Ask the Author: Christy Leskovar
Answered Questions (6)
Christy Leskovar
Just keep going. The advantage of nonfiction is the story is before you once you've done the research. The challenge is in how to present the story. I think of writer's block as -- I don't know what to write, mind is blank. That isn't a problem for me, being a nonfiction writer. My problem is being overwhelmed by so much material. The way I deal with it is to narrow down what I'm working on to easily digestible bites. You don't eat the meal all in one bite, you don't write the entire book all in one sitting. To stay fresh, I set the timer on my phone for 30 minutes and put it across the room, so I have to get up from the computer or book or notes to turn it off.
Christy Leskovar
Everything. I write historical nonfiction. I love the research -- finding the story, finding the clues that build the story, discovering the people, what makes them tick. I feel like I'm living in a novel.
Christy Leskovar
Read good books.
Christy Leskovar
My original intention was to write a book about all four grandparents. As I started my research, I soon realized there was far too much for one book and decided to write the first book about my maternal side, the Welsh and Irish. I am now working on my third book, which is about my paternal grandparents and great-grandparents, the Slovene side. The time span begins a little earlier, mid to late 19th century, a little more in the Old Country. After a few misadventures, they too will move to Butte, Montana.
Christy Leskovar
So far, it all flows from the stories I heard on that trip to Butte, the inspiration to find more true stories.
Christy Leskovar
Several years ago, I went to my hometown of Butte, Montana, for my aunt Helen Leskovar's funeral. While there, we went to visit Aunt Aila, who was ill so couldn't come to town for the funeral. That's when I heard the story about the fire on the ranch in eastern Montana, and the dead body found in the ruins, and that my great-grandmother Sarah was arrested for murdering her husband. This did not leave my mind even after I got home. Then the idea popped into my head -- I was going to find out what happened and write a book about it.
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