I am excited to welcome Kathie Giorgio as part of the...
WOW! WOMEN ON
WRITING TOUR
of
Don’t Let Me Keep You
Let's begin with Kathie's guest post titled
How To Write The Hard Stuff
“You say what
you want to say when you don't care who's listening.”
― Allen Ginsberg
When you ask writers why they
write what they write, you will get as many answers as there are to the
question, “What is the meaning of life?” We writers write for every reason
imaginable, and some of us change those reasons with every project, while others
gnaw at the same bone our whole life through.
And then there are writers like
me, who basically just can’t keep our mouths shut.
I’ve been called a “dark”
writer, a “disturbing” (thank goodness not “disturbed”) writer, a “fearless”
writer, an “honest” writer. Of them all, I like “honest” best. I tend to write
about the things that people have very strong feelings about – and consequently,
if they see something that defies that, they get angry.
I’ve written about abuse and
infidelity, rape, and especially the treatment of women involved in all of
these. In my nonfiction, I wrote about being assaulted by a man in a Make
America Great Again hat, a few days after Trump’s inauguration. More recently,
I’ve written about suicide, not about the people left behind, but about how
those who choose to end their own lives feel, and how they are treated.
There have been times I’ve
wished I could be a “light” writer, and some of my favorite writers are exactly
that. But I find that what most often makes me run for my computer is something
that twists my heart and my psyche, and I write about it in order to find out
more, to dig deeper, especially into the “whys”, and to learn, which is what I
hope my readers do too. And ultimately, I write to help.
There are some drawbacks to
this, of course. There are things you have to learn to deal with, if you’re
going to do this kind of writing. First, look at how I am described as a
writer, that I just listed above. Hearing yourself called dark and disturbing
is…disturbing. You may question why you write such things, why you’re
interested in them, and I’ve certainly done a lot of that.
And sometimes, it’s right in
your face. I was teaching once at a writing conference, and I happened to be
close by the book-selling table when I saw a woman pick up my novel, Rise
From The River (The Main Street Rag Publishing Company, 2015). This book is
about a young single mother who is raped, and it covers the issue of 39 of our
states giving the rapist and his family more rights than the victim. (You’ll
have to read the book to see what I mean by that.) Someone standing next to the
woman who was looking at my book said, “Oh, you should get that. I’ve read it,
and it’s amazing!” The woman put the book back down. “No,” she said. “It’s just
too dark.” And she wiped her hand on her jeans like she’d been holding
something dirty.
That hurt. And these things will
hurt. I write, and other controversial writers write, with a sense of sincerely
wanting to shed light on something, usually something that needs to be changed.
So to be treated as part of the problem, and not part of the answer, can be
difficult. So what do you do?
You do your best to not remember
the woman who put your book down, and remember all those that picked it up.
That’s a universal problem, it
seems, across the board of writers. From the writers I know, to the writers I
teach, to myself, it is somehow much easier to remember the rejections and
insults than it is to remember the acceptances and praise. You might have to
print out some of these good comments and keep them somewhere where you can
readily see them.
And you always need to remember
your motivation. You don’t write to hurt; you write to help, and to try to make
the hurt go away.
Another issue that arises when
you write about controversial issues is, in a sense, battle fatigue. Writers
sink into their characters. We are immersed in them. When we’re not writing,
the characters follow us around and tap us often on the back, reminding us
there’s a story to be told. But when you have a “dark” story to tell, it’s very
possible to start feeling pretty dark yourself.
The solution? Take a break.
Write something else entirely different. Don’t write at all. Spend a week
reading nothing but comic strips. Walk in the sun. Hug your favorite person.
Let them hug you.
And then remind yourself that
you’re a good person and get back to it.
If you’re writing about
controversial issues, you’re doing so because you care. Because you want to
make a difference, because you want to help. You want change. And the most
important thing about writing on these topics is to keep doing it. To keep reminding
yourself of your motivation. You aren’t writing for shock value (some writers
are), you aren’t writing for attention (some writers are), and you aren’t
writing to hurt someone (some writers are). The most important thing to do when
writing about controversial issues is to be true to yourself. Remember who you
are and why you’re writing.
And then just keep going.
A Bit About the Book:
Motherhood is a symphony, from the
first movement, through crescendo after crescendo, to the finale.
Hildy Halverson, a genius in math and science,
is pushed by her parents to step into a male-dominated field and change the
world for women. But Hildy, enamored of the scientific force of the human body,
and her own body’s ability to create and sustain life, decides to go against
contemporary expectations. She marries young and raises a houseful of kids.
Hildy wants her children to choose their own
life paths. As each child is born, she tells them, “You can be whatever you
want to be, and whatever you want to be will be great.” Despite her efforts to
not influence her children, Hildy does so, often in unexpected ways. Each child
is introduced in that first private moment between Hildy and her new baby. This
is followed by a chapter revealing that child’s life, years later. Woven
throughout is an underlying grief over the death of the sixth baby soon after birth.
That grief is more pervasive than any of them expect.
In this ambitious novel, the struggles and
joys, fatigue and exhilaration of motherhood, are captured in the full panorama
of family life. Hildy lovingly raises her children, then lets them go, finding
herself along the way.
