Tiffany Baker

Tiffany Baker has a graduate degree in creative writing from UC Irvine and a PhD in Victorian literature.

Her recently released debut novel is The Little Giant of Aberdeen County.

From her Q & A with Hilary S. Kayle for Publishers Weekly:

The story is told from the viewpoint of Truly Plaice, whose large stature is the result of a glandular disorder. What inspired you to feature such an unusual character?

I started with the character—it was like tuning in a radio, and I got the Truly station. Then I wanted to have a woman in a small town who was an outsider. What if she was so big that you couldn't possibly miss her, she couldn't be overlooked—and yet somehow in this town, everybody had overlooked her. I played with the juxtaposition of a woman who is so large, but who is simultaneously invisible, and the story took off.

There is a wonderful contrast between Truly, and her dainty, beautiful sister, Serena Jane. How did you develop that relationship?

I have two sisters and I know about the rivalries that go on. I made a game with myself of upping the ante for Truly. What could make it even worse for her in this small town? What if her sister was incredibly beautiful? It allowed me to explore appearances and that what you see is not necessarily the truth [of who you are].

Read the complete interview.

The Page 69 Test: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County.

--Marshal Zeringue