The Memoir Revolution

Category: Author Interview

September 7, 2012

George Orwell and Memoirs: How Literature Changes Lives

Andrea Chalupa, Author Interview

Andrea Chalupa, Animal Farm, Author Interview, history, Joseph Stalin, Kiev, memoir, nonfiction, Orwell, Ukraine

As I sort out the whole situation, I feel like I am listening to a gigantic concert which weaves the three books, the one by George Orwell, which exposes Stalin’s cruelty, a second by Chalupa’s grandfather which puts a human face on the millions of refugees, and a third by the granddaughter, a book about…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
May 1, 2012

Tim Elhajj about Writing and Publishing His Memoir

Addiction, Author Interview, Tim Elhajj

Addiction, honesty, interview, memoir, Publishing, recovery, shame, Tim Elhajj

Most of the anecdotes in the book were ones that I tell in AA meetings or around the dinner table to entertain my kids. Telling a story doesn’t always work the same way as writing a story. You have to make certain adjustments for the page. The audience is potentially different and some things may…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 25, 2012

Memoir Interview: A Fresh, Personal Look at Twelve Steps

Addiction, Author Interview, Tim Elhajj

Addiction, honesty, interview, memoir, recovery, shame, Tim Elhajj, Twelve Steps

Dopefiend provides a fresh, authentic look at the influence of the Twelve Steps program, which has been written about in many other books. It’s a question that arises for many memoir writers: “How do I portray my own individual perspective on a topic that has already received wide coverage?”

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 17, 2012

Memoir Interview: Shame, Addiction and Anonymity

Author Interview, Tim Elhajj

Addiction, honesty, interview, memoir, recovery, shame, Tim Elhajj

I don’t think every story I write needs to be about my recovery or my addiction, but evaluating one’s life openly and honestly, without shame or fear, is the right path for me. It’s like the advice Tobias Wolff wrote to Mary Karr as she set out to write the Liar’s Club. “Don’t be afraid…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 10, 2012

8 Lessons and Prompts from Tim Elhajj’s Recovery Memoir

Tim Elhajj, Writing Prompt

Addiction, Coming of age, memoir, recovery, Tim Elhajj, Twelve Steps

Dopefiend is about Elhajj’s journey to become a complete man, and his desire to be a good father is an important part of that journey. His own son forces him to grow, giving fresh meaning to Wordsworth’s famous line, “the child is father of the man.”

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 3, 2012

Coming of Age Never Ends

Coming of age, Tim Elhajj

Addiction, Coming of age, memoir, recovery, Tim Elhajj, Twelve Steps

stories of childhood and adolescence, such as Jeanette Walls’ Glass Castle and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes arguably launched the explosion of interest in the memoir genre. However, not all Coming of Age stories proceed from childhood in an orderly fashion.

Written by

Jerry Waxler
March 27, 2012

Interview with Susan Weidener About Memoir Workshops Pt 4

Author Interview, Susan Weidener

character flaw, Grief, honesty, interview, marriage, memoir, Susan Weidener, Writing

The women find themselves writing about things that had “gathered cobwebs” over the years. Once they put pen to paper and write it, the power of that memory or that time in their lives to hurt and cause anguish is taken away. Afterwards, they tell me they feel at peace with it. I’m not a…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
March 20, 2012

Interview with Susan Weidener About Writing Her Memoir Pt 3

Author Interview, Susan Weidener

character flaw, Grief, honesty, interview, marriage, memoir, Susan Weidener, Writing

I was intrigued by self-publishing. It is very exciting. You own the copyright to your work; royalties are a lot higher than through a traditional publisher because you take the risk. As a deadline-oriented person, I felt it was crucial to know the book would be published and not get stuffed in a drawer. I…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
March 13, 2012

Interview with Susan Weidener About Writing Her Memoir Pt 2

Author Interview, Susan Weidener

character flaw, Grief, honesty, interview, marriage, memoir, Susan Weidener, Writing

I wrote at least eight drafts before I was satisfied with the final version. I gave a copy of the completed manuscript to a former colleague from The Philadelphia Inquirer and to a family therapist. Both provided additional editing and copy editing. Of course, I edit manuscripts myself, but there is no way you can…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
March 6, 2012

Interview with Memoir Author Susan Weidener About Honesty

Author Interview, Susan Weidener

character flaw, Grief, honesty, interview, marriage, memoir, Susan Weidener, Writing

By accepting my flaws, I found a place of healing. Why wasn’t I kinder to him at the end of his life? That question haunted me for years. As I wrote my memoir, I began to see how almost anyone would have reacted much like I did when confronting the loss of their dreams, the…

Written by

Jerry Waxler