truly get to know the city and its people.

Our cats (18 of them at the moment) are relatively well, but geriatric like me.

Lee wrote: "Hi Mari,
Thanks for the tip on the giveaway. I'm now entered. If I don't get lucky, I'll buy the kindle edition.

Suisse Romande ("Roman Switserland") is what the locals call the cantons in the we..."

I'm also having a free book giveaway on my blog (which I also forgot to mention); so you might want to check that out too- http://marimann.wordpress.com/2012/03...

I'm glad to hear that they are all well (the kitties, I mean). We are currently cat-less at the moment.

I agree that knowing the language is crucial, also knowing the differences in the cultures, like saying hello when you go into a French store or market. Part of my book is about attempting to learn French before going to Paris, and then finding out, once we were there, that I was a little shy about speaking it. I think it was because I knew I couldn't speak it very well. But I could understand quite a bit and that was very helpful. I finally decided I needed to use some of that French I had learned and inquired about the price of a bracelet at a flea market. I won't tell you what happened because that would be a spoiler for my book but it is the bracelet that is pictured on the cover.

Impediments is one of your books, yes?

Hello, Mari!

I know you've talked a lot in your answers about your research and comfort level in understanding the historical personages that you've written for. I'm curious if, when you released the book, you felt intimidated at all or were concerned about reader reactions. About readers that might not agree with your depictions?

I realize that all writers can only worry so much about their reader reactions, but I know I've found historical fiction to be... intimidating in that.

Mia wrote: "Hello, Mari!

I know you've talked a lot in your answers about your research and comfort level in understanding the historical personages that you've written for. I'm curious if, when you released ..."

Hmmmmmmm, that's a great question, Mia. I suppose I should have been intimidated, but frankly, I was not. Maybe I didn't know enough to be! But I really wrote the book for myself, because I admired Proust, van Gogh, Dickens so much, and because I wanted to see if I could write a novel, and so I didn't think much beyond that. Now that accounts for when I was writing it, but you asked about when I released it...I felt confidant that, despite the fact that I was perhaps choosing some of the most written about or elevated literary and artistic beings to write about, that I had been as true to them as I could in my understanding and representations of them.

Now, if Jean Yves-Tadie, one of Proust's great biographers, should happen to read my book and say "That's not him at all! Proust would ever say this or do that (what you've written here)", then I suppose I would have to give some thought to that. But writing the characters of Proust and van Gogh and Dickens felt right to me, never forced or false, and so I would say that my vision of them is just as valid or "real" as anyone's-maybe more so, because I wrote from my head and heart (to quote Thomas Jefferson).

Are you thinking of attempting historical fiction with "real" people? Or have you already? (I have only read your Cameron's Law.)

Thanks for your question and for being here,
Mari

Thanks for your answer! That all entirely makes sense, and in the end, you do just need to be true to yourself and to the story you're telling.

Actually, I have a romance coming out in April that is historical, but very (very) minor characters in history that there isn't much known about. Nothing like van Gogh or Dickens or Proust!

Mia wrote: "Thanks for your answer! That all entirely makes sense, and in the end, you do just need to be true to yourself and to the story you're telling.

Actually, I have a romance coming out in April that ..."

Please let me know when your book comes out!

Dear Mari Mann,

Your interest in ancient history is simply fasinating. I am so glad that your work was featured. You are truly a person who lives a full and meaningful life. I wish you well in all of your journeys.

Ann wrote: "Dear Mari Mann,

Your interest in ancient history is simply fasinating. I am so glad that your work was featured. You are truly a person who lives a full and meaningful life. I wish you well in all..."

Thank you, Ann. Are you interested in ancient history as well? After I finished Parisian by Heart, which I guess could be said is not so much about ancient history as it is about past times and past lives, I started writing about my experiences on an archaeological dig in Utah. This really was ancient history, as we were uncovering Anasazi artifacts and ruins from around the 12th century BCE.

I am still working on that book, which is titled Call of the Coyote, but while I was working on it I started another book called Father We Go. The island that I live on is north of Roanoke Island, where the first English settlers tried to establish themselves. Some folks say that there is evidence that when the Lost Colonists left Roanoke, they came to this island, where there may be the remains of an English fort built during a previous colonial attempt.

So I'm still going on journeys, in my writing, one to the Southwest and one much closer to home. Thank you again for your good wishes.

Mari

Being a history buff myself, I was wondering if you had a favourite historic era or time period?

