I first met Jessica McCann, the author of All Different Kinds of Free, in Tempe, Arizona at the excellent Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference which brought together talented writers in fiction, non-fiction, mystery, YA, childrens and sci-fi to name but a few. After a passionate chat about her (true) story of a freeborn black woman kidnapped into slavery, I knew I had to interview her. Winner of the Freedom in Fiction Prize with nearly 100 five star reviews on Amazon, All Different Kinds of Free is Jessica's debut novel.
A Paris Writers News interview
Laurel Zuckerman: What inspired you to write All Different Kinds of Free?
Jessica McCann: I was editing a textbook on the U.S. Supreme Court justices and the case of Prigg v. Pennsylvania, 1842, stood out. It overturned the conviction of a bounty hunter who had kidnapped Margaret Morgan, a free woman of color, and sold her into slavery. The case was a pivotal in the nation's history and was one of the first sparks of contention that led to the Civil War. Yet, the case summary made little mention of Margaret herself or the hardships she suffered. That made me curious to learn more about her and inspired me to tell her story.
How did you research it?
Initially, I intended to write a nonfiction book about Margaret. This was more than 10 years ago, and information was not as readily available on the Internet as it is today. I spent a lot of time at the law library at Arizona State University researching the court case. The online newspaper archives through my local library were an enormous help. I also hired a genealogist in Maryland to dig through the local historical society archives, which were not available digitally, to find information about Margaret and the family who had owned her parents.
What were the biggest challenges you faced?
Sadly, there was very little documented information about Margaret, either before or after her kidnapping. When I realized I did not have enough to write a nonfiction book, I shelved the project for a couple of years and brooded. One day I decided I couldn't let her story go untold, and I began work to write a fictional account of Margaret's life and the court case that changed the nation.
How close did you stay to historical sources?
For the court case, I stuck as close to the historical record as possible, even quoting the transcript from the oral arguments, which is now available online. To fill in the blanks of Margaret's life, as well as to add color and depth to the many fictional supporting characters throughout the book, I turned to an enormous pile of nonfiction books including testimonials, letters and diaries from other slaves during that time. I also read books about the everyday life of people in the north and the south, and books about popular culture, slang and occupations of the 18th century.
What was the most surprising thing you learned?
While I was researching Washington, D.C., I learned that slave auctions were regularly held there. I knew, of course, that slavery and auctions were common practice throughout the South. But I was truly shocked to learn that such activity took place in my nation's capital, even at that time.
What are your hopes for the book?
First and foremost, I wanted to tell a compelling, entertaining and enlightening story. So I hope I achieved that. My hope is also that people will read it, that they'll be touched in a positive way by Margaret's story and courage in the face of adversity, and that they'll feel compelled to share her story with others.
When did you first start writing?
I've been writing professionally since my senior year of high school. My experience is pretty diverse, from magazine writing and editing, to corporate and nonprofit communications, to copywriting and copyediting. I began dabbling with fiction writing about 10 years ago.
How did you hone your craft?
Practice, practice, practice. I've worked with a number of talented editors throughout my career who have helped me improve my writing and broaden my skill set. I've worked as a fulltime freelance writer for nearly 15 years now, and that can be brutal profession. You have to have thick skin and be able to take all critiques of your writing with an open mind. That's a skill set in and of itself. And developing that helped prepare me for the challenges that come with a fiction writing career.
What is the writers' community like in Arizona?
We have a vibrant writing community here. It includes many genre-specific and general writing groups and chapters of national organizations, as well as large annual events like the Desert Nights, Rising Stars writers conference hosted by Arizona State University and the Tucson Festival of Books held at the University of Arizona in the southern part of the state. There really are a lot of organized opportunities throughout the year to meet with other writers, talk about the writing life, compare notes and compare war stories. You can be as social or a solitary as you'd like, depending upon where you are in your own writing journey.
Who is your favorite writer?
I get asked that a lot, and I can never come up with just one name. John Steinbeck and Mark Twain are iconic American writers for whom I have enormous respect. I also enjoy novels by Sandra Dallas, a contemporary who writes historical fiction based in the American West. A few recent debut novelists have also impressed me. Australian author M.L. Steadman blew me away with her debut, The Light Between Oceans, as did Alaskan author Eowyn Ivey with her debut, The Snow Child.
How do you use social media?
Unlike many authors, I don't blog very often. I do update my website each month to keep it fresh, including information about books I've enjoyed, links to recent articles I've written, and that sort of thing. I do enjoy Twitter and check in there nearly every day. It has been a fun way to meet fellow writers and readers, share ideas, and learn about great new books. Goodreads has been another social media site that I enjoy and, again, I've met some interesting folks with shared reading interests there.
What are you working on now?
In addition to my freelance work, I'm deep in a draft of my second historical novel. This book is set in the 1930s, in the Dust Bowl of the midwestern United States. I am fascinated by the "black blizzards" of that era, monstrous dust storms that would black out the sun and could last for days. Even more, I'm fascinated by the people who lived there during that time and how they summoned up the fortitude to tough it out. I spent a couple of years researching and developing character profiles. Now I'm writing and waiting to see how the story unfolds.
***
Bio: Jessica McCann, a professional freelance writer and novelist, lives with her family in Phoenix, Arizona. Her debut historical novel, All Different Kinds of Free, was awarded the Freedom in Fiction Prize and is available in trade paperback, ebook and audio. Jessica loves chatting about books at her website (http://www.jessicamccann.com) and on Twitter (@JMcCannWriter).
Additional links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVzltSIgwio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUhDpJGQhu0
|