Wishnow’s storytelling centers on flawed, educated women navigating environmental changes. Passionate about research, she shares insights through speaking engagements and her newsletter, Research for Writers and Other Curious People.
Beyond writing, she finds solace in her garden, bird-watching, and feeding peanuts to local squirrels.
Wishnow's new novel is The Pelican Tide.
My Q&A with the author:
How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?Visit Sharon J. Wishnow's website.
I tell authors I know not to become hooked on their book title because chances are, it'll change. My original title for The Pelican Tide was axed by my agent. She renamed it and I hated it. It knew I'd have another chance if it was sold. And I was right. I feel the title does a 75% job of clueing readers into themes of the story, it deals with an ocean setting and there is most definitely a pelican. The word tide also evokes change and my characters face a lot of change. However, the other 25% of the book is about an oil spill and a hot sauce competition.
What's in a name?
Names are everything in my story and provide authenticity to the setting and something to help the reader remember the characters. Josie Babineaux is named after a friend's mother who passed away as I was starting the book. Hugh Dean and Odeal, the book's human antagonists were taken from an actual US. Census listing of the Babineaux family in the Louisiana Parish where the story takes place. Louise, the town mayor, is named for my childhood best friend. Minnow, Josie's daughter was at first a character nickname until it just became the character. AndGumbo the pelican was named to explain his origin story with the Babineaux family.
How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your new novel?
I think she would love the story but not believe older me had the ability to write it.
Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?
I begin every story knowing what the last scene is and that usually doesn't change. Beginnings are completely different. I rewrite first chapters and opening sentences more times than I can count.
Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?
I don't see any particular character like me in The Pelican Tide. However, the characters face some issues that I have in my life and I was able to call on my memories and emotions to make their stories more authentic.
What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?
I am greatly influenced by the natural world. The Pelican Tide was inspired by a documentary I had seen on the 10th anniversary of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill and I asked, What happened to the people. This is my version.
--Marshal Zeringue