An Interview With Author Joseph Bauer on 'Sailing for Grace'
Get ready to embark on a captivating journey with acclaimed author Joseph Bauer as he unravels the intricate layers of his latest novel, "Sailing for Grace." In this exclusive interview, Bauer dives into his unique "smart conversational" writing style, which strikes a delicate balance between engaging storytelling and profound character development. He shares insights on crafting relatable characters like Will Goodbow, whose journey through grief and resilience will resonate deeply with readers. With a rich tapestry of complex emotions and a masterful approach to pacing, Bauer reveals how he skillfully navigates themes of hope and despair, all while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Join us as we explore the artistic process behind "Sailing for Grace"
1-Can you describe your writing style and how it contributes to the overall pacing of "Sailing for Grace”?
I try to write in a “smart conversational” style. Not too wordy, not professorial, but prose for an intelligent reader who is not expecting a preponderance of very short sentences, but appreciates a few of them.
2-How do you strike a balance between unfolding the story gradually while maintaining reader engagement?
I hope that my characters hold the reader’s attention as the plot takes shape. Sailing for Grace opens with a portrait of a loving marriage facing the death of one of them. Death—when it's not by murder—is the ultimate in “slow start.” But my hope is that both Will and Grace will engage the reader enough to hold them until I introduce Burp Lebeau and eventually Sister Hope Annie and the others, through whom the story really unfolds.
3-What techniques do you use to create deep, relatable characters like Will Goodbow?
I spend more time thinking about my characters than writing about them. I am always asking myself questions about them. What would they say to such a person on first meeting? What habits and tendencies do they exhibit? What can I instill in their personalities that will differentiate them from each other?
4-How does the character development of Will reflect the themes of grief and resilience in your novel?
I wanted Will to be a man of integrity, loyalty, and modesty, but also a man used to getting his own way. Confident, but capable of naiveness. He shows his loyalty to his wife, and later his loyalty to those who aid him in his plan. The theme of resilience, to me, is more developed through the devotion of Sister Hope Annie, Lane Williams and Leary Dean and their commitment to the asylum seeking families.
5-Your stories often delve into complex emotional landscapes. How do you approach conveying deep emotional experiences in your characters?
Emotions begin inside a person and move outside, or at least try to. I use a fair amount of internal dialogue to allow my characters to express what they are thinking and what they are feeling in a private way.
6- In "Sailing for Grace," how do you navigate the delicate balance between hope and despair in Will's journey?
Will and Sister Hope Annie, and Will and his lawyer Gillen McCoy are often counterpoints to Will’s struggles with hope and despair. Will almost absorbs Sister Hope Annie’s relentless faith; her emotional support lifts him. And humor is important. Don’t we all take support in difficult times from humor?
7-Can you discuss your process for gradually revealing plot points and character backstories? What does this method add to the reader's experience?
I like to leave a few proverbial breadcrumbs along the way that hint to the reader what may be coming, without removing all suspense and anticipation. An example in Sailing for Grace is Will’s examination of the map of Honduras before he travels there and his notice of the little bay on the Pacific side and the island town of Amapala. What is that all about? (I hope the reader will wonder.)
8-How do you decide what information to reveal to the reader at different points in the story?
Well, the plot pretty much carries the information along with it. I prefer telling the story chronologically, and to keep it making sense to the reader the information has to flow so that when the next chapter opens, the reader knows what he or she needs to know to understand where the book is at that point.
9-How did you integrate current immigration issues into a personal narrative without losing the emotional core of the story?
There are emotional components to all of the issues around immigration. But the one that is at the center of Grace—family separation at the border—is loaded with it. I knew all along that I wanted the novel to be about loyalty, love, friendship, faith and personal morality in the face of laws. But I didn’t want it to be politically partisan. Certainly not a manifesto. So I tried to write in enough educational material, without gutting dull, and without taking sides, politically. I am not sure I succeeded, but I tried.
10-In what ways do you believe personal relationships are affected by external political pressures, as depicted in your novel?
My initial kernel of inspiration for the novel was what many of us have experienced in our families (and in our close friendships) in the current, highly charged, American political climate. The divisiveness in public life has spilled over—regrettably—into families and friendships. I think there’s no question that these external political matters do affect us in our loving relationships. But I wanted to write a novel where love and loyalty won out over political disagreement.
11-What motivated you to write "Sailing for Grace," and how did your personal experiences inform the story?
My first 3 novels were political/military thrillers featuring unconventional characters for that genre. My editor pushed me to write something of more general, emotional appeal. I asked, “like what?” She said, “like love, like death, like marriage!”
12-How do you hope readers will resonate with the themes of love, loyalty, and justice in your work?
I hope readers will find it, after they’ve finished it, as 50% educational, 50% inspirational, and 100% pleasurable.
13-Your previous books have been praised for their engaging narratives. What do you believe keeps readers turning the pages in your stories?
I really don’t think I can say without being vain. But I will say I am proud of the characters I’ve created and the positions I put them.
14-How important is reader feedback to you in shaping your writing process for future projects?
Philip Roth famously said he didn’t write for the reader and didn’t care much about the reader. I am definitely not of that mind. I do love the process and work of writing fiction. But it is the honest pleasure reported to me by readers that keeps me going. And I do pay attention to specific comments and suggestions.
15-After "Sailing for Grace," what themes or topics do you feel compelled to explore next in your writing? Are there any new techniques or styles you're excited to experiment with in your future works?
My current project is my first attempt at true historical fiction. It deals with a husband and wife that have probably been written about more than any other couple in American history: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. But it the story of others close to them and overlooked by history, especially Eleanor’s younger brother, Hall Roosevelt and others who influenced FDR and his family in the lead-up to and conduct of WWII. Working title is Arsenal of Secrecy, The FDR Years, A Novel.
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