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Monday, February 3, 2014

For the Love of History, I Turned to WRITING NONFICTION….. see why! By Gail L. Jenner



Although my first published book was a romantic historical novel (ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, which won a WILLA Literary Award from Women Writing the West, and has just been re-released by PRP), the next three books I sold were nonfiction.  My second novel, a YA on Black Bart: The Poet Bandit, came out on the heels of those three books.

I was thrilled to work in nonfiction, and in looking back, recognize how important that was in helping my career, especially since I love history. As a former history and English teacher, I found research an easy task….which also made writing nonfiction a great option for me.

In all, I’ve coauthored five regional history books, four with Arcadia Publishing and one with Old American Publishing. The books became a great venue for me and launched my “platform” as a writer of regional and/or local history. As a result, I have been asked to speak on the history of the “State of Jefferson” movement a number of times and was even asked to participate in an episode of History Channel’s “How the States Got Their Shapes.” I also assisted in the development of a PBS Special on the State of Jefferson and appeared in an episode of NPR’s “West Coast Live.”

I’ve also become a contributor to our regional NPR/JeffersonPublic Radio’s historical "As It Was" series and pen a monthly column on historical locations in and around the “State of Jefferson” for a regional publication, Jefferson Backroads. For any author, looking for linked options is a good way to expand your expertise and exposure and puts you in line for expanding your network of contacts, too. I’ve met some wonderful historians over the last 10 years because of the research involved in dove-tailing history and writing.

I credit my writing “success” to the deliberate decision to pursue writing nonfiction (still a very small fish in a LARGE sea!). I also credit the opportunity to do discover writing nonfiction to the organization WomenWriting the West. Although I have attended a number of other national and regional writing conferences, I cannot speak too highly of Women Writing the West’s annual conferences and their impact on my writing career. Intimate enough to make networking very easy, I’ve also made lifelong friends.

It was at a Women Writing the West conference that I first met my Arcadia editor; I also networked with other WWW authors who had signed on with Arcadia. Though I haven’t made oodles of money, what started out as one book with Arcadia worked into four, and the last volume, POSTCARDS FROM THESTATE OF JEFFERSON, released in 2013, was one that Arcadia pitched to us. They told us that two of our books, IMAGES OF THE STATE OF JEFFERSON and THE STATE OF JEFFERSON: THEN & NOW, have been two of their most popular titles in California and Oregon, and they’ve been featured at 4 Costco book signings!

THE STATE OF JEFFERSON: THEN & NOW was a 2008 finalist in the Next Generation Awards for Best Regional Nonfiction.



Obviously, POSTCARDS FROM THE STATE OF JEFFERSON was fun to compile but also became a landmark volume since my coauthor on three of the five nonfiction titles (Bernita Tickner) passed away two months before our 2013 release date (thankfully I was able to add a special dedication to her before its final publication).

I also met Mark Stepp, from Old American Publishing, at another Women Writing the West conference, and he was an enthusiastic supporter of pursuing another regional history/cookbook/travelogue entitled HISTORIC INNS & EATERIES IN THE STATE OF JEFFERSON: A Tasty, Traveling History.  This book features 30 historic locations in northern California and southern Oregon as well as a chapter of recipes from those locations. It’s been a book for travelers, locals, and history buffs.

My latest nonfiction title scheduled for release in 2014 is an anthology of memoir/personal stories from 40+ “rural/ranching and farming” women, from Two Dot/Globe Pequot Publishing. This collection of stories, ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP, is one I have envisioned for many years and features both known writers and unknown writers. But, without the list of nonfiction volumes to my credit, I don’t know if I could have pitched the idea of a collection of stories successfully.

Knowing one’s audience, of course, is integral to the process of pitching a nonfiction project. My State of Jefferson books had a broader appeal than just a more local region (and Arcadia is known for its local history program)…but it also had the intriguing, off-beat uniqueness that made it appealing to editors. The topic has become one in the news a lot lately, which has added to the popularity of the titles. So having a clear concept of WHAT to research and what to pitch to an editor is critically important.

Although I am back to writing historical fiction, including a novel and several short stories, I have several “files” already started on other future nonfiction writing projects. I have no doubt that I will always pursue some aspect of nonfiction. First of all, I love history; secondly, I love doing research on ideas and subject matter. Finally, it’s wonderful to know that nonfiction titles remain “on the shelves” for much longer periods of time and are not pushed aside easily or quickly. I have always donated copies to our local libraries and they are popular titles with patrons.


NOTE:  As a thank you to PRP and my readers today, I’d like to offer two FREE copies of ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS as downloads to two people who comment on my blog! Perhaps to share whatever experience you have had with writing history or writing nonfiction……and I will draw the names of TWO WINNERS…. tomorrow – Tuesday, Feb. 4!

