Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Friday 5 November 2021

Shattered.

 


Courage put Libby Brown into the final selection for the Olympics, but betrayal crushed her spine and her chance at the Gold. Now she has two choices, use her courage to put her life back together, or remain shattered forever.

My blogfriend C. Lee McKenzie has a new book out.  Doesn't it sound fascinating? (I got my copy yesterday and am really looking forward to reading it) I asked her some questions - and she was generous enough to respond.

 

I applaud you writing about the invisible/unheard segments of our population.  What makes you write about and for under represented populations?  Was there any specific event which triggered it?


I have a strong conviction that we should all have a place at this table of life. One of the ways to help that be a reality is through reading.  If we read about people who are different from us, there’s a chance we can come to understand them and appreciate them for who they are. 


The other side of that coin is reading about people who are just like us, and through their stories, identify with their struggles and come to know we’re not alone after all. How great it is to discover there’s someone out there who “gets” me! 


Some of my best moments have been reading something written by an author I will probably never meet and discovering they understand exactly what I’ve felt at some point in my life, but thought no one else did.  That’s my best time in a book.


There were a series of things that led to this story. I already had the idea of writing a story about someone overcoming a serious accident and moving on with their life after a struggle. Then I heard a woman speak at one of our library events about her experience becoming paraplegic. Following years of effort, she’s back to being a successful businesswoman. She skis, skydives, and pilots her own plane—all of this using adaptive equipment. After hearing her talk, I knew who my main character would be.


A related question: Can you think of any other sadly underrepresented groups?  And are they starting to clamour in your head to be heard.


This answer springs from your next question, Sue. Older women—well, older people in general—are often invisible, especially in our youth-oriented society. I see an attempt to change that, and it’s coming, but so slowly that I’ll be dusty particles by the time it happens. 


This group of elders clamors a lot in my head, and for that reason, I include them in my stories for young adults. Being old should not be equated with being useless. Sliding on Edge was my debut novel, and in it, I wrote the character, Kay, the steely grandmother who managed her horse ranch, stood up against anything she didn’t think fair and gave her granddaughter a new start in life. I still like the grandpa in Sudden Secrets because he was eccentric, doing things his way,  and not about to let others set him aside because of his age. 


And another related question.


I belong to two largely invisible segments of the population.  I am an older woman and I have a disability.  There are now books about both (or where we at least make an appearance), but I have noticed a tendency to either demonise or mythologise us.  Have you noticed that and if so how did you avoid it?


I have noticed this, but truthfully, only since I began to write this book. One of the dichotomies about those with disabilities is exactly what you’ve written; in films, they’re either in dark despair (Passion Fish, a movie from 1992) or they’re mythical (Avatar, 2009)! 


How much better it would be if we saw people with disabilities as people first—people with different abilities and different interests who are making their way through life as moms, dads, husbands, wives, friends. They may have to adapt—rely on prostheses, or wheelchairs, or medication, but that doesn’t mean they’re not more like the “abled” community than not. Besides, I’ve come to understand that we’re all disabled in some way. We all must learn to adapt to survive—with a sudden change or slowly as we age.


I hope I've avoided falling into either camp you've described. Libby does have a struggle; her life was completely changed in one day. But I focused on how life-altering events can turn all of our worlds upside down and how anyone would cope. We'd deny, despair, become angry, then we'd rebuild our lives. Things will never be as they once were, but we will have a life again.


Thanks for your great questions. They made me go back into the story again and remember why I wrote it.


Available at Amazon . B&N . Kobo . Smashwords

Now on NetGalley for download and review.

 





I'm a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I write most of the time, hike and practice yoga a lot, and then travel whenever I can. 
In my young adult books, I take on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. My Evernight Teen Publication, Double Negative was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books, 2019. My other books, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sliding on the Edge, Sudden Secrets and Not Guilty are out to four and five-star reviews.  
 

68 comments:

  1. I appreciate your post. We live in an elder community where we are the kids. We see the way old people become invisible, esp. to some of the teen group.

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    1. We definitely do not live in a culture that (in general) honors our elder. Yet they hold the history we need. Now that I'm in the senior category, I'm even more acutely aware of elder invisibility.

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    2. Susan Kane: Invisible and under valued is a dreadful place to be.

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  2. Boy I'll have to get this book, EC. As you know I've been fairly front line on elders especially those who are completely invisible due to: health issues, lack of mobility and financial instability. It exhausted me and put me into despair. Such a crisis, such disregard.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. I've always tried to include elders in my books. I like the texture they bring to a story. In Double Negative I loved the retired school teacher who had early onset Alzheimers. Without her my main character wouldn't have made it through high school. Let's get more seniors up front, vital and visible in our stories. Maybe that's my next book.