Mari wrote: "Lee wrote: "Hi Mari,
Thanks for the tip on the giveaway. I'm now entered. If I don't get lucky, I'll buy the kindle edition.

Suisse Romande ("Roman Switserland") is what the locals call the canto..."

The first book of The Sonnet Trilogy:

Impediments

A.F. wrote: "Being a history buff myself, I was wondering if you had a favourite historic era or time period?"

I had to think about that one for awhile. I don't think I do have a favorite, I think I am too interested in so many times and eras-

But, there are periods of time, maybe transitional, ends or beginnings of eras, perhaps, that I would like to have been there to see. I need a History Channel that shows real history; so, say, you could dial up a time period or an event and, through the miracle of television, actually watch as that time or place or happening unfolds. Or a time machine that transports you to where and when you want to go, but you only get to watch, no one can see you and you can't change anything, so we don't get into any of those "I killed my own Grandfather" sort of paradoxes.

If either of those two things were possible (or if there were other possibilities, I'll leave you all to come up with them), here's some times I'd like to see:

I would want to see what really happened as the Neanderthals were leaving the scene and the Homos were arriving-

I would want to see the height of Mayan grandeur and learn for myself why this great civilization fell- or if they really did-

I would want to see what really happened in the days surrounding Jesus' death-

I would want to see what happened to John White's colonists (the "Lost Colonists") after he sailed back to England-

I would like to see what really went on between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings at Monticello-

Well, that's getting a little voyeuristic there so we'll leave it at that.

How about you, A.F., do you have a favorite?

Lee wrote: "Mari wrote: "Lee wrote: "Hi Mari,
Thanks for the tip on the giveaway. I'm now entered. If I don't get lucky, I'll buy the kindle edition.

Suisse Romande ("Roman Switserland") is what the locals c..."

Lee, I went to your page to look for Impediments after I asked you about it, it does look like a book I'd be interested in. I'll be checking into it; thank you for suggesting it to me.

Mari wrote: "A.F. wrote: "Being a history buff myself, I was wondering if you had a favourite historic era or time period?"

I had to think about that one for awhile. I don't think I do have a favorite, I think..."

I have an avid interest in the Celtic culture; I find it fascinating because so much of their actual history is still myth and speculation as they had an spoken tradition of recording events instead of a written one.
I like the Regency and Victorian periods of Britain (my Jane Austen and Dickens influences showing there).
And I've always loved feudal Japan. I'm a sucker for samurai and ninjas.

A.F. wrote: "Mari wrote: "A.F. wrote: "Being a history buff myself, I was wondering if you had a favourite historic era or time period?"

I had to think about that one for awhile. I don't think I do have a fa..."

Yes, the Celts, I would want to see them too. I have some Irish background and my husband has Scotch-Irish.
Agree on the Dickens time period too; the Samurais and Ninjas, not so much :)

I guess that's one of the reasons why we write, A.F., because there isn't a real History Channel or time machine (not yet, anyhow!) so we can satisfy our curiosity, so we create our own time machines with our words.

Mari:
Seeing how you combine history and tradition in your writing, how do you best characterize your works? Whether this one or the one the hat represents (does this qualify me to be in that drawing, too?), where do you see your work fitting in as I see it as being more than one genre. ??

Greetings Mari. Being new to Goodreads I am still "clicking" my way through, not to just benefit from this site, but to be a contributor too. Thank you for sending me an email and adding me to your "friends" list. At once, I felt a connection when you said you had been to Prescott, AZ and that you had a chance to visit our town square. We are very fortunate to have a place to display all the arts, books, and crafts created in our small space on the globe. I hope you have the opportunity to return. I haven't read your book as of yet, but I did read what is available on Amazon. (For sure, my "psych" professor would have loved you! He was hooked on dreams and had us place paper/pen by our beds. Then when we woke, we wrote our dreams down and brought them to class.)

Besides thanking you, I want to offer my congratulations on having your book featured on Goodreads. …and I am wishing you success with your book and in all your reviews.

Debra wrote: "Mari:
Seeing how you combine history and tradition in your writing, how do you best characterize your works? Whether this one or the one the hat represents (does this qualify me to be in that draw..."

Hi Debra, nice to see you here, I will definitely throw your name in the hat! That is a really hard question you have asked, and I have had to struggle with it for various reasons. When I submitted Parisian by Heart for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, they give you a drop-down list for the category in which to place your work. So I had to choose: Literary Fiction? Historical? Fantasy? If there had been a category called "Magical Realism", I might have gone for that, but alas, no....

