Interview with Therese Fowler, Author of Reunion - Page 2

I was in high school when I first imagined myself as a novelist, but I had no idea how to go about pursuing that goal.  This was in the 1980s, before the Internet and the explosion of how-to information we've all grown so accustomed to.  It wasn't until late 2000, when I wrote my first short story and was told that I had real potential, that I made up my mind to give the writing profession a try.  That commitment was the key; five years later I'd written two novels, earned an MFA in creative writing, and gotten a literary agent, and nine months after that I had a publishing deal.

Was there anyone in your life that you can give credit to helping pave the way?

Absolutely.  I credit author (and recent Nebula winner!) John Kessel for identifying my potential; I thank my husband Andy for pushing me to make the commitment to write; my agent, Wendy Sherman, gave me concrete validation by offering to represent me; and my editor, Linda Marrow, continually enables me to become the writer I am striving to be.

What was your favorite book to read as a child?

I loved the Little House series (and imagined myself as Laura Ingalls Wilder reincarnated).  Similarly, I often felt I was Jo in Little Women — the outspoken tomboy who wants to be a writer — and found great companionship in reading, and re-reading, that novel.

What is your favorite book at the present?

Ann Patchett's Bel Canto.

If you could trade places with one author who you have admired over the years, who would it be and why?

That would probably be Anna Quindlen.  Each of her novels takes on the same kinds of issues I explore in my stories: family, culture, choices and their effects, questions of what's right and how to accomplish it.  In addition to being a bestselling novelist, she's a widely known, well-respected journalist, and has authored some lovely nonfiction books as well.  In essence, she's doing everything I can hope to do in my career.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

Article Author: Dorothy Thompson

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