Ask the Author: Gail Lynn Hanson
Answered Questions (6)
Gail Lynn Hanson
I have family ties to both the west side of Chicago and Pacific Palisades, CA, which clearly influenced my settings, however, I've always been interested in all the facets of motherhood, the good, bad, and ugly. Not often have we seen writers writing about older women still struggling with this and I thought that it would make for an interesting premise.
Religion, again the good/bad/ugly, has always fascinated me and this theme will probably always be in my writing because it just seems to get in there somehow.
The themes and issues raised in The Palisades are many, but I think the issue of Pride, with a capital P, is not only the most prominent and diffusive theme in the book but also one of the most dangerous themes in our society today, especially with young people. By pride, I mean self-absorption and narcissism, making little deities of ourselves. Readers will see this idea taken to the extreme with Dorothy, but I hope that they will also see how this can feasibly come about in nearly anyone, given the right circumstances. I think we're all susceptible, maybe not with jewelry and movie stars, but we all have obsessions.
Religion, again the good/bad/ugly, has always fascinated me and this theme will probably always be in my writing because it just seems to get in there somehow.
The themes and issues raised in The Palisades are many, but I think the issue of Pride, with a capital P, is not only the most prominent and diffusive theme in the book but also one of the most dangerous themes in our society today, especially with young people. By pride, I mean self-absorption and narcissism, making little deities of ourselves. Readers will see this idea taken to the extreme with Dorothy, but I hope that they will also see how this can feasibly come about in nearly anyone, given the right circumstances. I think we're all susceptible, maybe not with jewelry and movie stars, but we all have obsessions.
Gail Lynn Hanson
I need a lot of alone time. I really like my own company. I need time to think and process what I experience in the world and I like doing so. I like to walk. But I also love observing people. People can be really, really interesting. I find myself writing little stories about people in my head, filling in the blanks, and creating mini-plots. Some of these make it into a book, most don't, but I'm always inspired. Nothing is boring! I often say to my husband, while observing real life, "You can't make this stuff up." Life really is weirder than fiction.
Gail Lynn Hanson
Publishing the Palisades, but I have the skeleton of another novel which I can't wait to really dive into. I also have a completed novel that I wrote before the Palisades. I'll get back to that someday. It needs to be seen.
Gail Lynn Hanson
Write only because you love to write. That's it. It has to be your sole motivation, quite literally, an obsession... And never censor yourself. It will kill anything really good. If you feel that tug of insecurity to not say something "real" b/c you're scared, just tell yourself that no one has to read it. What you'll find is those gems of insight are what readers are reading for. We all want truth even if it's uncomfortable. Humans desperately want to connect with truth and if you (the writer) gets a glimpse of it, by all means, please share it with the rest of us!
Gail Lynn Hanson
I just said we all want to be little gods, we want control, we want things to happen the way we plan. Writing is the only way a person in this world can do this--it's called fiction.
Gail Lynn Hanson
I've never experienced this and hope I never do.
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