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    2. Wisewebwoman: I hope you can get Lee's latest work - and as she says she has included us in past work.

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  3. You are changing things with your words, Lee!

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    1. That would be very rewarding, Alex.

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    2. Alex J. Cavanaugh: That she is. Which is lovely.

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  4. I got curious about her and found an interview. She almost seems shy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZGvGXkgxQc

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    1. Oh, dear. You've unearthed my past! I am shy, and I'm much more comfortable with people I know really well or by myself.

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    2. "people I know really well or by myself"
      So you're a die hard introvert. There are more of us around here. Have you ever been to an introvert party? Me neither. I threw one once but didn't invite anyone.

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    3. Mike: Poor Lee. I am shy and definitely an introvert too. I am glad that there are NO interviews with me that can be unearthed.

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    4. I almost forgot why I was digging. I was trying to find Lee's first name. I don't know how old she is but at age 65 she will become Cxxxx L. McKenzie per Medicare and Social Security. And NO they will NOT accommodate you and your middle name. All my "stuff" is under R. Michael. At 65 I became Robert M. per the government. I've sent letters and on and on.
      My only out is to change my name. Drop my first name and just keep the initial R. The only place I will have to change things is with ... THE GOVERNMENT!

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  5. Thank you so much for introducing me to this remarkable woman. I'll go buy her book ASAP. Hope I can get it on Kindle, but if not I'll take whatever I can get. :-)

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    1. Thank you DJan for your interest in the book. It is on Kindle, but should be out in paperback soon. Like everything during these Covid days, things are a bit slow.

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    2. DJan: I hope you can find it. I have really enjoyed every one of Lee's books that I have reread. And have reread a few of them too.

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  6. What a fascinating interview. Kudos to you both.

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    1. Didn't Sue ask some great questions? I loved answering them.

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    2. Sandra Cox: I am so grateful that Lee allowed me to ask questions and was generous enough to answer them.

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  7. Being here today is very special, Sue. Thank you again for the interview and for giving me time here on your blog.

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    1. cleemckenzie: It was my pleasure and a privilege.

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  8. Great interview, ladies!
    People first, abilities/disabilities second is what we always aim for in teaching as well. That philosophy also helps when dealing with my mom (with dementia).
    Looking forward to digging in to the book!

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    1. Jemi Fraser: We all need to focus on abilities where ever possible. Our own and others. Thank you.

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  9. How nice to find this .hank you for agreeing to share this with us, and thank you EC for introducing us to the book.

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Lee gave some great answers didn't she?

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  10. An excellent and timely topic.

    Our clients today are a couple working, raising kids, doing the best they can, and he is recovered from a terrible accident when he was in college. It left him with limited use of one hand and a bad limp, but he still runs his construction business and does all the duties of dad and husband. He never lets it slow him down a whit.

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    1. messymimi: I am so glad that your client perseveres, and thrives despite his accident.

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  11. I plan to read this book. So true about invisible people and crazy conclusions people can have about what they don't understand. So many are heros in their lives and no one knows.

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    1. Ann Bennett: I am sure that you will enjoy it - and am very pleased that Lee and I have tempted you.

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  12. I'm so glad this is about a book. I read the heading and thought "oh no! not Jazz!"
    Sadly a neighbour whose cat I used to care for when she went away for a few days rest has lost her Felix. He died Monday after not eating or drinking all weekend, he had been failing for a while, but we hoped he might improve. He was the same age as my Lola.

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    1. River: Jazz is still with us. I am sorry for your neighbour - and hope that Lola has recovered from her allergies.

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    2. She has for now. With luck the rest of the summer will be okay too.

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    3. River: I am so glad to hear that. And will cross my fingers for the rest of summer.

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  13. Thank you, Sue for the insightful "interview."
    Yes, I do believe that by walking in another's shoes we can better understand him/her.
    Mind you, I'm not sure what my multi-faceted friends get from me!

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  14. The depth of research is amazing and the theme is inspirational.

    We have somehow got better and better at NOT seeing/acknowledging the aged, the differently abled, and groups that vote or pray differently to us. Yet we miss out on so much richness if we forget inclusion and appreciating a different POV/lifestyle.

    I'm so glad to read about Shattered, wishing it great success. Thank you.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: That selective blindness worries me. We seem to deliberately deprive ourselves - and others don't we? And I join you in wishing Lee every success.