Publisher: Black Rose Publishing (October 3, 2024)
Print length: 230
pages
Reviews
Don’t Let Me Keep You is a lyrical meditation on
motherhood seven times over, gestating, unfurling with rhythmic, poignant
prose. Over decades we see each of the Halversons through the eyes of the
others, bringing into sharp focus how differently each member can experience the
same family. The way children protect their mothers, the way mothers remain
children themselves, and what a mess we can still make of things despite our
best intentions. That we can choose to love each other regardless of who we
turn out to be, no matter what.
–Maggie Ginsberg,
author of Still True
Don’t Let Me Keep You follows a math prodigy’s
unconventional and slightly obsessive journey through motherhood. Giorgio’s
dynamic characters and complex emotional bonds turn this family saga into a
propulsive page turner wherein motherhood as a career is an empowering choice.
At once gritty, heartbreaking, and hopeful, Don’t Let Me Keep You shows
the fallibility of the human condition through the haunting eyes of a mother’s
love as she struggles with the age-old question, Am I a good mother?
--Marisa Rae Dondlinger, author of Open and Come
And Get Me
The thing I love about Kathie Giorgio's books are the
surprises. Her books are not like anyone's. They are fresh, unique, and
wonderful. Don't Let Me Keep You is all that and more. This is a story
about motherhood, childhood and family. Belonging, expectations, and the
enduring power of love. Of course, because this is Kathie's novel, there is
poetry, and vignettes. A cast of characters worth knowing. And many
opportunities to reflect on our lives as parents and children. I highly
recommend Don't Let Me Keep You.
--Karen E. Osborne, Author of True Grace and Reckonings
With delightful
finesse, author Kathie Giorgio weaves a flawless web of family love that
weathers plenty of storms, but still comes out shimmering.
--Mary Ann Noe, author of Water the Color of Slate
Purchase a copy of Don’t Let Me Keep You on
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Me-Keep-You/dp/1685134882
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-let-me-keep-you-kathie-giorgio/1145428066
Black Rose Publishing: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/womens/p/dontletmekeepyou
You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211567748-don-t-let-me-keep-you
About the Author
Kathie Giorgio is the author of a total of fifteen books:
eight novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and four poetry
collections. She’s been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and poetry
and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library
Association, the Silver Pen Award for Literary Excellence, the Pencraft Award
for Literary Excellence, and the Eric Hoffer Award In Fiction. Her poem “Light”
won runner-up in the 2021 Rosebud Magazine Poetry Prize, and her work has also
been incorporated into many visual art and musical events. Kathie is the director and founder of
AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop LLC, an international creative writing
studio.
She lives with her husband, mystery writer Michael Giorgio,
and their daughter Olivia, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Three of her adult children,
Christopher, Andy, and Olivia, live close by, along with her solo
granddaughter, Maya Mae. One adult child has wandered off to Louisiana and
lives among the mathematicians and alligators.
You can follow the author at:
Website: http://www.kathiegiorgio.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathiegiorgioauthor/
X/Twitter: @KathieGiorgio
Instagram: @kathiegio1
Blog Tour Calendar
October 21st @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Kathie Giorgio's novel
Don't Let Me Keep You. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a
copy of her book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
October 22nd @ Tracey Lampley
Kathie Giorgio reveals how she had 15 books published with
traditional publishers in 14 years, including her latest Don't Let Me Keep You.
https://www.traceylampley.com/guest-author-interviews
October 24th @ What Is This Book About
Get a peek inside Don't Let Me Keep You with today's
excerpt.
www.whatisthatbookabout.com
October 25th @ The Frugalista Mom
Rochie will be reviewing Kathie Giorgio's latest novel Don't
Let Me Keep You.
https://thefrugalistamom.org/
October 26th @ A
Wonderful World of Books
Author Kathie Giorgio writes about controversial books and
the hurdles they face in today's post: You've Been Banned. Now What?
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
October 29th @ Michelle Cornish
Learn what Michelle thinks about Kathie Giorgio's latest
novel: Don't Let Me Keep You.
https://michellecornishauthor.com/blog/book-reviews
October 30th @ Create Write Now!
Is Writer's Block real? Learn what author Kathie Giorgio has
to say today on CreateWriteNow!
https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
October 31st @ The Frugalista Mom
In a complicated world, author Kathie Giorgio shares how she
takes on controversial topics in her writing.
https://thefrugalistamom.org/
November 1st @ Michelle Cornish
Author Kathie Giorgio shares the challenges of writing
through illness and crisis.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
November 4th @ A Story Book World
What's on your TBR list for November? Learn more about
Kathie Giorgio's latest novel Don't Let Me Keep You.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
November 5th @ Chapter Break
Kathie Giorgio writes about the precarious balancing act of
writing and raising children.
November 6th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Don't miss today's interview with novelist Kathie Giorgio.
https://lisahaselton.com/
November 7th @ Knotty Needle
Still deciding on your November read? Check out today's
review of Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
November 8th @ Word Magic
Author Kathie Giorgio shares her thoughts on Writing as a
Business.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com
November 12th @ The Faerie Review
The spotlight is on Kathie Giorgio's latest novel, Don't Let
Me Keep You.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com
November 13th @ Words by Webb
Jodi is reviewing Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
November 14th @ Some Thoughts - Everything Creativity
In today's guest post, learn if author Kathie Giorgio is
Plotter, Pantser or Both?
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
November 15th @ Choices
Author Kathie Giorgio writes about Depression: Putting One
Foot in Front of the Other.
http://madelinesharples.com
November 19th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Looking for a good book for the Thanksgiving holiday? Leslie
is reviewing Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.
https://www.storeybookreviews.com