For more about me, check out my PRP AUTHOR PAGE or go to http://www.gailjenner.com/

22 comments:

  1. Interesting blog, Gail! I've read a lot of those Arcadia nonfiction books. They put out some intriguing books. My recent purchase from them was West Texas Cattle Kingdom. Great research tool for my westerns. I keep hearing a lot of stuff about the state of Jefferson. I never knew there was such a thing. Maybe some day they'll get recognized by the U.S.

    Across the Sweet Grass Hills looks like my kind of book. I like stories about strong women. And to help settle the West, women had to be strong to survive. It was very tough.

    Wishing you much success!!

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    1. Thank you! Yes, the State of Jefferson is "back in the news!" The people are as rugged as the region -- we are characterized by mountains and rivers and rural valleys. I will probably do a blog about the history of the movement as it is a little known area but fascinating. I, too, love Arcadia books and so appreciate the fact the there's a publisher that is pushing to support the preservation of local and regional history!!! I will put your name in the "pot" and if not a winner, I hope you'll read Across the Sweet Grass Hills... another "rare" piece of history; although the main characters are fictional, the background events are historical.

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    2. Linda! CONGRATULATIONS! You have won a copy of ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS! I am sending you the instructions for downloading the novel. I appreciate your response...I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you!

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  2. Gail, this is fantastic! I had no idea you had done all this, and I'm so glad you blogged about it. So interesting, and my goodness--you had to have put a ton of research time into these wonderful projects of yours.

    Great blog!
    Cheryl

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl! I love history and I love research -- that's one reason why my two "volunteer" jobs are as a summer curator at our local museum and as a librarian two days a month! It gives me a chance to surround myself with more history :-)

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  3. Gail, I love how you're so involved with PBS and NPR. Impressibe. You're so accomplished. I always thought historians were dry and dusty souls, but now I see you're one who is animated and actively involved. Must be fun.
    Great blog. all the best to you.

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    1. Thanks! We are lucky to have an NPR station that supports local historians and their stories.....if you want, you can get a flavor of it by logging onto ijpr.org and looking for As It Was in the program tab (you can "search" with my name, Gail Fiorini Jenner, and then listen as Shirley Patton -- who has an awesome reading voice -- reads the essays aloud! I do 3 a month (sometimes more) and they play 3x a day. There's a host of writers and the 200 word stories are sometimes really 'odd' or fun! Rare bits of history and story!!

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  4. Gail,
    Your accomplishments are impressive. Thanks for sharing regarding a market writers might not think to tap into.

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    1. I told Cheryl when I suggested the topic that I think a lot of writers should and could tap into nonfiction....whether it's for a 'series' like Arcadia, or with a title that is uniquely different (like the upcoming ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP), it's a great venue. Nonfiction stays in the marketplace almost indefinitely!

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    2. Kristy - Want to find out if you were successful in downloading the novel? Let me know :-)

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  5. Gail, I'm so impressed with your achievements. You are the hardest working non-fiction writer that I know. You have set a great example for women everywhere who yearn to write, but haven't yet gathered the courage to do it. I fully expect you to deliver many more informative books in the coming years. Keep up the good work!

    Rosalie More

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    1. Thanks, Rosie....but speaking of hard working and enterprising!! YOU need to put those amazing, awesome, stunning nature photographs together in book form! Talk about a winner :-) I hope to hear you doing that soon.....for those reading this response, Rosalie More is a great photographer!!!

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  6. I share your journey, although mine has been from memoir to fiction--and back again! Writing from the heart has no genre restriction, and your writing has such depth of feeling. Congratulations.

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    1. Hi Anne! thanks.....your work has a legacy all its own! I agree that nonfiction can speak volumes. I'm eager to have ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP out and in the public this year - it's something that is closely linked to my heart :-)

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    1. Thank you!! Aren't titles fascinating? I actually first sold ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS based on the title! And Globe Pequot loved the title ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP -- the editor just laughed and said, YES!!! I think the right title can convey theme and tone so well, but when you don't have the right title, it can be such a struggle.

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    2. Heidi - Congratulations!! You've won a copy of ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS....I have sent you the instructions for downloading the novel. Thank you for your support :-) Enjoy!

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  8. Gail, I also love Women Writing the West and like you made great friends. History is important to me, and I have been working on early women doctors in the area where I live. (Note always and easy task, but so rewarding. Two talks on the subject coming up along with two HHJ performances in Feb. & March.) I'm just now working on fiction again. I will say I love both the reading and writing of history and fiction. I applaud you and congratulate you on your successes. Doris

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    1. Thanks, Doris!! Sounds like we have a lot in common. WWW has been a great vehicle for me. I joined in 1999/2000 and have grown as a result of the great opportunities the conferences and networking have provided. It goes to show you how powerful connecting and sharing with others can be and how much writers need one another -- it's the confidence building and encouragement that we need.

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  9. Congratulations to Heidi Bacon and Linda Broday! I will email you the coupon for a FREE download of ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS from Prairie Rose Publications! I appreciate your support and hope you enjoy the book....

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    1. It's fun drawing for names! I hope to do it again with my next blog, too.... it is great having people's responses and their support!!

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