Recently, my husband pointed me to a wikipedia article about "Historiographic metafiction", for which they give this definition: "...works of historiographic metafiction are "those well-known and popular novels which are both intensely self-reflexive and yet paradoxically also lay claim to historical events and personages". Historiographic metafiction is a quintessentially postmodern art form, with a reliance upon textual play, parody and historical re-conceptualization." Except for the part about "well-known and popular", that definition, I think, pretty much fits Parisian by Heart and Father We Go, the one I'm working on now, which will be my third book I've written but the second to be released.

But, my second book, Call of the Coyote, which is in the editing, proofing, re-writing stage, is very much different from Parisian by Heart and Father We Go, and Father We go is very different from the other two. All of which is to say that yes, my work is definitely more than one genre and I don't really know where it fits in...but all have some aspects of magical realism, some historical aspects, some playing with time and memory and the connections between our inner and outer worlds and everything within those worlds.

So, Debra, how do I best characterize my works? "Historiographic metafiction" is too much a mouthful, so how about "Anything and Everything that doesn't fit into a Recognized Category??" I think I need a bigger hat:)

Pamela wrote: "Greetings Mari. Being new to Goodreads I am still "clicking" my way through, not to just benefit from this site, but to be a contributor too. Thank you for sending me an email and adding me to yo..."

Thank you, Pamela, for your congratulations and for the "friending". And yes, probably a lot of "psych" related folks would love me and my dreams! I hope you do get a chance to read all of Parisian by Heart, then you'll understand why...one part of the book that is based on my personal "reality" is lucid dreaming, where the dreamer, while dreaming, is aware that they are dreaming and can "take control" of the dream. I learned to do that when I was young because I was plagued by nightmares and finally resolved to know when I was dreaming so that I could either wake myself up or change the dream. Once I was able to do that, the ability has never left me.

My husband and I both have at times kept dream journals, keeping pen and paper by the side of the bed, like you describe. When you would bring your dreams to class, then would you all share them? And did the professor or anyone attempt to interpret them? Was he a Freudian or a Jungian?

When my husband and his son and I passed through Prescott, we didn't have time to explore the town square or see much of Prescott, so I would like to go back. There are many places in the Southwest that I'd love to go back to, and I think I mentioned to you that Call of the Coyote is set at an archaeological dig in Utah...

Thank you for participating, Pamela, and see you around Goodreads!

Mes amis~

It seems as if this discussion is winding down, so I want to thank the Writers and Readers group, and A.F. and everyone who participated here. Your questions have caused me to think about some aspects of my work that I had not delved into in such depth before, and so I thank you for showing me sides of myself and my work. It is wonderful to have such a group of readers, writers and friends available here.

All the best,
Mari

Mari wrote: ", I started writing about my experiences on an archaeological dig in Utah."

It's nice to meet another historical fiction/history fan. Coincidentally, my most recent romantic suspense (Whispers in the Dark, written as Kris Bock) is set on an archaeology dig in the four corners area -- basically Hovenweep though I gave it a fictional name so I could change some details. I'll look forward to reading Call of the Coyote.

I'm also fascinated by the Maya, and wrote a middle grade novel (ages 10+) set in the last days of a great Mayan city. It was my first and most successful traditionally published book, so clearly we're not the only ones interested! Part of my success for The Well of Sacrifice is that it got picked up by many schools when they teach about the Maya. But it's done especially well recently (more than a decade after it was released), so I wonder if that's because of the buzz about the Mayan prediction of the end of the world. Would you consider writing a novel about the Maya?

Mari wrote: "Ann wrote: "Dear Mari Mann,

Your interest in ancient history is simply fasinating. I am so glad that your work was featured. You are truly a person who lives a full and meaningful life. I wish you..."

Ann wrote: "Dear Mari Mann,
Yes I am interested in ancient history. I can't wait to read your books. After 7 years of research, I just completed my latest book, "Human Property Hanging in the Family Tree Yields a Harvest." I am so glad that I was introduced to your work.
Thanks,
Ann
Your interest in ancient history is simply fasinating. I am so glad that your work was featured. You are truly a person who lives a full and meaningful life. I wish you well in all..."

The approach you took with the letters, especially that of Van Gogh is very interesting. Hope it was well received by the public (readers).

The archeological dig in Utah sounds really interesting.