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  15. Hi EC - Lee's book is such a good read - enjoy it when you read it - which I know will be soon.

    Your questions are so salient ... hearing and learning about life from someone who has been in a major accident does make us sit up and think ...

    ... while learning how the elderly continue to make a major contribution to life - without shouting it from the rooftops ... will always be within our communities and available to any who wish to see life from a different perspective and learn new ideas.

    As Nila says above - we all can learn from each other throughout our lives - we just need to appreciate others pov (and not be selfish) - there's always a positive.

    Excellent questions and answers from you and Lee - cheers to you both - Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. I loved seeing Lee's latest book featured on not one but three of the blogs I follow yesterday. I am really looking forward to reading it too - other commitments take priority for the next few days, but soon...

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  16. A compelling interview, Sue. Well done. I see that Hilary too has featured this book on her blog and I will get to that later.

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    1. David M. Gascoigne: The blogosphere is SUCH a supportive community. Which I love.

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  17. Dear EC
    I would agree that the older members of our communities are forgotten more easily and this was particularly evident throughout Covid and the care home fiasco in the UK.
    I can think of only a few books with older protagonists - Elizabeth is missing (the heroine has dementia) and the Thursday Murder Club series (the murder club is made up of four retired people in a retirement home). However, these are the exceptions.
    We forget or dismiss our older generations and our different abled at our peril. They need a voice.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Forster: I strongly believe we diminish ourselves by ignoring those who are different - and our differences are almost always so much smaller than our similarities.

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  18. Great interview, Lee. I’m so glad you wrote this book and the inclusivity is wonderful. Looking forward to reading it!

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    1. Mary Aalgaard: Welcome and thank you. I really look forward to reading Shattered too.

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  19. "I belong to two largely invisible segments of the population. I am an older woman and I have a disability."

    But you're not invisible. I see you. 😀

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    1. Sandi: I am pretty much invisible - but thank you for your open eyes.

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  20. Very thought provoking, and I am definitely adding this to my must read list!!

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    1. karen: Good. Even without having yet read it for myself I am sure you won't be disappointed.

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  21. Awesome. One of my blogger friends wrote a history of late 19th century Kansas from the eyes and journal of a bachelor homesteader. Having friends who are authors is kind of stimulating.

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    1. The Blog Fodder: Having blog friends who are authors is AMAZING.

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  22. This sounds awesome, I've been looking for books with more disabled main characters. :)
    -Quinley

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    1. Quinley: I am so glad, and hope you really, really enjoy it.

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  23. Thank you for sharing this - it sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. I often find YA literature very well written and with a lot of depth.

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    1. Carola Bartz: I agree with you about YA. I am so glad that I don't restrict my reading to things deemed appropriate for my age group. I hope you do enjoy Shattered.

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  24. A very good interview.
    This book is being well featured around the blogs ... which is great :)

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: It is lovely to see Lee's latest book featured so widely.

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  25. Great interview. Loved the questions and the answers. Lee is a great writer and story teller! And that cover is awesome!

    Invisible is my super power. At least that's what I tell myself.

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    1. Yolanda Renee: Sometimes I like being invisible. I resent it being foisted on me.
      Lee's cover is great isn't it?

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  26. A great sounding book and a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. DeniseinVA: I hope you can get to Lee's latest work - and thank you.

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  27. I read this with great interest. I really enjoyed your questions and Lee's responses. As someone born with a birth defect which is similar to arthritis, since I was a child, my fingers have been rather deformed. Not bad if we are just talking, but the minute I start waving my hands around, it's fairly obvious. It was hard being a teacher (actually, it was called teaching assistant, but the class was all mine) when I was in grad school. I made it clear up front that the students would soon notice I had deformed hands. What they didn't see or notice were the deformed knees, ankles, elbows, etc. Thank you for your incredibly thoughtful questions, EC.

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    1. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: My disabilities are often invisible - which doesn't diminish them. I well remember a work colleague telling me to get a second opinion - because you don't look like you have MS. Big sigh.
      I am so happy that you have found a way to persevere with your crafts and your gardening - and suspect your students forgot your disabilities very quickly.

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  28. Congratulations, C. Lee! I wish you great success with your book!

    And E.C., you posed some excellent questions. Food for thought, for authors and readers alike. :-)

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    1. Diane Henders: Thank you. I hope that Shattered does really, really well. And how I wish that we could recognise that people have many more similarities than we do differences.

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